theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average cost of energy bills was for people (a) with and (b) without smart meters in the latest period for which data is available; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of households with smart meters. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Recent independent evaluation showed that households with smart meters use less energy (equivalent to a cost saving of approximately £40 for the typical household in 2023) on average annually than those with analogue meters. Smart meters also unlock time-of-use tariffs, enabling customers to save money by using energy when demand is low, or when excess clean electricity is available.

To drive progress on the rollout, the Government has set a Targets Framework which sets energy suppliers binding minimum annual smart meter installation targets, alongside requirements for energy suppliers to operate them in smart mode, which are enforced by Ofgem.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of regulating the price of liquefied petroleum gas for (a) park homes and (b) other properties that depend on that energy source. \p Michael Shanks: The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply market does not use a fixed network so there is no natural monopoly as seen for gas and electricity.

The supply of domestic LPG is subject to competition law and consumer protection through a regulatory scheme under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). More details, including a consumer guide to the operation of that regime, can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/liquefied-petroleum-gas-lpg-market-orders-and-calculator.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data his Department holds on the incidence of power outages by (a) postcode (b) postcode sector (c) local authority ward and (d) any other geographical segmentation. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has robust and well-tested processes in place to collect information and data during power outage incidents to ensure situational awareness is maintained. The type of data and information we collect is outlined in the National Emergency Plan for Gas and Electricity, which is available on gov.uk. The type of information gathered differs from incident to incident and can include geographical data such as the number of customers impacted in a region.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the new EPC regulations on the supply of rental properties in underserved regions. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake) by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 14 January 2025 to Question UIN 22048.

On the 4th December 2024 Government published the consultation on Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to incentivize contractors and service providers to operate in underserved areas with high demand for energy efficiency upgrades. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government recognises the need for a skilled, competent and robust supply chain to deliver the improvements to buildings necessary to meet our net zero and fuel poverty targets.

We have invested in regional pilots through the Local Net Zero Hubs which are trialling regional solutions to retrofit supply chain challenges. Over £28 million has been committed to support skills in the energy efficiency and low carbon heating sectors since 2020. The Regional Skills Pilots is a £3.5 million investment in the retrofit skills supply chain across the English regions. The pilots support the five local net zero hubs to work with local delivery partners to identify and test solutions to regional supply chain challenges.

We will set out further details in the Warm Homes Plan.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to mitigate the loss of cavity nesting bird habitats via the Great British Insulation Scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: All Government energy efficiency schemes, including the Great British Insulation Scheme, must comply with construction standards as set out by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 included several changes designed to enhance and protect the environment. For example, it expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the operation (a) Rosebank and (b) Jackdaw oil fields on the UK's (a) carbon budgets and (b) commitments under the Paris Agreement. \p Michael Shanks: I refer the Hon Member to the regulatory decision documents on the environmental effects of the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects. Those regulatory decisions were subject to Judicial Review and were found to be unlawful by the Court of Session in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment in Finch.

Should the developers of the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields choose to re-apply for consent, and submit supplementary environmental information required in light of the Court of Session’s judgment, it will be assessed in line with supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment guidance that the government is finalising and will publish soon.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made with Ofgem of the potential impact of the RIIO2 price control on network company performance. \p Michael Shanks: Through the price control, Ofgem regulates network company investments and sets a fair rate of return to ensure necessary investments can be made. Ofgem utilises a framework of incentives and penalties to drive up performance and is currently considering what changes may be required for future price controls to continue to improve network company performance.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Citizens Advice entitled Debt to society: what the network companies should do with their windfall profits, published on 20 February 2025. \p Michael Shanks: Ofgem recognised that recent higher than expected inflation increased equity value for network companies due to fixed-rate debt financing. In 2023, Ofgem consulted on options to address this and will change the way it regulates network company investment, deliverables and returns, to ensure this issue does not occur in the future. Ofgem considered reclaiming previous excess profits but decided against this to avoid raising the cost of capital and costs for consumers. Ofgem has made clear that it expects network companies to use any inflation benefit to accelerate network upgrades and find additional ways to support consumers struggling with bills.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to promote nature-positive renewable energy. \p Michael Shanks: The Government will ensure that the protection of nature is embedded into the delivery of clean power and we will be driving for nature to not only be protected but restored through clean power infrastructure.

As part of our Clean Power Action Plan, we are considering how to use development to fund nature recovery unlocking a win-win outcome for the economy and for nature. We are working with nature delivery organisations, stakeholders and the sector to consider how we can better support the delivery of infrastructure whilst driving better environmental outcomes.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that the rollout of offshore wind is not detrimental to halting species decline by 2030. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to delivering clean power by 2030, to accelerating to net zero and to restoring nature. New energy infrastructure should be built in a way that protects the natural environment and supports nature recovery, by following a “mitigation hierarchy” to avoid damage to marine protected areas, and minimising, restoring and delivering compensation when damage cannot be avoided. On 29 January 2025, the Government announced reforms in infrastructure consenting to unlock up to thirteen major offshore wind infrastructure projects while protecting the marine environment and the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of our seas for nature by 2030.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that the deployment of offshore renewables is not detrimental to blue carbon stores. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to delivering clean power by 2030, to accelerating to net zero and to restoring nature. The Government needs to ensure that the UK’s marine ecosystems are healthy and capturing and storing carbon too. This means that new energy infrastructure needs to be planned and developed in a way that protects the natural environment and supports nature recovery.

Assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts are a core part of the Government’s planning processes, and future spatial plans will support rebuilding the UK’s natural infrastructure at the same time as building the new energy infrastructure the UK needs for the twenty-first century.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate the Government has made of the cost of nuclear energy relative to renewable sources of power. \p Michael Shanks: The latest published cost and technical assumptions for power technologies, including renewables and nuclear, can be found in the published Generation Costs series. [1]

Renewables and nuclear play different roles in a decarbonising system and full power sector modelling evaluates costs at the system level. For example, analysis of many power sector scenarios [2] indicates that a cost-effective system requires a mix of technologies.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-generation-cost-projections#2023

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modelling-2050-electricity-system-analysis
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the requirement to replace gas boilers with heat pumps whilst the minimum EPC rating is being increased. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government launched a consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector on 7th February 2025, this includes proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.

The Government will not force anyone to rip out a working boiler. Instead, Government is focused on incentivising moves to cleaner, affordable heating and making this attractive and easy for the public. Our Warm Homes Plan will support investment in heat pumps and other energy efficiency upgrades to help cut bills. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to take steps to investigate potential disparity in petrol prices between Newbury constituency and its surrounding areas. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government response to the road fuels consultation published on 30 October 2024 confirmed that Government will implement the recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to:

Fuel Finder will increase price transparency and help drivers easily compare prices and find the best deals. This will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract customers. Subject to legislation and parliamentary timings, we aim to launch Fuel Finder by the end of 2025.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department. \p Michael Shanks: Civil servants who work in the Department’s office locations are asked to book a space to work from the office. In 12 buildings this is a booking for a specific desk, and in 3 buildings it is for an unspecified working space on a particular floor within the building.

Desk booking services for arm’s-length bodies within the Department are not centrally held, and would come at disproportionate cost to the Department in producing this information.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26897 on Data Centres: Planning, what assessment his Department has made of the grid (a) capacity and (b) infrastructure that will be required for new data centres. \p Michael Shanks: The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres, as well as grid constraints, lead times for developers, and how to improve connection processes.
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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to make heat pumps more (a) accessible and (b) cost effective to lower income households. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future.

The Government is taking steps to make heat pumps more efficient and easier to install, ensuring more households can install a heat pump and benefit from cleaner, more efficient heating. As well as increasing funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £295 million next financial year, we are removing outdated planning rules and consulting on product efficiency standards.

Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department plans to take to support landlords in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas to meet the new EPC standards by 2030. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is now consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector to EPC C or equivalent. We are proposing a phased implementation of the new standard from 2028 to 2030 to encourage early action. The consultation is accompanied with the Department’s assessment of the potential cost to landlords. We are considering how we can best support landlords to meet the new standards, including when and how exemptions should be applied for those unable to meet the new standard.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the emissions reduction potential of nuclear energy for the Clean Power 2030 plan. \p Michael Shanks: As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, electricity generated by renewables and nuclear power will form the backbone of a clean electricity system by 2030, supported by low carbon flexible sources of power. EDF has announced extensions to four of its existing nuclear plants, with Heysham 2 and Torness now due to generate until 2030. Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear plant under construction in the UK in a generation, is expected to see its first unit come online between 2029-2031.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to increase the capacity of electricity distribution networks. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to expanding the electricity network to support its Clean Energy Superpower mission and is working closely with Ofgem and industry to mobilise the required investment. Under the most recent price control for electricity distribution, covering 2023-2028, Ofgem has allowed £22.2bn for upfront network investment, of which £3.1bn is set aside for network upgrades to ready the grid for low carbon technologies.

The National Infrastructure Commission published recommendations on 21 February [1] on making the electricity distribution network fit for net zero. We will review the study with our key delivery partners and will publish a formal response this spring.

[1] https://nic.org.uk/app/uploads/Electricity-Distribution-Networks-report-21-Feb-2025.pdf
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of electricity distribution networks, in the context of meeting the Government's net zero targets. \p Michael Shanks: The National Infrastructure Commission published recommendations on 21 February1 on making the electricity distribution network fit for net zero. Their modelling demonstrates that nationally, £37-50 billion of investment in the distribution network could be needed to meet net zero targets by 2050, taking into account expected increases in electricity demand. We are reviewing the study with our key delivery partners and will publish a formal response this spring.

1 https://nic.org.uk/app/uploads/Electricity-Distribution-Networks-report-21-Feb-2025.pdf
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the end of the Renewable Obligation Certificates scheme on anaerobic digestion plants. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants.

We are continuing to assess the situation to understand the impact of the end of Renewables Obligation support on security of supply, clean power 2030 and the environment.

Anaerobic digestion plants do have alternative sources of support available such as the Green Gas Support Scheme that provides support for biomethane grid injection.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his Department's planned timetable is for the publication of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. \p Michael Shanks: The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will be published by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in 2026.
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Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise the use of agrivoltaics in approved solar farms on agricultural land classified as best and most versatile. \p Michael Shanks: Solar energy can be an important way for farmers to increase their revenue from land less suited to higher-value crop production. For example, a number of solar farms have combined solar with livestock grazing. The emerging science of agrivoltaics is developing innovative ways for solar to be integrated with arable farming. The Solar Taskforce has been looking at the use of innovative technologies, and findings will be published in the Solar Roadmap soon.
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Yasmin Qureshi:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of pursuing an international Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. \p Kerry McCarthy: To date, the UK has not endorsed any specific treaty on fossil fuels, but will keep this under review. We are committed to working with all international counterparts to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the UK’s domestic and international commitments including from the COP28 Global Stocktake.
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Juliet Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential of abandoned coal mine sites in the East Midlands for producing low cost and sustainable geothermal energy. \p Kerry McCarthy: To achieve net zero at lowest cost, the UK must look at how to accelerate all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The mine water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks. The government is therefore supporting mine water schemes at Gateshead and Seaham Garden Village through the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund. Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the East Midlands potential the Northeast Local Enterprise Partnership published a report in 2021, supported by the Midlands Energy Hub, assessing options to increase deployment and the Mining Remediation Authority has released opportunity maps.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support green technologies. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Government is committed to supporting the growth and scaling-up of green technologies, including through the creation of GB Energy, as part of its Clean Energy Superpower Mission. A combined total of £1.3 billion has been committed through the 2021-25 Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to accelerate the commercialisation of green technologies supporting around 5,500 jobs and leveraging £750 million in private investment. The Government will set out its full approach to seizing the growth opportunities from clean energy industries in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hotel rooms were used for asylum accommodation on (a) 1 July 2024 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many hotels were used for these purposes on each of those dates. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As part of our effort to cut the overall costs of the asylum system, the Government is committed to end the use of asylum hotels over time, following the peak reached under the previous government when more than 400 hotels were in use, and almost £9 million per day was being spent.

In July 2024 there were 213 hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Currently 216 hotels are in use, with 7 due to close by the end of April 2025. Data on rooms is not available.
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Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many top-up payments have been made to Asylum Support Enablement Cards in each week since 4 July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office has a legal obligation to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers or dependents who appear to be destitute or are likely to become destitute within a prescribed period, while their asylum claim is being considered.

Details of what is considered essential can be found in the annual asylum support rate review reports, published on gov.uk.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s guidance entitled Good character: caseworker guidance, updated on 13 February 2025, whether adults granted refugee status who arrived irregularly in the UK as children can naturalise as British citizens. \p Dame Angela Eagle: When assessing good character, it is normally appropriate to disregard immigration breaches if it is accepted this was outside of the applicant’s control, which will normally be the case where children are involved.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse is of providing accommodation to asylum seekers and refugees in (a) England and (b) the Untried Kingdom; and if she will list each contractor which is funded to provide such services. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office annual report and accounts: 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 30696 on Border Security Command, what the minimum grade is that a civil servant would need to be in order to be eligible to act as the Interim Border Security Commander. \p Dame Angela Eagle: If the Secretary of State were obliged at some future point to designate a civil servant as the Interim Border Security Commander, they would make the decision based on the skills and experience of the individual to perform the functions as set out in the legislation on behalf of the crown for the interim period.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen deterrents against people smugglers involved in illegal Channel crossings; and what steps the Government is taking with its international counterparts to dismantle these criminal networks. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Honourable Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (UIN UCSW406) made by the Home Secretary on 30 January 2025 on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safe routes are available to asylum seekers into the United Kingdom; and what criteria (a) Border Security Command and (b) other enforcement agencies use to distinguish asylum seekers from illegal migration. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who need it through a number of safe and legal routes. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims from the considerable number of people overseas who might like to come here. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.

Nonetheless, there are options available for individuals who wish to come to the UK. Our global resettlement schemes include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Alongside these schemes, we operate specific schemes for those fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan, and an immigration route for British National (overseas) status holders from Hong Kong. Our refugee family reunion policy also allows immediate family members of those granted protection in the UK to stay with them or join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country.
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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) range and (b) average processing times were for statelessness determination applications since 4 July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering these questions at disproportionate cost.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25955 on Asylum: Syria, whether the requirements for the cessation of refugee status for beneficiaries of international protection originating from Syria have currently been met. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave him on 30 January 2025 to Question UIN 25955.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money was seized from gangs involved in smuggling people across the English Channel in (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Seized/Frozen

2022/23

£7,543,746

2023/24

£2,616,509

2024/25

£13,376,869

Seized and frozen assets relating to Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery for the financial years requested is available. These would include much of the seized assets in relation to people smuggling across the Channel.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department has on the number of applications for the grant of certificates for firearms refused on the grounds of an unsatisfactory reference in the last ten years for which figures are available. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Police forces hold the data on local applications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_232

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of expanding safe and legal routes available to asylum seekers on the numbers of small boats crossing the Channel. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK continues to welcome refugees and people in need through our existing global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Safe and legal routes will continue to play a vital role in our overall migration system. However, given the scale of today’s global displacement challenges, it is not possible to offer a pathway into the UK to every person who needs or wants one. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_233

Ruth Cadbury:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Q59 of the oral evidence given by the Strategy, Policy and Communications Director of the DVLA to the Transport Select Committee on 5 July 2023, HC 816, whether the research commissioned by her Department on number plate cloning has been completed; and if she will publish that research. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The results of this research are held by NPCC not the Home Office, and the Home Office understands it is not intended that this will be published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_234

Marie Goldman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing health checks for retired firefighters; and if she will work with (a) NHS Trusts and (b) local healthcare providers in Essex to improve healthcare for firefighters. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The health and safety of firefighters is of paramount importance.

We will continue to engage with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Health and Safety Executive and the National Fire Chiefs Council on the development of policy in this area, including examining the potential benefits of health screening programmes for current and retired firefighters.

Fire and rescue authorities, as the employers, are responsible for the health and wellbeing of firefighters, and so it is for those authorities to take the appropriate action to protect their workforces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_235

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing DBS checks that are portable for an individual applicant rather than an organisation. \p Dame Diana Johnson: A DBS certificate is sent directly to the applicant only. Where an individual applies for another role within the same workforce which is eligible and requires the same type of DBS check, they may use their existing certificate if the employer is content to accept it. In this context, it is the employer’s decision whether to use an existing certificate or to request a new one.

The DBS Update Service, launched in June 2013, supports the portability of an individual’s certificate by ensuring the information is up to date. Once an individual joins the Update Service, they are able to keep their certificate up to date by giving employers permission to check if anything has changed on their certificate, as long as the role is in the same workforce and eligible for the same level of check as the existing certificate.

The Update service allows existing and new employers to undertake instant online checking of DBS certificates with the individual’s consent, thus saving time and money. The applicant would only need to obtain a new certificate in cases where there has been a change in recorded information, or in cases where they need to apply for a different type of criminal record check. The Update Service is free to use for volunteers and costs £16 a year for paid employees.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_236

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average processing time for Disclosure and Barring Service checks conducted through Hampshire Police. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent from the Home Office.

Accordingly, the Home Office does not hold the information requested on the average processing time for DBS checks conducted through Hampshire Police.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_237

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support her Department is providing to fire and rescue services, in the context of levels of increases in central funding. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances.

The Home Office will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure fire and rescue services can protect local communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_238

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to designate misogyny as a hate crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

The Government is carefully considering how best to tackle hate crime. We will set out next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_239

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of hate crimes against transgender people. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Transgender identity hate crimes are completely unacceptable and this Government is determined to tackle hate crime in all its forms. We have a robust legislative framework in place in England and Wales to respond to hate crimes, including those which target transgender people, and we back the police in taking strong action against the perpetrators of these offences.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of transgender hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales. In the year ending March 2024, transgender hate crimes decreased by 2% to 4,780 offences in 2023/24, when compared with the previous year (4,889).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_240

Yuan Yang:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of domestic abuse on levels of knife crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Physical abuse, violent or threatening behaviour often form part of controlling or coercive behaviour. As set out in the statutory guidance under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on controlling or coercive behaviour, this can involve use, or threats of use, of ‘weapons’, such as knives, and coercing the victim into carrying out criminal behaviour such as carrying weapons.

This government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency. As part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, we will ask the police to relentlessly pursue those perpetrators who pose the greatest risk to women.

We are clear that this is not a problem that can be solved by one government department, by one piece of legislation, or by one agency. It will require focused, coordinated, and joined up long-term action between all our key partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_241

Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) help prevent and (b) support the victims of tool theft. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We recognise the negative impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living.

We are continuing to work with the police-led National Business Crime Centre and industry via the Combined Industries Theft Solutions forum to explore ways to tackle and prevent the theft of tools.

We are also working alongside the police and businesses to tackle these crimes and ensure perpetrators receive just punishment, including work to make tradespeople’s vans secure.

Following engagement with the Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group, Thatcham Research agreed to add to their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA), locks and alarms on the back of vans (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van. This is supported by crime prevention advice developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives: Secured by Design - Vans & Tool Theft.

A key part of making acquisitive crime less attractive to criminals is making stolen goods harder to sell on. That is why we are working closely with policing and academic leads to examine what more can be done to tackle the disposal markets for stolen goods and reduce the ability to profit from this criminality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_242

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to facilitate engagement with trade unions representing police, fire and border security staff. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office places significant importance on building industrial relations with representative workforce organisations for police, fire and border security. I can advise specifically of the following:

Police

Police staff are employed by each force and report into their respective Chief Constables. The Home Office meets with unions that represent police staff on a regular basis to understand the issues of importance to their members.

Police officers are represented by their police staff associations and not trade unions, and the Home Office meets with these organisations on a regular basis.

Fire and Rescue Services

The Home Office is proactively engaging with unions in relation to fire and rescue related policy and has conducted ministerial and official level engagement with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and other representative organisations. We have also created a Ministerial Advisory Group, with representation from senior leaders across the sector, including the FBU.

Border Security Staff

Border security staff are employed by the Home Office. The department has long standing trade union recognition and engagement arrangements, which seek to ensure unions representing border security staff are appropriately engaged on matters impacting their members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-03 conversation_243

Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to tackle the flow of illicit drugs in Greater Manchester. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling the criminals running drug supply chains is a priority for this government as part of our mission to reduce serious violence and exploitation. Key to achieving our aim of halving knife crime is targeting the drug gangs which drive serious violence, where one quarter of knife homicides are connected to drugs markets.

In partnership with the NCA and policing we are targeting organised crime groups at every stage of the drug supply chain, combatting illicit finance, disrupting the hidden channels through which criminals communicate, and supporting law enforcement agencies with dedicated personnel to identify high-harm threats and opportunities for disruption.

In addition, to disrupt county lines, which is the most violent and exploitative model of drug distribution, we are also providing, through our County Lines Programme, dedicated funding to Greater Manchester Police to support activity to tackle this issue.