theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on (a) staffing levels, (b) recruitment challenges and (c) plans to address workforce shortages. \p Hilary Benn: A well staffed and resourced PSNI is vital to the success and stability of Northern Ireland. I regularly engage with the Chief Constable and Justice Minister on issues of shared interest and concern.

The UK Government’s Autumn budget delivered a record £18.2 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive in FY 2025/26 – the largest settlement in real terms in the history of devolution.

Policing in Northern Ireland, apart from national security, is a devolved matter and the allocation of budget to the PSNI is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice (DoJ). I am aware that the DoJ is continuing to work closely with the Chief Constable and his team to build a robust case for the funding required to recover workforce numbers over the course of the current mandate.

We continue to support the PSNI and recognising the unique security situation in Northern Ireland, the UK Government will provide the PSNI with £37.8 million in Additional Security Funding in 2025/26, an increase from c£32m a year.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department plans to take steps to commission a public inquiry into the Kingsmill shooting of 5 January 1976. \p Hilary Benn: The Coroner in the Kingsmill Inquest delivered clear and detailed findings on 12 April 2024, setting out that this was a horrific and sectarian terrorist atrocity carried out by the IRA with absolutely no justification.

While these findings will have provided important information to the families, I also recognise that there remain unanswered questions. We now await the publication of the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Kingsmill shootings.

I would encourage any family still seeking answers in respect of this or any other Troubles-related death or serious injury to speak to the independent Commission about how they might be able to help.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on small businesses sourcing material. \p Hilary Benn: The Windsor Framework established a broad set of arrangements to support Great Britain-based businesses to move goods to Northern Ireland, including to small businesses based in Northern Ireland.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are front and centre of the Government’s growth mission. The Government is committed to supporting the Executive as it works to generate economic growth. In support of that, I hold regular discussions with ministers and political parties in the Assembly, as well as with businesses and their representative bodies.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to reduce trade barriers between Northern Ireland and (a) Bromsgrove and (b) other parts of Great Britain. \p Hilary Benn: This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, to taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market, and to taking forward Safeguarding the Union. The Windsor Framework ensures Northern Ireland’s businesses have unfettered access to their most important market in Great Britain, including Bromsgrove, and the UK internal market system is helping to smooth the flow of trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

We are also seeking a veterinary/SPS agreement with the EU, which would further remove barriers to the movement of animal, food and plant products across the Irish Sea.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason grant funding for Adlar Limited was paused. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is responsible for setting the policy which underpins the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Ofgem as the scheme administrator make decisions on scheme eligibility in line with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2022 Regulations.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking with OFGEM to coordinate grant funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. \p Michael Shanks: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a demand led scheme, which provides grants up to £7,500, to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low carbon heating systems. Installers apply for and redeem the voucher on behalf of a property owner, to streamline the customer journey.

Ofgem, as scheme administrator, issue and process vouchers providing all eligibility criteria is met, in accordance with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2022 regulations.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of involving Adlar Ltd in the rollout of the Government's Warm Homes Plan. \p Michael Shanks: 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.  Heat pumps will play a vital role in delivering the Government's Warm Homes Plan, and further details on the Plan will be set out in due course.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) households and (b) listed buildings have been awarded funding for energy efficiency installations under the ECO4 scheme in (i) Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr constituency (ii) Wales and (iii) England. \p Michael Shanks: ECO4 does not award funding to households, it is an obligation set by Government on large energy suppliers to install energy efficiency measures.

To the end of September 2024 (the latest available data by parliamentary constituency and nation), ECO4 has supported: (i) 1,140 households in the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, (ii) 18,729 households in Wales, and (iii) 166,258 households in England.

The Department does not hold data on how many listed buildings have received ECO4 measures.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department has taken to help ensure that people can access support through the Warm Homes Plan in Gloucester. \p Michael Shanks: As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next three years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1 billion of this allocated to 2025/2026.

This includes support for the most vulnerable, including those in Gloucester, to help slash fuel poverty. To fund energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating for social housing residents, lower income households, and renters, £1.29 billion has been committed to the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and £500m for the Warm Homes: Local Grant respectively. Delivery is expected to start this year.

Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Tiered Energy Proposal for consumer energy bills. \p Michael Shanks: A tiered energy pricing system is known as a block tariff. Traditionally, block tariffs are either a rising block tariff where the cost of energy increases in increments the more energy used or, a falling block tariff which acts in reverse. Low energy users benefit more from a rising block tariff and high energy users benefit from a falling block tariff. Since the introduction of the energy price cap in 2018, suppliers can choose to offer block tariffs as a competitive incentive for their business model.

Ofgem, in their recent call for input on standing charges, asked about block tariffs, and feedback from consumer representatives and charities was mixed. As part of Ofgem’s continued work on standing charges, they are seeking views on options including increasing tariff diversity in the market, which could include block tariffs.
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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential economic impact of linking the UK and EU emissions trading schemes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of linking UK and EU emissions trading schemes on (a) electricity prices, (b) energy bills, (c) carbon prices and (d) the economic climate for UK industrial investment. \p Sarah Jones: Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to give serious consideration to linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing. As part of our reset with the EU the Government continues to explore all options to improve trade and investment.
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Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) on proposals to transfer the BCSSS investment reserve to members. \p Sarah Jones: I refer the honourable member to my response on 29 January 2025 (UIN 25410).
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on innovation in nuclear technology. \p Michael Shanks: DESNZ Ministers engage with Devolved Government counterparts on energy matters regularly, including through the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Interministerial Group (IMG) which last took place on 17 October 2024. The next IMG is scheduled to meet on 6 March in Belfast with NI Ministers chairing.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve the resilience of the electricity grid to extreme weather conditions. \p Michael Shanks: Great Britain has a highly resilient energy network. Network operators have completed a significant number of improvements to the resilience of Great Britain’s electricity network which means the electricity system is in a much better place to mitigate power disruption during extreme weather events such as Storm Darragh and Storm Eowyn. The Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C) work to identify lessons after all large energy incidents to ensure continuous improvement to the network. E3C will work with network operators in Northern Ireland as part of this process to ensure, where necessary, improvements are made across the UK.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the cost of net zero targets for Fire and Rescue services. \p Kerry McCarthy: Fire and Ambulance Stations account for around 2% of greenhouse gas emissions from public sector buildings in England according to the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-energy-efficiency-survey-bees).

The Government has previously estimated the cost of decarbonising all UK public sector buildings at £25bn to £30bn in 2022 prices. This estimate will be reviewed this year. The cost of retrofitting different sub-sectors of the public sector will vary according to several factors, including the types of buildings used and their age. This leads to different relative costs across these sub-sectors.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of GB Energy on the cost of energy bills. \p Michael Shanks: Great British Energy is a key part of the government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by achieving clean power by 2030.

This is part of a sustainable, long-term plan to protect all UK billpayers from volatile international gas markets. In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of co-locating solar and onshore wind farms access to battery energy storage systems. \p Michael Shanks: A smart and flexible energy system is essential for meeting net zero. Co-locating solar and onshore wind farms with battery storage are a part of this, making it possible for the delivery of stored electricity when the wind is not blowing, or the sun does not shine.

The Government is supportive of renewable energy deployment alongside other functions, such as energy storage, in order to maximise the efficiency of land use and network infrastructure.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies on renewable electricity generation of the Royal Society's report entitled Net zero aviation fuels: resource requirements and environmental impacts published on 28 February 2023. \p Michael Shanks: The report in question considers four potential net zero aviation fuels: hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels (efuels) and biofuels. Recommendations include the need for further Research and Development of the efficient production, storage and use of green hydrogen and efuels.

The government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting its missions to kick start economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower, and we will continue to work together with industry to consider the best way to support the aviation industry to decarbonise, including through the Jet Zero Taskforce.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how his Department determined the category 2B threshold of three million average monthly active UK users in the Online Safety Act 2023. \p Feryal Clark: In March 2024, Ofcom published research and advice on categorisation, as required by the Online Safety Act. Ofcom’s advice can be found at the following web address: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/categorisation-research-and-advice/. In April 2024, Ofcom published a letter which provides some clarification on the approach that Ofcom took to developing its proposals and the results of the testing of threshold options. This letter can be found at the following web address: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/04-24-letter-melanie-dawes-categorisation.pdf?v=322334. On 16 December, the Secretary of State laid regulations in line with Ofcom’s recommendations.
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Alan Mak:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what meetings he has held with the creative industries since 5 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: Ministers, special advisers, and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders, details of ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the influence of China within (a) the International Telecommunication Union, (b) the Third Generation Partnership Project and (c) other international telecommunications standards-setting bodies on (i) UK national security and (ii) the five eyes intelligence alliance. \p Chris Bryant: Upholding national security remains the first duty of this government. The UK takes an active role in organisations including the International Telecommunication Union and the Third Generation Partnership Project, to shape standards to serve innovation while mitigating risks to the security of emerging technologies. We recognise that other states, including China, may seek to shape standards development in ways that differ to UK values. We need to co-operate with China where we can, while challenging where necessary. To safeguard our democratic societies, we are taking steps with our allies to promote the international rules-based system that underpins our security.
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Mr Luke Charters:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing the use of Look and Tell AI glasses for people with visual impairment. \p Feryal Clark: AI has the potential to transform everyday life, making services quicker, smarter and more efficient. Embracing AI will directly improve the lives of everyone by personalising services and supporting better outcomes, including those with visual impairments.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out our plans to exploit the potential of AI to positively impact the lives of the British public. For example, the government is adopting a flexible “Scan, Pilot, Scale” approach and delivering mission-focussed national AI tenders to ensure effective and lasting adoption in the public sector.

While we deliver the Plan, we also encourage regulators to take a pro-innovation approach within their sectors, with the new Regulatory Innovation Office having an important role to play across all sectors.

We will continue to work closely with the AI sector and experts to ensure we are aligning innovative outcomes with our world-leading standards and expectations.
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Alan Mak:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what meetings he has had with the AI industry since 5 July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: We are committed to building an AI sector that can scale and win globally, ensuring global AI companies want to call the UK home, and boosting the responsible adoption of AI across all parts of the economy. The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan, which was developed by Matt Clifford, has been informed by a series of external roundtables with experts from across the AI ecosystem, including civil society, academia, investors, and industry. All external meetings with Ministers are listed on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-quarterly-transparency-return-2023-2024
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled Shake up of tech and AI usage across NHS and other public services to deliver plan for change, published on 21 January 2025, on what evidential basis the press release said that removing the need to queue to register a death would boost growth. \p Feryal Clark: There was an initial error in publishing on GOV.UK which omitted the reference below to getting driving licences for lorries. This has now been amended.

The press notice that was distributed to journalists read as follows:

“It will do away with insensitive and antiquated processes that have been holding this country back for too long. That means scrapping the need for people to queue at the local council to register the death of a loved one, and doing away with the need to post an advert in your local paper if you want to get a license to drive a lorry – getting in the way of growth.”
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Alan Mak:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding was allocated to each Cyber Local project announced on 8 January 2025. \p Feryal Clark: Cyber Local is a UK government scheme to deliver tailored support for the cyber security sector across regions of England and Northern Ireland. It is part of the government’s work to kickstart economic growth and ensure good jobs, skills and growth benefit every part of the country. £1.9 million of funding will be shared by 31 projects, details of which can be found here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-local-projects-2025

The downloadable spreadsheet indicates whether the project focuses on skills, resilience or innovation.
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Alan Mak:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he made an impact assessment before publication of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. \p Feryal Clark: The AI Opportunities Action Plan was an independent report delivered by Matt Clifford CBE, who engaged widely across AI startups, industry leaders, academia and civil society. Matt Clifford regularly updated ministers on progress before submitting the final plan which was published on 13th January alongside the Government response setting out the steps departments would take to implement the 50 recommendations. As is usual practice, the impact of these recommendations would be assessed when they are about to be introduced.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the International Telecommunication Union has ever challenged the use of military spectrum by the (a) UK and (b) US. \p Chris Bryant: Individual countries have the sovereign right to manage and use the radio spectrum, within their borders, the way they wish, subject to not causing interference with other countries.   This right is recognised in the Radio Regulations. The Radio Regulations are the international framework for the use of spectrum by radiocommunication services, defined and managed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Individual countries, not the ITU, make their own sovereign spectrum assignments in accordance with the Radio Regulations. The ITU has no legal authority over these assignments regardless of the country’s civilian or military classification of spectrum.

The ITU cannot challenge the UK’s use of civilian or military spectrum. It is possible that one country could challenge another’s spectrum use, for instance if it should cause harmful interference across borders, and if unresolved bilaterally could seek arbitration through an ITU body (Radio Regulations Board).
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for publishing the Active Debris Removal Programme. \p Chris Bryant: Active Debris Removal (ADR) is a core part of in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing capabilities to support safe, secure and sustainable access to space. The Government recently awarded £4.7 million to Astroscale and ClearSpace to understand the risks and costs of an ADR mission to rendezvous with and deorbit two UK-licenced satellites. The UK Space Agency is developing the business case for Phase 3 of the ADR programme which, if successful, will be published for tender in mid-2025 to prepare for mission launch in 2028. Any future phase will be subject to funding decisions which will be taken through the Spending Review.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions she with BT on the potential impact of the withdrawal of BT's free (a) online and (b) physical directories on (i) the elderly and (ii) people in digital poverty. \p Chris Bryant: Ofcom is responsible for ensuring that UK consumers have access to directory and directory information services. Ofcom does not specify the form of the directory.

The Department has not had discussions with BT around the withdrawal of its physical directories or their free online directory. We understand from a public statement made by BT that it took a decision to withdraw these due to a lack of demand and the environmental impact of printing and distributing hard copies.

BT provides free downloadable A-Z directory on their website; hard copies can be purchased online. BT offers a free service, called 195 for users with certain additional needs.
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David Reed:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has set a target for research and development expenditure in 2030. \p Feryal Clark: Departmental budgets are currently set up to the end of financial year 2025/26. The government is currently in the middle of a Spending Review, which will set out the government’s spending plans for R&D through to 2029/30. This will conclude in June 2025.

At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor confirmed that total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26. As part of this, DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9bn for the 2025/26 financial year.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to make government digital services accessible to people without strong digital skills. \p Feryal Clark: The Government Digital Service supports and incentivises departments to design digital services that are simple and easy to use. The Service Manual provides patterns to help departments design both online services for people with limited digital literacy and offline channels to support users, such as in person support at Post Offices for OneLogin.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the roll out of broadband in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: Our assessment is that rural coverage is not good enough which is why we are committed to improving it.

We are committed to delivering nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030. More than £2 billion of contracts have been signed to provide access to gigabit-capable broadband to over a million more premises.The vast majority of the premises to be covered by these contracts will be in rural areas.
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Kevin Bonavia:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to make government digital services accessible to people in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: The new digital centre exists to enable Departments to deliver digital public services that work for everyone. GDS guide, monitor and assure all digital public services, incentivising departments to provide support for service users with low digital skills or limited access to the web.

Through Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing to deliver broadband and mobile connectivity to hard-to-reach areas with limited or low coverage.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help protect consumers from (a) deepfake technology, (b) AI-generated phishing scams and (c) other fraud enabled by artificial intelligence. \p Feryal Clark: Government takes the threats posed by generative AI extremely seriously. That is why we are taking forward our manifesto commitment to ban the creation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes in the Data (Use and Access) Bill.

AI-generated content is captured by the Online Safety Act where it constitutes illegal content or content harmful to children on an in-scope service. Fraud is designated a priority offence under the Act, and in-scope services will need to take proactive measures to tackle illegal fraud content.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology also works jointly with the Home Office and HM Treasury through the Joint Fraud Taskforce to address fraud across different sectors.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the space industry in Cornwall. \p Chris Bryant: During the current spending period, the Government has invested over £6.9 million to support the Cornwall region to develop its local space capabilities, enabling Spaceport Cornwall to conduct the first ever orbital launch attempt from UK soil and supporting Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd to deliver deep space commercial services. The cluster is also being supported to attract investment from international space companies, and progress Cornwall’s strategic ambitions to become a global leader in satellite operations and communications and the testing and development of spaceflight systems.
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Uma Kumaran:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) resources and (b) legal powers available to the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the context of the introduction of mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting requirements for large companies. \p Seema Malhotra: As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the government is committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

We will shortly be consulting on our proposals to help us shape the legislation. This will include considering how the new reporting requirements will be monitored and enforced.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

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John Cooper:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much (a) her Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies has spent on external public relations since 5 July 2024; and which firms that funding went to. \p Anneliese Dodds: Public relations activity is a subset of communication spend. As such, this data is not held for the Office for Equality and Opportunity or the Social Mobility Commission. The Government Communication Service encourages the prioritisation of low and no cost public relations activities wherever possible.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an independent arm’s length body. Questions on their spend would need to be directed to the EHRC.

It is recommended that all external communications support should be procured through approved government frameworks, with strict controls in place to ensure cost-effectiveness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_252

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps with his international counterparts to (a) help ensure that an assessment is made of the condition of and (b) protect the (i) Gaza and (ii) Deir el Belah Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries in Gaza. \p Al Carns: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) reports that as a result of the recent conflict in Gaza, both the Gaza War Cemetery and the Deir al Balah War Cemetery have suffered extensive damage, including to approximately 10% of the headstones.

A more detailed assessment cannot be carried out until the current situation subsides. The CWGC will, however, restore those sites to a befitting standard as and when circumstances allow. Until then, the locally employed maintenance team remain temporarily relocated outside Gaza.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_253

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on Members of Parliament holding surgeries for armed forces personnel in military barracks. \p Al Carns: Guidance on the use of Ministry of Defence sites to host MP constituency surgeries is set out in Joint Service Publication 850, entitled Infrastructure and Estate Policy, Standards and Guidance which states that: 'Use of MOD facilities is not to be permitted for any purpose associated with a political party, a group having political associations, an organisation with political aims or for large scale assemblies/rallies which in the judgement of the Budget Holder are likely to cause a breach of the peace or result in unruly conduct.'
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_254

Juliet Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the establishment of the Armed Forces Commissioner on service personnel in Broxtowe constituency. \p Luke Pollard: The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first step in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, and to improve service life. They will be a direct point of contact for the Armed Forces and their families in every constituency, including Broxtowe, to raise welfare issues that impact on their service life. Through reports and recommendations, the new Commissioner will bring those welfare issues to the attention of Parliament and the public.

The Bill to create an Armed Forces Commissioner is now undergoing consideration in the House of Lords having completed its Commons Stages last month.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_255

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to make the process of tending for his Department's contracts is more accessible to SMEs. \p Maria Eagle: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hold a crucial place in UK defence. They are the backbone of the UK economy and vital to delivering the innovation, expertise and agility we need now and in the future. Consideration of SMEs is a key element in our development of the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). Through this we will consider how we better support SMEs, reduce barriers and set the conditions that unlock the full potential of SMEs to innovate at pace and seize future opportunities. A revised SME Action Plan will follow the DIS with the aim to improve engagement and increase Ministry of Defence (MOD) direct spend with SMEs.

In the meantime, the Procurement at MOD page on the gov.uk website contains detailed information for SMEs looking to become a supplier or contractor in defence. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/about/procurement
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_256

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure fire and rescue service personnel receive training on (a) electric vehicle fires and (b) lithium-ion battery incidents. \p Dame Diana Johnson: It is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. We will continue to work closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to ensure fire and rescue services have the training, research and equipment they need to keep the public safe.

Through our well-established national Fire Kills campaign, we are working to raise awareness on safe usage, storage and charging of e-bikes and e-scooters to support fire prevention in the home. We have developed educational resources, in partnership with the NFCC and local fire and rescue services, and published advice on the FireEngland.uk website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_257

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department assesses references from British nationals during the visitor visa application process. \p Seema Malhotra: The Visit caseworker guidance provides guidance to decision makers when assessing Visitor applications. It sets out that all information provided by the applicant must be assessed which may include supporting statements or references provided by British nationals to support the application - Visit caseworker guidance (accessible) - GOV.UK

Visitor visa applications are assessed on their individual merits, considering all aspects of the case. This may include supporting documents provided by a sponsor, which are then evaluated, along with the rest of the application, against the balance of probabilities to determine if the application meets the requirements of the Visitor Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor - Guidance - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_258

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of capping annual net-migration into the United Kingdom. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the Answer provided on 05 December to Question UIN 16705.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_259

Chris Philp:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will accelerate deportations of (a) foreign national offenders and (b) illegal immigrants. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We pledged to deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 and this has been surpassed, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to nearly 19,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed in the first six months this government was in office.

That included 5,074 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK, up 24% compared with the same period 12 months prior, and the removal of 2,925 foreign national offenders (FNOs) – a 21% increase on the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

As part of the above, bespoke charter flights have removed immigration offenders to countries around the world, including 4 of the biggest returns flights in the UK’s history, carrying more than 800 people in total.

This ramp-up reverses the decline in removals seen over the past 10 years and, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, is working to fix the foundations of a broken immigration system.

Further details on this government’s returns activity since 5 July can be found here: Returns from the UK since 5 July 2024 - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_260

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 902576 on Employment: Asylum, what the gender balance of dependents of asylum seekers is; what assessment she has made of the impact of the rules that do not allow those dependants to work on the Government’s (a) aim to deliver an asylum process that is gender sensitive and (b) wider strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We are committed to delivering an asylum process that is gender sensitive, building on the Government’s wider strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. All decision-makers receive mandatory training on considering asylum claims and must follow published Home Office policy guidance, including guidance on gender issues, which covers specific forms of gender-based persecution.

The Home Office also continues to invest in a programme of transformation to speed up decision making and therefore reduce the time people spend in the asylum system. This approach will ensure that genuine asylum seekers can be accepted quickly and gain access to the labour market, and those who are not can be removed to their home country.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims by applicant type and sex is published in table Asy_D01 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_261

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Official Tribunals Statistics quarterly: July to September 2024, what analysis has been done of the reasons for the increase in asylum appeal cases in the category of Asylum/Protection/Revocation of Protection. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Both the Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: July to September 2024 to which the question refers, published by the Ministry of Justice, and the latest Immigration System Statistics quarterly release, published by Home Office, explain that the rise in asylum appeals is linked to the increase in asylum claims receiving an initial decision as part of the Home Office’s work to reduce the initial decision backlog.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_262

Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of funding for police training programmes. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement which equates to a 6% cash terms increase and 3.5% real terms.

Decisions on how funding and resources are utilised are an operational matter for Chief Constables and locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to make resourcing decisions within their communities based on their local knowledge and experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-12 conversation_263

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of hotels required as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers in England on 31 December 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government remains resolute in its commitment to reduce the costs of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of asylum hotels over time, through a number of actions including restarting the processing of asylum claims, establishing the new Border Security Command, and prioritising the acquisition of more sustainable dispersal accommodation.

The Home Office keeps the asylum accommodation estate under constant review, but demand for asylum accommodation is volatile. This means the Home Office often has to work at pace to ensure compliance with its statutory duty to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.