theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_1

Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her planned timetable is for establishing specialist rape courts in every Crown Court location in England and Wales. \p Sarah Sackman: We know that, due to the complexity of the cases, victims of rape can wait longer than victims of other offence types for their case to complete in court. We remain committed to delivering our manifesto pledge to fast-track rape cases.

The fast-tracking of rape cases has dependencies with, and impacts on, the rest of the criminal justice system, including the wider Crown Court caseload and the capacity of the rape and serious sexual offences specialist legal workforce. We are carefully considering how best to deliver this. We plan to work closely with the judiciary and will be able to say more in due course.

We are also considering what changes could make victims feel better supported at court. Over 400 professionals, including court staff, CPS and the police, have already received trauma-informed training at Snaresbrook, Leeds and Newcastle Crown Courts. In some courts, witness waiting rooms and in-court technology have also been upgraded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time is for grooming-gang offences to proceed through the judicial system from initial report to final decision. \p Sarah Sackman: Information on timeliness through the criminal justice system is published as part of the quarterly Accredited Official Statistics series “Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly” which is available at the link provided: Criminal court statistics.

Information on whether defendants dealt with are part of ‘grooming gangs’ is not centrally identified in the criminal courts data systems relevant to this question. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the specific information requested.

The Government’s priority is to take action on delivering the recommendations of the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The Home Secretary announced that we will be bringing in mandatory reporting, making grooming an aggravating factor in CSA cases, and introducing a new performance framework for policing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14th October 2024 to Question 6697 on Magistrates' Courts: Telford, when she expects Shropshire remand cases to be returned to Telford Magistrates' Court. \p Sarah Sackman: The week commencing Monday 24 March 2025 would be a suitable go-live date for the new listing plan to start and for Shropshire prisoners to be returned to Telford Crown Court. This date was shared with local stakeholders at a dedicated court user group meeting on Tuesday 3 December 2024, with further meetings promising to share updates prior to and after go-live.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in processing times for Deputyship applications by the Court of Protection. \p Sarah Sackman: HM Courts & Tribunals Service is focused on increasing outputs to reduce the overall timeliness on all types of applications and to reduce delays in processing times. HMCTS has implemented a number of different measures which includes a targeted action plan to increase resources to meet the higher demand and the training and upskilling of new staff. HMCTS has also implemented new digital ways of working together with a new case management system which will support the reduction in overall end to end processing times.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Nigel Huddleston:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the urgent question of 14 January 2025 on Drones: High-security Prisons, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using military technology to block drones flying over prisons; and whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on this issue. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: We are working hard to deter, detect and disrupt the illegal use of drones to deliver contraband into prisons. We conduct vulnerability assessments across the estate to identify risks, and to develop and implement plans to manage and mitigate them. HM Prison & Probation Service uses targeted countermeasures such as improvements to windows, netting and grills to stop drones delivering contraband such as drugs, mobile phones and weapons.

We work across government, including with the Ministry of Defence, to examine options to mitigate the threat of drones to prisons. We are also engaging with international counterparts to develop our learning, support our strategy and share best practice. Due to operational sensitivities, we are not able to discuss in detail the tactics used by HMPPS to disrupt drones, including technologies used, however our response must be specific to a prison setting and tailored to individual prisons.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what timetable she has set to introduce a victims’ legal advocate in every police force area. \p Sarah Sackman: We remain committed to delivering our manifesto commitment to introduce free independent legal advisors for victims and survivors of adult rape.

The Government plans to launch a single national service which will serve all police force areas. Once the service is rolled out in full, every victim of adult rape will have the opportunity to access a legal advisor no matter where they live.

We plan to introduce the service later this year, with a phased rollout. A phased rollout will enable us to better understand the costs, demand, benefits for victims, and wider impacts on the justice system. We are currently in the process of designing how this phased rollout will take place.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to encourage uptake of the SafeLives Independent Domestic Violence Advisor training course. \p Sarah Sackman: Under Section 16(1) of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (“the Act”), the Secretary of State is required to issue guidance on victim support roles which are specified in regulations. The Government will shortly consult on draft statutory guidance on Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). The IDVA guidance aims to improve the consistency of support delivered to victims by providing best practice recommendations, including on minimum training requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to review sentencing guidelines for extreme misogyny. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government has made a clear commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. We will use every tool within our power to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence. We will also work with key partners and organisations that support victims of these crimes.

Sentencing guidelines are developed and reviewed by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so. The guidelines produced provide the Court with guidance on factors that should be considered, which may affect the sentence given. They set out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused and how culpable the offender is. As an independent body, the Council decides its own work plan and priorities.

The Government has launched an independent Sentencing Review, chaired by David Gauke. The review has been asked to specifically examine the sentencing of offences primarily committed against women and girls.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Liam Byrne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a system on universal basic capital based on the universal roll-out of sidecar accounts into which is paid a one off dividend from the National Wealth Fund. \p James Murray: The Government recognises the positive effect that saving can have on financial resilience and is committed to incentivising greater saving and investment. The Government supports people of all incomes and at all stages of life to save and offers a wide range of savings products, including the Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), Junior ISA and Help to Save. We have also committed to consider what more can be done to support household savings as part of the Financial Inclusion Strategy which will be published later this year.

The purpose of the National Wealth Fund is to support the delivery of the Government’s industrial strategy, mobilise private capital and make an overall return for the taxpayer. This will support the Government’s clean energy and growth missions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking through the tax system to support small businesses with increases in employer National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: The Government has protected the smallest businesses by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all. The government has also frozen the small business multiplier. Together with Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), which exempts over a third of properties from business rates, this will protect 90% of properties from inflationary increases in business rates liabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will increase funding for public services to help ensure the affordability of pay awards. \p Darren Jones: I refer the hon Member to my answer during HMT topical questions today (21 January 2025).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC has made of levels of money laundering from Bangladesh into the UK property market. \p James Murray: HM Revenue and Customs continually reviews and monitors international risks and threats on an ongoing basis, deploying the full range of investigative tools and capabilities to address such issues as they arise. HMRC cannot provide information requested if its release would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.

Disclosing details in relation to our analysis and estimates of money laundering from Bangladesh or any other jurisdiction could reveal where we have focussed or are focussing our activities and put our compliance activities at risk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Neil Coyle:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential economic benefits of entering European Union customs union membership. \p James Murray: No. The Government is working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience. There will be no return to the customs union. We are committed to finding constructive ways to work together and deliver for the British people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending deemed reseller rules to include UK-established sellers. \p James Murray: Since 1 January 2021 overseas sellers, or online marketplaces where they facilitate the sale, are required to be registered and account for VAT for supplies of low value imports of £135 or less. Where an overseas seller sells goods located in the UK at the point of sale via an online marketplace, the online marketplace is liable for the VAT for goods of any value.    The changes ensure a level playing field for UK high street and online retailers, ensure the continued flow of goods at the border and improve compliance. Certified analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates the changes will raise £1.8 billion per annum by 2026-27.    The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Alex Easton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) equivalent health funding is allocated to the devolved Administrations and (b) all UK nations benefit equitably from health service improvements. \p Darren Jones: The devolved governments are each responsible for deciding how to allocate their funding across their devolved responsibilities in their respective nations, including health.

The devolved governments’ Spending Review settlements for 2025-26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution, each receiving at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. That translates into over £8.5 billion per year for the Scottish Government, over £4 billion for the Welsh Government and £2.5 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative estimate of the potential impact of maintaining levels of fuel duty at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the cost of transporting goods by (a) rail freight and (b) road haulage. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut and cancelling the planned increase in line with inflation for 2025/26.

This maintains fuel duty rates, including those for red diesel, at the levels set in March 2022 for an additional 12 months and represents an average saving of nearly £1,100 for heavy goods vehicles in 2025/26.

In 2020, the previous Government announced that the red diesel entitlement would be withdrawn from most sectors from April 2022. In the rail sector, the previous Government concluded that the removal of the red diesel entitlement for passenger or freight journeys risked creating perverse environmental outcomes, namely transferring rail freight or passengers to more polluting lorries, coaches and cars if costs rose. Whereas full duty diesel is taxed at 52.95p per litre, red diesel is taxed at 10.18p per litre.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether if Further Education colleges will be eligible to o reclaim VAT for renewable energy installations. \p James Murray: Further Education (FE) colleges cannot reclaim the VAT they pay on goods and services.

However, FE colleges benefit from a zero rate of VAT on installations of qualifying energy-saving materials if their buildings meet the definition of being used “solely for a relevant charitable purpose”. This VAT zero rate is in place until March 2027, after which it will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent. This relief – worth over £1 billion – will aid households and charities in improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, help to reduce carbon emissions, and ultimately help us to reach our ambitious Net Zero by 2050 target.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new carbon capture clusters on the economy in (a) Teesside and (b) Merseyside. \p James Murray: The first clusters were selected after an assessment of five criteria, including economic benefits. We expect these two clusters to support 4,000 jobs in the short term and 50,000 jobs across the supply chain as the sector matures in the 2030s, Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) could add up to £5 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy by 2050. The £21.7 billion in funding announced in October 2024 will crowd in private sector investment and unlock a further pipeline of billions of pounds. Industry partners are estimated to have invested £1 billion in already.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mike Martin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT on school uniforms. \p James Murray: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services including schools and hospitals.

Children’s clothing designed for young children, including branded school uniform, already benefits from VAT relief. To ensure that this relief is carefully targeted this relief is limited to clothing designed and labelled for children under the age of 14.

Increasing the scope of this VAT relief to all school uniform would come at a cost to the Exchequer, with no guarantee that any reliefs would be passed on to consumers. We therefore have no plans to make changes here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the extent of VAT non-compliance by overseas retailers selling (a) goods and (b) services in the UK through online marketplaces. \p James Murray: Since 1 January 2021 overseas sellers, or online marketplaces where they facilitate the sale, are required to be registered and account for VAT for supplies of low value imports of £135 or less. Where an overseas seller sells goods located in the UK at the point of sale via an online marketplace, the online marketplace is liable for the VAT for goods of any value.

The changes ensure a level playing field for UK high street and online retailers, ensure the continued flow of goods at the border and improve compliance. Certified analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates the changes will raise £1.8 billion per annum by 2026-27.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish all internal equality impact assessments produced for measures included in the Autumn Budget 2024 and lay copies of them in the House of Commons library. \p James Murray: HM Treasury carefully considers the impact of its decisions on those sharing protected characteristics in line with both our legal obligations and our strong commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity.

In the interests of transparency, HM Treasury and HMRC also publishes summaries of equality impacts for tax measures being legislated for in the Finance Bill in tax information and impact notes (TIINs).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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Lloyd Hatton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to require public country-by-country reporting by multinational corporations on (a) taxation and (b) where companies are (i) trading and (ii) making profits. \p James Murray: The UK is at the forefront of Pillar 2 implementation, ensuring that large multinational enterprises are subject to an effective tax rate of at least 15% in each jurisdiction they operate. The government does not have plans to make country-by-country reports public, but will keep the position under review.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the costs to HMRC of processing changes to rates of National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: Tax Information and Impact Notes (TIINs) covering recent changes to rates of National Insurance contributions (NICs) are available on GOV.UK and include information about estimated costs associated with these measures.

A TIIN covering employer NICs changes announced at Autumn Budget was published by HMRC on 13 November. These changes included a change in the rate of employers’ National Insurance. The TIIN confirmed that HMRC would need to make IT changes to implement this package of measures, and that the total cost of changes required was estimated to be circa £900,000.
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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support her Department is providing to SMEs on the changes to employer National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: The Government has protected the smallest businesses and charities from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, which means that 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all next year, more than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from this package, and all eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.

Businesses will also still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Serious Fraud Office's Victim and Witness Care Unit on HMRC treatment of victims of fraud. \p James Murray: HMRC liaises with a number of organisations in carrying out its functions. HMRC has a range of options to support those who require extra help, including victims of fraud and has guidance and training in place for all advisors on how to identify customers who need extra help and provide reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. Where appropriate, HMRC will also signpost taxpayers to voluntary and community organisations.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the increase of tax paid by hospices as a result of changes to National Insurance contributions rates. \p James Murray: The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. The OBR do not forecast NICs receipts at a sector level. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility.
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of taxing wine according to strength on wine (a) producers and (b) vendors. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed that the current temporary wine easement will end as planned from 1 February 2025. By this time, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the strength-based alcohol duty system. The summary of impacts from the alcohol duty reforms announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Alcohol Duty Reforms - GOV.UK

HMRC plans to evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. The Government welcomes evidence from industry on the impact of the changes so far.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many farms were subject to inheritance tax in South Holland and the Deepings constituency in the last five financial years. \p James Murray: I refer the Honourable Member to the PQ referenced 17853 published on 12th December 2024 at https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-04/17853.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2024 to Question 22961 on Defence: Expenditure, whether the future fiscal event will take place before June 2025. \p James Murray: Government set out in Autumn Budget 2024 that it will set a path to spending 2.5% of GDP at a future fiscal event.

The government does not comment on speculation about decisions outside of fiscal events.
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Debbie Abrahams:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to help improve living standards. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government has set out a Plan for Change, outlining our ambitious yet achievable milestones, including raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom to ensure working people have more money in their pockets.

Specific actions already taken by the Government include: increasing to the National Living Wage from April 2025; extension of the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales in 2025-26; and introduction of a new Fair Repayment Rate from April 2025 to cap debt repayments made through Universal Credit.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential role of long-term fixed-rate mortgages in enabling more first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. \p Emma Reynolds: While the design and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene, this Government welcomes innovation in the mortgage market, particularly where this provides borrowers with the greatest choice possible about the level of interest rate risk that they are willing to take on.

Lenders in the UK already do offer this type of mortgage product, and any borrowers, including first-time buyers, looking to take out a long-term fixed rate mortgage are encouraged to shop around and speak to a broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on funding to support small and medium-sized businesses starting up on high streets in Northern Ireland. \p Alex Norris: This government is committed to resetting relations with the Devolved Governments, to work collaboratively and deliver the best outcomes for people across the UK, including the people of Northern Ireland. To this end, the Deputy Prime Minister visited Northern Ireland and met with the First and Deputy First Ministers within days of taking office.

This early engagement has been followed by further meetings between MHCLG Ministers and their NI Executive counterparts. I had the pleasure of visiting Northern Ireland in September of last year as part of the ongoing reset in relations, and over the course of the autumn had highly constructive introductory conversations with the NI Ministers for Finance, Communities and Economy. I continue to engage with NI Ministers on our shared priorities in relation to local growth.

You will be aware that we recently confirmed the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation for NI for 2025-26. As part of this, we are working with NI councils and the Department for the Economy on Go Succeed, which provides support for people across Northern Ireland to start and grow their business.

The government will publish its Small Business Strategy later this year which will set out the government’s vision for supporting small businesses, across key policy areas such as creating thriving high streets and making it easier to access finance. We will be engaging closely with the Northern Ireland Executive and SMEs across the UK to support its development.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to increase levels of investment in high streets in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire. \p Alex Norris: This Government is committed to supporting our high-street businesses and communities. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it is retaining and reforming the Long-Term Plan for Towns as part of a new regeneration programme. Spalding, Skegness and Boston, together with 75 towns, will each receive up to £20 million in additional funding and support for their communities.

An additional £900 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was also announced for financial year 2025/26, with the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority set to receive £14.7 million. This follows £2.6 million UKSPF funding that South Holland District Council received for 2022-2025. Under the UKSPF-delegated model, Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority may choose to invest in high streets in their area. This allows local leaders to continue to invest in local priorities and deliver projects that drive growth and support regeneration.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking with local planning authorities to promote net zero standards for new homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Government intend to amend building regulations later this year as part of the introduction of future standards that will set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes.

The new standards will ensure that all new homes are future-proof, with low-carbon heating and very high-quality building fabric. This will help us to deliver our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and reduce bills, tackle fuel poverty, grow skills, foster diverse job markets, and make Britain energy secure.

We also recently amended the National Planning Policy Framework to emphasise the importance of climate considerations in both plan-making and decisions made by local planning authorities.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 20841 on Local Plans, what parts of the local development scheme will local planning authorities be required to update by March 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local planning authorities must review local development plans once every five years from their adoption date to ensure that policies remain relevant and that they address the needs of the local community. However, there will be occasions where there are significant changes in circumstances which may mean it is necessary to review the relevant strategic policies earlier. Reasons might include changes to national policy, the adoption or updating of a spatial development strategy or local government re-organisation.

As a result of the revised National Planning Policy Framework published in December 2024, all councils have been asked to review and update their Local Development Schemes and send a copy of their new timetable to the Ministry by no later than 6 March 2025. They should do this in line with the well-established obligations under s.15 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the planning practice guidance on plan-making.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_36

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 99 of the English Devolution White Paper, CP 1218, published on 16 December 2024, whether councils would be allowed to outsource the enforcement of council byelaw breaches to private companies. \p Jim McMahon: The government will work with councils to determine how byelaws should be made and enforced as set out in the English Devolution White Paper.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_37

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to ensure the long-term maintenance of the Local Authority Data Explorer following the closure of the Office for Local Government. \p Jim McMahon: It is right for government, the sector, and for the general public that there is transparency on the delivery of the Government’s key missions, objectives and outcomes. My department will measure and publish data related to these priorities. This will incorporate the benefits of the Office for Local Government’s measurement work to date. As this work develops, the Data Explorer will stay live and continue to be updated.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_38

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's letter to Leaders of all two-tier councils and neighbouring unitary authorities of 16 December 2024, what is the (a) process and (b) timetable for secondary legislation to postpone local council elections from May 2025 to May 2026. \p Jim McMahon: A number of councils have responded to my letter of 16 December, making requests involving postponement of their May 2025 elections. A list of those councils can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas

In my letter I set out that requests will only be considered where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. A decision will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible. If I decide to make secondary legislation to postpone elections from May 2025 to 2026, such legislation would be subject to the negative resolution procedure.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_39

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication entitled Explanatory note on the National Insurance Contribution compensation 2025 to 2026, published 18 December 2024, for what reason the allocation was not calculated using published local authority payroll data. \p Jim McMahon: The government has announced an additional £515 million of support for local government, including Mayoral Combined Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities, specifically to manage the impact of changes to employer NICs announced at the Autumn Budget.

Additional funding made available to compensate local government as a whole for 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.

We propose to allocate the £515 million between local authorities in England based on their shares of total relevant net current expenditure. We have published a methodology note, explaining the data this funding is based upon, to assist councils with their financial planning.

The government will confirm final positions on methodology and approach to allocations as soon as possible now that the consultation on the provisional settlement has closed. We are continuing to engage with local government on their queries regarding the allocation of this additional funding.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_40

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.1.6 of his Department’s policy paper entitled Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles, published on 18 December 2024, whether the average council tax will be used as the assumed council tax metric. \p Jim McMahon: No. Average council tax will not be the assumed council tax metric in the proposed funding reforms. Rather, the consultation proposes the government will take into account the tax base in each authority (i.e. the number of dwellings liable for council tax and in which band those dwellings are in) as part of the process of allocating grant, and not the council tax level set by a local authority. Following this consultation, we will develop, publish and consult on a detailed plan for local authority funding reform, including the assumed council tax level, ahead of the provisional Settlement for 2026-27.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_41

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21478 on Local Government: Correspondence and with reference to the letter of 16 December 2024 to local authority leaders from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, how the (a) number of councillors and (b) electoral wards will be decided for new unitary local authorities; and what plans she has to consult the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. \p Jim McMahon: My department is working closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to ensure that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_42

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question xx-xxxx-xxxx on Local Government and Mayors: Elections, what her timetable is for updating the list with combined authority mayoral elections. \p Jim McMahon: In response to the Hon. Member’s question tabled on 27 November (UIN xx-xxxx-xxxx), I arranged for the addition of combined and county combined authority mayoral elections to the list of local elections published by the Government; for ease of reference, that list can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-timetable-in-england/election-timetable-in-england.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_43

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) cash and (b) real terms change in total government grant in (i) monetary and (ii) percentage terms is for each local authority in England from 2025-26 to 2026-27. \p Jim McMahon: Taken together, the additional funding announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget and the 2025-26 provisional Local Government Finance Settlement will provide over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above local council tax.

Provisional individual local authority allocations can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-table-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-2026.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_44

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging council tax discounts for residents in authorities without elections on 1 May 2025 due to participation in the Devolution Priority Programme. \p Jim McMahon: The assumption is that elections in most places where scheduled will take place as planned. Where I take a decision to postpone elections scheduled for May 2025, this will be where the councils concerned have requested it alongside a clear commitment to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. This is a high bar to reach and it is not expected that all councils who have applied to be on the priority programme will go forward as a result.

The terms of sitting councillors whose seats would otherwise have been up for election will be extended accordingly and they will remain in post, representing their community and taking decisions as members of their authority. Further, council services will continue as usual delivering hundreds of vital local public services every day. It is for councils to set the level of council tax in their area.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_45

Simon Hoare:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the additional costs of providing council services in rural areas. \p Jim McMahon: This government is committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural councils in England. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive around a 5% increase in their Core Spending Power next year, which is a real terms increase. No council will see a reduction – and new funding will be available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments.  The government is keen to hear from councils about how best to consider the impact of rurality on the costs of service delivery, and demand, as part of our longer term consultations on local authority funding reform.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_46

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that candidates standing in combined authority elections are not also responsible for (a) setting up and (b) overseeing those authorities. \p Jim McMahon: Under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, all local authorities who are to be constituent members of a combined authority must consent to the combined authority’s establishment. This does not disqualify any constituent local authority members from running for the office of mayor in the combined authority.

Please be assured that, in the case where the winning candidate in the election to role of mayor is also already a sitting councillor of a constituent authority, under Schedule 5B paragraph 7 of the 2009 Act, their council seat is automatically rendered vacant and regular by-election requirements for the council seat occur as normal.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_47

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21478 on Local Government: Correspondence, and with reference to the letter of 16 December 2024 to local council leaders from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, what her policy is on requests for Principal Area Boundary Reviews by local authorities related to such changes. \p Jim McMahon: My letter of 16 December 2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas) set out Government’s plans for a joint programme of devolution and local government reorganisation. In this letter I set out my intention to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all councils in two-tier areas, and small neighbouring unitary councils. In this invitation, I will set out further detail on the criteria I will consider when taking decisions on the proposals for reorganisation, and any requests for boundary reviews related to such changes, that are submitted to Government. I intend to ask for interim plans by March 2025 and full proposals later in the year.
wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-21 conversation_48

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing an alternative title for county councillors who remain in office after 1 May 2025 due to their authority’s participation in the devolution priority programme. \p Jim McMahon: There are no plans to provide an alternative title for county councillors whose authority participates in the devolution priority programme.