theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_103

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made a value for money assessment of the Chagos Island deal. \p Darren Jones: HMT has been working with the FCDO and the MOD on this agreement. As the lead departments, responsibility for judging the value for money of any deal sits with the FCDO and the MOD, who must balance its commitments against wider priorities – as per the Managing Public Money framework.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_104
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_104

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will be put on a statutory footing. \p Darren Jones: The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will combine the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission and Infrastructure and Projects Authority. NISTA will bring oversight of strategy and delivery into one organisation, driving more effective delivery of infrastructure across the country.

On 17 January 2025, the Prime Minister announced in a Written Ministerial Statement that NISTA will be a joint unit of HM Treasury and Cabinet Office, effective from 1 April 2025. Further detail on the work and governance of NISTA will be announced in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_105
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_105

Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of additional jobs created by Heathrow expansion. \p Darren Jones: Heathrow expansion could result in billions invested into the economy to create over 100,000 jobs, and support many more jobs by boosting UK economic growth.

Our pledge to use more sustainable aviation fuel, part of our Plan for Change, will also support thousands of jobs, bring down our transport emissions, and make the UK a clean energy superpower.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_106
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_106

Andy MacNae:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to tackle tax evasion in hair salons. \p James Murray: The Government recognises that sometimes businesses do not declare all of their income and thereby conceal their true earnings. We are committed to creating a level playing field for all, by ensuring that everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time, to ensure trust and fairness in the tax system. Most taxpayers pay what they owe, but a small minority fail to register with HMRC or only declare a portion of their earnings. This small minority deprive our vital public services of funding, affect fair competition between businesses, and place unfair burdens on everyone else. It is vital these revenues are collected to fund our essential public services. Closing the tax gap and making sure that more of the tax that is owed is correctly paid, is one of the Government’s top priorities for HMRC.

HMRC is making it increasingly difficult for businesses to hide their earnings and have an extensive range of powers, including information gathering powers, that help build a picture of risk and identify those who are trying to abuse the system. HMRC’s approach to tax evasion aims to tackle current non-compliance and change future behaviours. Their activities include national campaigns and specialist task forces that incorporate intensive bursts of activity in targeted sectors, such as the hair and beauty sector, and locations across the UK. This includes providing customer education highlighting the importance of keeping accurate records.

We recognise that some customers can find it hard to understand their tax obligations, so HMRC are developing and testing new educational material to better explain the rent a chair model. This is planned to be ready for publication on GOV.UK in the spring.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_107
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_107

Gavin Robinson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the McCloud judgement [2018] EWCA Civ 2844, how many outstanding police pensions cases HMRC had yet to assess on 6 February 2025; and what HMRC's timetable is for the completion of this work. \p James Murray: HMRC is committed to providing a good customer service for individuals affected by the McCloud remedy. It is working closely with individual pension schemes to ensure they and their members have the support they need. For police, HMRC has received 662 and processed 136. HMRC has 526 police force cases which have been submitted and are yet to be processed.

HMRC checks and processes the submissions based on the information provided and has 90 days in which to process a refund where applicable.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_108
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_108

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many hereditaments used for (a) distribution and (b) warehousing in England had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025. \p James Murray: The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_109
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_109

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with transport companies providing services for children with SEND on changes to employer National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: Home-to-school travel is an integral part of the school system and provides a valuable service on which many families rely. Officials across departments engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face and will continue to monitor this situation. The Department for Education do not expect there to be a significant impact on home-to-school travel for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Local authorities are responsible for arranging home-to-school travel and deliver this through a range of in-house services and external providers.

The £515m of additional funding made available to help local government manage the impact of changes to employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff across the public sector. However, this funding is unringfenced and it is for LAs to determine how to use this funding across relevant services and responsibilities.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_110
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_110

Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertfordshire County Council on local government reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Hertsmere Borough Council or Hertfordshire County Council on local government re-organisation. Officials do meet regularly with councils and following receipt of my 5th February letter of invitation to submit reorganisation proposals all councils in Hertfordshire will be invited to a meeting with departmental officials.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_111
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_111

Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she has issued on deciding between alternative local government reorganisation proposals for one area. \p Jim McMahon: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. The invitation includes guidance on issues of local identity among other matters, all of which will be relevant to decisions between alternative local government reorganisation proposals for one area.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_112
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_112

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many (a) internal policy reviews, (b) independent reviews, (c) external reviews, (d) taskforces, (e) public consultations, (f) investigations and (g) other reviews their Department launched between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025; what the titles were of those reviews; and how many of those reviews have been (i) completed and (ii) published. \p Alex Norris: This Government has outlined its ambitions through the Plan for Change, which sets out an ambitious set of milestones - across the missions - for this Parliament. As the House would expect, Government continually reviews its work to ensure that it is delivering the best outcomes for the people of the United Kingdom, and that its policies continue to represent the best value for the taxpayer. Public reviews and consultations will be available on GOV.UK as they are published.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_113
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_113

Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the progress of building remediation work at The Decks in Runcorn. \p Alex Norris: We expect developers that signed the developer remediation contract with government to meet their obligation to remediate buildings for which they are responsible as quickly as reasonably practicable.

Taylor Wimpey, the developer of The Decks, has advised us that remedial works are expected to commence shortly, following recent execution of a legal agreement between relevant parties.

The Ministry monitors progress closely. Any developer that fails to comply with its obligations faces significant consequences.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_114
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_114

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent progress she has made on developing a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. \p Alex Norris: The government is progressing with the development of a future funding framework to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund. We will set out our long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year spending review.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_115
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_115

Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of items of correspondence from Parliamentarians received by (a) her Department, (b) her and (c) her Ministers in each month since August 2024 have not yet received a substantive response. \p Alex Norris: Since August 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has received 3493 pieces of correspondence from Parliamentarians. The table below shows the number of items received by month (August 2024 – February 2025) that have not yet received a substantive response, and the proportion this represents of the total number of cases responded to, by month. The majority of cases from January – February are not yet due.

Aug-24

Sept-24

Oct-24

Nov-24

Dec-24

Jan-25

Feb-25*

Total

Total

0

7

10

22

117

399

82

637

Proportion

0%

1%

1.5%

3.5%

22%

60%

100%

18%

* February data is captured up until 6th February 2025
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_116
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_116

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the competent person schemes model for domestic electrical installation. \p Alex Norris: The Government takes electrical safety very seriously and the Building Regulations require work to homes’ fixed electrical systems to be carried out safely to protect people from fire and injury. Government-backed schemes exist to ensure domestic electricians are qualified and registered and can self-certify their work. This is an essential part of safety protections and is one of several schemes – called the competent person schemes – that oversee the competence of tradespeople in many disciplines by considering their qualifications and experience as well as inspecting samples of their work. There are no plans to replace this model. Government does consider applications from new scheme providers periodically but there are no plans currently to invite new applications.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_117
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_117

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to Councils on the process for residents to issue deputations at meetings; and whether residents are required to provide the full text of their deputation in advance. \p Jim McMahon: We have been clear that it is not for Government to micromanage local authorities. We do not provide guidance on allowing public participation, such as deputations, at formal local authority meetings; it is for individual authorities to decide what public participation they may permit and to put in place procedures that work for them and their residents. In support of open and accountable local government, formal council meetings must be open to the public except in limited defined circumstances where legislation requires or allows the meeting to be closed to the public.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_118
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_118

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to introduce union representation onto freeport boards. \p Alex Norris: Freeports can play an important role in achieving our number one priority – economic growth – by attracting investment and creating jobs in former industrial heartlands across the UK. That is why the government confirmed it is backing the Freeports Programme in October 2024. We are, however, working closely with Freeports to review progress to date and how to best align the Programme with this government’s growth strategy. We will provide further details on these changes in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_119
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_119

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) mortgage lenders and (b) insurers on their approach to (i) mortgages and (ii) building insurance policies relating to buildings that hold an EWS1 certificate issued by (A) Tri Fire and (B) Adam Kiziak. \p Alex Norris: EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement. They are a mortgage valuation tool and the use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by industry.

The Department engages regularly with the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Officials are working closely with industry representatives to ensure they take a proportional approach to buildings with an EWS1 issued by Adam Kiziak and Tri Fire. Where a mortgage lender will not accept one of these EWS1s, we would expect them to consider alternative evidence.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_120
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_120

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how she plans to reform the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local authorities; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of additional powers for town and parish councils. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Paper was clear that we know people value the role of governance at the community scale. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.

Local authorities act independently of central government. Town and parish councils can work with other tiers of local government to determine how they can best serve their communities in their area.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_121
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_121

Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring local government funding formulas reflect local (a) need and (b) funding levels. \p Jim McMahon: We are making good on the previous government's commitment to improve and update the way in which local authorities are funded through “Fair Funding Review”. We will implement long-awaited reforms through a multi-year settlement in 2026-27, which will reflect an up-to-date assessment of need and local resources. We are inviting views on our principles and objectives for this reform through a consultation which closes on 12 February.

These changes are part of a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to fix the foundations of local government. This will be done in partnership with the sector and on the principle of giving forward notice and certainty to allow time for councils to plan for the future.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_122
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_122

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20571 on Mayors, who will determine the (a) allowance and (b) salaries of Commissioners; whether they will receive local government pensions; whether they must be Councillors; and whether they will be politically restricted. \p Jim McMahon: As announced in the English Devolution White Paper the Government will give Mayors the ability to appoint and remunerate ‘Commissioners’. They will be able to support in the delivery of key functions, complementing the existing portfolio system by providing additional capacity and expertise. Additional detail will be introduced as part of the English Devolution Bill.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_123
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_123

Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new recovery grant on Halton Council. \p Jim McMahon: Halton Borough Council will receive £4.5 million from the Recovery Grant in 2025-26. The Recovery Grant is targeted towards areas with greater need and demand for services and less ability to raise income locally. This grant is the first meaningful step towards long overdue funding reform but the government is clear that this is not comprehensive reform. The metrics in this grant will not be as sophisticated as the fully updated assessment of need we are consulting on, and deprivation is the best available proxy.

This Government recognises that council funding has been under pressure since 2010. Detailed information on core spending power and settlement funding for Halton Borough Council from 2015/16 to 2020/21 can be viewed here.

Due to changes in the function and financing of local government, comparable data on Core Spending Power is not available prior to 2015/16.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_124
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_124

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18960 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, what definition of (a) regions and (b) nations her Department uses within the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024. \p Jim McMahon: The United Kingdom comprises four constituent nations. The English Devolution White paper sets out how powers will be devolved within England, to regions whose boundaries are to be agreed with local stakeholders.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_125

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Ashfield District Council about phase one of the local government re-organisation. \p Jim McMahon: There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ashfield District Council about phase one of the local government re-organisation.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_126
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_126

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish a timetable for local government re-organisation. \p Jim McMahon: I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. These letters will shortly be published on gov.uk and they set out the timelines and next steps for local government re-organisation.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_127
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_127

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to ensure housing associations who raise rents for social housing tenants above inflation are using the increased revenue to invest in building new homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: Housing associations use income from social housing rents to deliver services to their tenants, manage and maintain their homes to the required standards, and invest in new homes.

Government does not place requirements on housing associations to use rental income to invest in new homes. However, we recognise the need to support them so they can build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply.

One way we are doing this is by providing capital grant through the Affordable Homes Programme. In October 2024, we announced an immediate one-year cash injection of £500m to the 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme over and above its £11.5bn budget, to support delivery of up to 5,000 new social and affordable homes.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_128

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has prepared draft legislation to amend the Building Safety Act 2022. \p Alex Norris: The government will set out its legislative plans to Parliament in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_129
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_129

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report; and if she will implement the recommendation in paragraph 113.40 of that report. \p Alex Norris: We are considering the recommendations set out in the Grenfell Inquiry report. The Prime Minister has committed to respond in full to the Inquiry’s recommendations within 6 months and to update Parliament annually on our progress against every commitment made.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_130
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_130

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing water reed to be used as an alternative to thatching straw for protected thatched roofs. \p Alex Norris: My Department has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing water reed as an alternative thatching material for historic buildings.

Any works to demolish any part of a listed building or to alter or extend it in a way that affects its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest require listed building consent. It is for local planning authorities to decide whether to grant listed building consent depending on the particular circumstances of each case.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_131

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure new build housing allows for sufficient soundproofing against external noise pollution. \p Alex Norris: The Government is continually assessing the efficacy of Building Regulations to ensure that our new homes and buildings are safe and provide healthy living environments for their occupants. Part E of the Building Regulations requires protection against sound from other parts of a building, adjoining buildings and within a dwelling-house, and prevention of unreasonable reverberation in common internal parts of buildings with residential flats or rooms. For guidance on reducing the passage of external noise into buildings the government published the National Model Design Code: Part 2 – Guidance Notes (MHCLG, 2021) and we encourage designers to note the Association of Noise Consultants’ Acoustics, Ventilation and Overheating: Residential Design Guide (2020). Installing background ventilators such as trickle vents, may increase noise pollution where façades face noisy environments. Approved Document F, volume 1 recommends that noise attenuating background ventilators are fitted in these circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_132

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support her Department provides to restaurant businesses who have incurred financial cost as a result of operating from premises affected by flammable cladding. \p Alex Norris: The key objective of the government’s cladding funding schemes is to ensure that life safety fire risks associated with cladding are addressed as quickly as possible to ensure that residents in residential buildings are safe and feel safe in their homes. Funding is available towards eligible costs related to action needed to mitigate the risk posed by cladding on residential buildings over 11m in height. Commercial leaseholders operating in mixed use residential and commercial developments may in some circumstances benefit from protections against having to pay service charges towards equivalent works to fix cladding. Full details of eligibility for cladding safety funding can be found at Cladding Safety Scheme overview - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_133

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure new build housing follows high build standards. \p Alex Norris: We need historic levels of housebuilding to address the housing crisis. It is vital that the homes we deliver are high-quality, well-designed places where people can work and thrive.

The Building Safety Act enables the design and construction of more high quality homes and aims to ensure that all new homes meet stringent safety standards. It also requires the Building Safety Regulator to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review. Government is continually assessing the efficacy of Building Regulations to ensure that our new homes are safe and provide healthy living environments for their occupants.

Building control procedures that came into force in October 2023 also provide strengthened regulatory oversight of Building Regulations before, during, and on completion of higher-risk building work. This will ensure safer, better-quality buildings, without systemic defects.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_134

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2025, to Question 21618, on MHCLG: Staff, how many desks are currently assigned in each of those offices. \p Alex Norris: Please find a table below of how many desks MHCLG have in each of their offices:-

Desks

Notes

Belfast

17

Birkenhead

38

Birmingham

76

Bristol

66

Currently in temporary office space as our new office is being refurbished

Cambridge

30

Cardiff

25

Darlington

30

MHCLG has use of 30 desk at Darlington Economic Campus and also other non-allocated desks.

Edinburgh

30

Exeter

14

Hastings

12

Hemel Hempstead

40

Leeds

50

London

947

Manchester

66

Newcastle

45

Norwich

10

Nottingham

30

Currently in temporary office space as our new office is being refurbished

Plymouth

30

Sheffield

16

Truro

13

Warrington

42

Wolverhampton

58
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_135

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, by what date her Department plans to commence structural reform in Worcestershire. \p Jim McMahon: I wrote to all councils in Worcestershire on 5 February to formally invite unitary proposals. We have published these letters here. This letter set out the timelines and next steps for local government re-organisation.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_136

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 5 February 2025, HCWS418, on English Devolution and Local Government, what additional funding will be provided to councils in the Devolution Priority Programme; and whether these councils will be required to have a mayoral combined authority. \p Jim McMahon: The Devolution Priority Programme aims to see a new wave of mayors elected in May 2026 across new mayoral combined authorities. Areas on the Programme will receive the full backing of government, this will include a long-term Mayoral Investment Fund. Funding will be confirmed at the forthcoming Spending Review.

This government believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved where there is a mayor in place, to provide strong local leadership and accountability, and the English Devolution White Paper sets out a framework for future devolution agreements, moving away from negotiated deals to a consistent devolution offer.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_137

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government has received representations from local authorities to write off the Public Works Loan Board debts of Woking Borough Council. \p Jim McMahon: Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt, including Woking. We continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_138

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in employer's National Insurance on public services provided by Cornwall Council. \p Jim McMahon: We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. That is why the government is providing an additional £2 billion of grant funding through the Settlement, which includes £502 million of additional grant funding to manage the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets.

Additional funding for employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff and the grant distribution methodology has been published in an explanatory note on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-explanatory-note-on-the-employer-national-insurance-contribution-grant-2025-to-2026.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_139
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_139

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the final local government finance settlement for financial year 2025-26. \p Jim McMahon: The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 was published on the 3rd of February, 2025. The Local Government Finance Settlement and supporting documents are available here.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_140

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what industrial disputes are ongoing within (a) her Department and (b) each of the arm’s length bodies connected to her 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 she plans to take to end each dispute. \p Alex Norris: The Public and Commercial Services trade union (PCS) had a mandate to call strike action between May and November 2024, PCS having notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of a dispute over pay, pensions and jobs. That mandate expired with effect from 13 November 2024, no action has followed, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not been notified of a further ballot.

Further to the outcome of a ballot in December, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members at HM Land Registry (HMLR) commenced Action Short of a Strike indefinitely on 21 January 2025. PCS has approximately 3,800 members in HMLR, out of a total headcount of approximately 7,000. The action consists of ‘’Work to rule, whereby members will not work longer than their contracted hours and will carry out only the work required by their contract’’. The action is in relation to a Trade Dispute regarding the issues of office attendance, use of individual performance data in performance management, and casework classification.

HMLR is confident it will be able to manage its essential services effectively during this period of Action Short of a Strike, as it has done during previous disputes.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_141

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on the adequacy of the support they received for holding local elections in May 2025. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government continues to engage with local authorities, following on from the sustained engagement and support provided ahead of last year’s elections. The Government takes care to understand the needs of Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers and ensure they have the necessary support ahead of scheduled polls in May.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_142

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase voter registration for elections. \p Rushanara Ali: The government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online government services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_143

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of social media access on youth mental health. \p Feryal Clark: In November 2024, DSIT announced a feasibility study to further understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children.

The study will review existing evidence and assess which research methods will be most effective in determining the causal effect of social media and smartphones on children’s developmental outcomes. The study will conclude in May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_144

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which organisations are responsible for (a) the development and (b) the maintenance of the (i) Scout, (ii) Connect, and (iii) Humphrey AI tools. \p Feryal Clark: The Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (i.AI), which is part of the Government Digital Service, developed these tools. i.AI maintains Connect and the Humphrey GovAI toolkit. Scout will be maintained by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_146

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_147

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_148

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of AI on the creative industries. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport jointly published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024, seeking views on several topics relating to the interaction between copyright and AI.

The Government has published a summary assessment of options alongside the consultation which aims to provide context on the range and scale of impacts the Government is considering in these policies.

The Government welcomes further information and evidence on impacts, including the economic impact of AI on the creative industries, to help shape its thinking.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_149

Douglas McAllister:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support digital inclusion in West Dunbartonshire. \p Chris Bryant: Digital inclusion is a priority for me and for Government. It means everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in a modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop our approach to tackling digital exclusion and we hope to announce more on this soon. We look forward working closely with the third sector, business and the Devolved Governments, to ensure interventions are targeted to and based on individual needs.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_150

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding the Government has allocated to media literacy initiatives since 4 July 2024; and what recent assessment he has made of the impact of those initiatives on media literacy. \p Feryal Clark: The government is committed to empowering internet users with the skills to engage critically with online content and make informed decisions.

Since 2022, nearly £3 million in funding has been provided for media literacy projects. This includes £0.5 million in 2024 to scale up two programmes to provide media literacy support to teachers, children aged 11-16, and professionals working with families. That funding covers the 2024/25 financial year.

Robust evaluation and monitoring are key requirements of the grant schemes. Both organisations must evaluate the impact of their programmes over the past year by March 2025.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_151

Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish the Bertin Review. \p Feryal Clark: The Independent Pornography Review is an important area of interest for this government. The Review has now concluded, the government is assessing its findings and the report will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_152

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress of Project Gigabit; how many premises have been connected; and what the status of the outstanding procurements is. \p Chris Bryant: As of the end of March 2024, over one million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes. Additionally, more than £2 billion of contracts have been signed to provide gigabit-capable coverage to over a million more premises.

All planned Project Gigabit contracts for England and Wales have been signed. In the last few months alone, the first premises have been given coverage as part of these contracts in areas including North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and South Wiltshire. Build is under way in many other parts of the country too.

The Scottish Government has four procurements in progress and details of a contract covering the Borders and East Lothian area are expected to be announced shortly. Remaining areas of Scotland will be included within a procurement which is currently under way with Openreach, managed by the UK Government. A single procurement is also in progress in Northern Ireland, managed by the Department for Economy.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_153

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, for what purposes the Met Office has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Feryal Clark: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Met Office is at the forefront of public sector deployment of AI and has an organisation-wide change programme that fosters a culture of AI innovation: AI4Everyone. It has been using AI in a wide range of applications, for example working with The Alan Turing Institute to co-develop a machine learning model for weather prediction known as FastNet. It has also started using AI in climate science applications through its AI4Climate Programme and is deploying AI across its internal operations to deliver efficiencies, improved internal processes and to stimulate innovative new services. It will begin publishing records through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard shortly.

All Arms Length Bodies can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage and have access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_154

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many letters his Department has responded to from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: There has been no correspondence from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-11 conversation_155

Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with universities on the importance maintaining the provision of maths. \p Janet Daby: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, recognises the critical importance of mathematics provision at universities. English universities are independent, autonomous institutions and are therefore free to choose which courses they run. The quality of these courses is assessed by the Office for Students, the regulator of higher education providers in England. The government acknowledges that robust mathematics education is essential for developing the skills needed in various sectors and for maintaining the UK's competitive edge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

The government is committed to ensuring the provision of high-quality mathematics education across universities of all tariff levels. Measures include financial incentives to attract talented individuals into teaching key shortage subjects, such as mathematics.