theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help grow the rural economy. \p Darren Jones: Kick starting economic growth, including in rural areas, is the number one mission of this Government so we can put more money in people’s pockets. A prosperous rural economy will be underpinned by improvements to rural connectivity and productivity, access to public services and a thriving farming sector.

To this end, we are restoring stability and investment in our public services as the best way to support economic growth across the country, including in rural areas. We confirmed investment of over £500 million this year to continue to deliver Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network to drive rollout of broadband and 4G connectivity which will support growth in rural areas across the UK. We confirmed over £650 million of funding for local transport beyond our City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, in 2025-26, to ensure that transport connections improve in our towns, villages and rural areas.

We have also committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – which includes the largest ever amount of funding directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow public sector employees to sacrifice salary to lease an electric vehicle. \p Darren Jones: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to PQ UIN 25529.
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Rachel Taylor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for implementing the McCloud remedy for (a) those who have retired before 23 October 2024 and (b) all outstanding cases. \p Darren Jones: The McCloud remedy took effect from 1 October 2023 and schemes are currently in the process of sending remediable service statements (RSSs) to affected members. Under the remedy, members who have already retired can make a remedy election when they receive an RSS, while active and deferred members can make that election when they retire.
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Jamie Stone:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the recent increase in motor insurance premiums. \p Emma Reynolds: Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment on the likelihood of a claim being made and the cost of those claims. Motor insurance premiums have been affected by specific economic factors that increased the costs of claims, such as the rising cost of replacement car parts

However, the Government is determined that insurers treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive).

On 16 October, the FCA announced a package of work in the insurance market amid concerns about rising prices. This includes a market study on premium finance – a form of credit that allows insurance customers to spread the upfront annual cost of their premium. On the same day, the Government launched a cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover.
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Olivia Blake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating the Lloyd’s Act 1982 to align the underwriting activities of that organisation with legally binding climate policies. \p Emma Reynolds: The Treasury has not made an assessment. The Government and relevant regulatory bodies will continue to engage with insurance industry representatives, including Lloyd’s of London, to ensure insurers' practices support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to encourage pension funds to invest into (a) venture capital and (b) growth equity funds. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government published the Interim Report of the Pensions Investment Review alongside the Chancellor’s Mansion House Speech on 14 November 2024. The proposed reforms in the Interim Report could potentially unlock around £80 billion of productive investment, while boosting savers’ pension pots.

The Government will publish the Final Report in Spring 2025. This will further consider the opportunity for, and scope of, investment in the UK by pension funds.

The Government is also taking further proactive steps to increase investment in innovative businesses. Two UK pension funds, Aegon UK and NatWest Cushon, have agreed to collaborate with the British Business Bank on launching the British Growth Partnership to crowd-in institutional investment into venture capital funds and innovative businesses here in the UK.
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Danny Beales:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the upper limit of house prices for which the Lifetime Individual Savings Account can be used without incurring a penalty for people living in (a) Greater London and (b) other regions with high house prices. \p Emma Reynolds: While the Government will continue to monitor the situation, it currently remains of the view that the property price cap for the Lifetime ISA is set at an appropriate level to support most first-time buyers across the UK while targeting households that may find it most difficult to get onto the property ladder.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK.

The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the average annual cost of a five year fixed rate mortgage (a) on the week commencing 21 October 2024 and (b) in January 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The pricing and availability of mortgages is ultimately a commercial decision for lenders, in which the Government does not intervene. Changes in offered mortgage rates are broadly driven by changes in financial market expectations for Bank Rate.

Monetary policy, including decisions on Bank Rate, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at the Bank of England. The Government remains committed to monetary policy independence and supporting the MPC to return inflation to target sustainably, and does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.

External organisations, such as the Bank of England and Moneyfacts, track movements in offered mortgage rates.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Autumn Budget 2024 on recent trends in the level of mortgage rates. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the UK’s official forecaster of the economy and public finances. The OBR published its assessment of the UK economy, and the effect of policies announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget, in its October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

The OBR will publish its next assessment of the UK economy on 26 March 2025, as commissioned by the Chancellor.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled Pension reforms to go further to unlock billions to drive growth and boost working peoples’ pension pots, published on 28 January 2025, what estimate she has made of the potential value of additional business investment as a result of reforms to the occupational defined benefit pension funds over the next five years. \p Torsten Bell: The Government will pave the way for more well-funded defined benefit pension schemes to share surplus funds with sponsoring employers and members, subject to stringent funding safeguards.

It will be for individual trustees and employers to determine how best to use surplus funding. The amount of surplus will vary from scheme to scheme and trustees will need to be satisfied that sharing surplus is in the interest of their scheme members.

The Government will be setting out the details of the surplus policy in in in its response to the Options for Defined Benefits consultation, due this Spring.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Domestic Affairs on the China audit before 10 January 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK Government is carrying out an audit to examine the UK's interests with respect to China to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has discussed various topics including the China audit with the Secretary of State of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has plans to conduct a fiscal impact analysis of trends in the level of Indefinite leave to remain grants on the economy. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces forecasts of the UK’s economic and fiscal position.

The government sets its fiscal policy on the basis of the official OBR forecast.

Box 4.5 of the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2024 sets out estimated impacts of migration on the fiscal forecast. As the minimum residency required to move to indefinite leave to remain is currently at least 5 years, this falls outside the forecast period. As the OBR says in the March 2024 EFO. ”However, our forecasts will capture the cost of any immigrants from previous cohorts who now claim welfare through Indefinite leave to remain grants because their claims will be included in the outturn data that provides the starting point for our forecast”.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Bank of England on encouraging economic growth in relation to its consultation entitled Amendments to the Bank of England’s approach to setting a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities, published on 15 October 2024. \p Emma Reynolds: As set out in the Government’s Written Ministerial Statement published on 15 October, the Government welcomed the Bank of England’s proposals for consultation in relation to its approach to setting minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities. The consultation closed on 24 January and the Government will continue to engage closely with the Bank of England as it considers the feedback it has received. This engagement has included and will continue to include consideration of the impacts on economic growth.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the expected timeframe is for the publication of the final report by the Digitisation Taskforce. \p Emma Reynolds: The Digitisation Taskforce is in the process of producing its final report, having set out an interim report under the previous government. The government is fully committed to ensuring the UK’s shareholding framework is fit for purpose and looks forward to receiving the taskforce’s final report. Once the final report is received, the government will assess its recommendations and outline the next steps it intends to take.
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Gareth Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has plans to align the British Business Bank under the National Wealth Fund. \p Emma Reynolds: The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is the UK’s impact investor, mobilising billions of pounds of investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries. The British Business Bank (BBB) continues to be responsible for improving access to finance for SMEs, including new programmes to channel venture investment into the UK’s fastest growing, most innovative companies and closing the scaleup capital gap.

The NWF and the BBB work in close partnership to deliver the government’s industrial strategy in line with their respective mandates, maintaining a coordinated and complementary approach to tackling finance gaps and boosting economic growth. The government will continue to review how these institutions operate and interact with the market, government departments and each other to ensure that they are as effective as possible in mobilising private investment and delivering economic growth.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the retail banking sector on the accessibility of high street banks. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. Over 200 hubs have been announced so far, and over 100 are already open.

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

The treatment of customers by UK banks is governed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged under 25 were charged with possession of cocaine in the last 12 months. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office collects information on the number of ‘Having Possession Of A Controlled Drug - Class A Cocaine’ offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, and their investigative outcomes including charges.

Information, for the year to June 2024, on the age of suspects charged for possession of cocaine is provided in the table below. However, information on the age of the suspect is not quality assured as it is not currently routinely published or collected as official statistics from forces and in 43% of cases age has not been provided.

Number of offences resulting in charge/summons, year ending June 2024, broken down by age-group, for ‘Having Possession Of A Controlled Drug - Class A Cocaine’ offences, England and Wales (excluding Humberside Police)

Age group

Under 25s

25+

Not Stated

Grand Total

Number of offences resulting in charge/summons

873

2,758

2,738

6,369
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the funds raised from the increase in firearms licensing fees will be ringfenced for administering firearms licensing. \p Dame Diana Johnson: On 15 January, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications. The new fees will come into force on 5 February.

It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees are introduced so that service improvements can be made. I have therefore written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to ensure their firearms licensing teams are properly resourced and trained for this purpose.

Other manifesto commitments under the Safer Streets mission will be delivered through alternative funding routes.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what purposes the National Crime Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Dan Jarvis: The NCA is working on a number of productivity improvements using AI.

Examples include piloting automation for case management of investigations and automating back-end processes in the areas of Human Resources and Finance.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff are employed to (a) process and (b) issue project licences for experiments using animals regulated by the Animal Welfare (Scientific Experiments) Act 1986. \p Dan Jarvis: The number of staff that are employed to process and issue project licences in the Home Office Regulator, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, are published in the Regulator’s annual report accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-regulation-unit-annual-reports. At the end of 2023 the total number of Inspector staff in the Regulator was 17.

The Regulator is undertaking a structured programme of reforms. This will increase the total number of Inspectors to 22 by end of 2025. The Regulator will then operate a flexibly resourced licensing function and allocate resource according to demand.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle fraud within the private publishing sector. \p Dan Jarvis: We recognise that all businesses, including publishing houses, are a target for fraudsters. Government supports businesses through a number of measures including the Confirmation of Payee checks, which allow customers, including businesses, to confirm the name of a recipient before transferring money to them.

We have also helped business to protect themselves against cyber threats, including cyber enabled fraud, through the National Cyber Security Centre and the ten regional resilience centres across England and Wales and the Police Cyber Alarm. The Stop! Think Fraud campaign also included advice for businesses on how to protect themselves from fraud.

Further, an Economic Crime Survey is being conducted to find out more about the prevalence and impacts of economic crime (including fraud) against business. We expect the results to be published in mid-2025.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications there have been for firearms licenses in the last 12 months. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of applications for firearms licence certificates in the statistical publication on firearm and shotgun certificates. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:

Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates: April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV. UK (www.gov.uk).

The number of applications for firearms licence certificates can be found in data table 1.

Data for the year ending 31 March 2025 will be released between June and July 2025: Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2024 to March 2025 - Accredited official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new firearms licence certificates have been granted in each of the last five years. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office collects and publishes information annually on the number of new firearms licence certificates that have been granted in the statistical publication on firearm and shotgun certificates. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:

Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates: April 2023 to March 2024 - GOV. UK (www.gov.uk).

The number of new firearms licence certificates that have been granted in each of the last five years can be found in data table 1.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to limit the sale of kitchen knives to those with round tips. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Nothing is off the table when it comes to tackling the scourge of serious violence and saving young lives, and we always keep the law and practice in this area under close review.

We are taking action to tackle the illegal sale of knives online which is why last October, the Home Secretary commissioned Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, to carry out a comprehensive review into the online sale and delivery of knives.

We have already announced that the Government intends to strengthen age verification controls and checks for all online sellers of knives at the point of purchase and on delivery, and the Government will set out next steps for strengthening the controls and processes around the online sale and delivery of knives in due course.
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contracts (a) BFS Group Limited and (b) subsidiary companies of BFS Group Limited hold with (i) her Department and (ii) agencies of her Department. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Home Office have no direct contractual relationship with this supplier for the core departmental estate.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a legal right to Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for disabled (a) tenants and (b) leaseholders in residential blocks who are unable to independently evacuate in the event of fire. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The previous Government consulted on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, identifying concerns over their practicality, proportionality and safety.

Following further consultation, Government has committed to introduce legislation later this year to mandate an alternative package of measures called Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for mobility-impaired residents of high rise residential blocks, and of 11-18 metre high residential blocks with a simultaneous evacuation strategy in place.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for disabled residents. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The previous Government consulted on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, identifying concerns over their practicality, proportionality and safety.

Following further consultation, Government has committed to introduce legislation later this year to mandate an alternative package of measures called Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for mobility-impaired residents of high rise residential blocks, and of 11-18 metre high residential blocks with a simultaneous evacuation strategy in place.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the Metropolitan Police on (a) the potential impact of its gang violence matrix on ethnic minority groups and (b) the steps it is taking to ensure that its policing practices are not discriminatory. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Gangs Violence Matrix (GVM) was an intelligence tool used by the Metropolitan Police to identify and risk-assess individuals involved with gangs across London.

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

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

Any form of discrimination in policing is unacceptable. The Government is supportive of the NPCC and College of Policing’s Police Race Action Plan which aims to improve policing’s engagement with Black communities. A number of forces have developed their own local plans to address specific needs from their communities, including the MPS.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the Metropolitan Police on taking steps to allow people who have been wrongfully included on the gang violence matrix to challenge their inclusion before the deletion deadline. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Gangs Violence Matrix (GVM) was an intelligence tool used by the Metropolitan Police to identify and risk-assess individuals involved with gangs across London.

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

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

Any form of discrimination in policing is unacceptable. The Government is supportive of the NPCC and College of Policing’s Police Race Action Plan which aims to improve policing’s engagement with Black communities. A number of forces have developed their own local plans to address specific needs from their communities, including the MPS.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people under the age of twenty five were referred to Prevent in each of the last ten years, broken down by sex. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office publishes annual information on the number of referrals to Prevent, with the latest published figures being found here: Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2023 to March 2024.

Table 8 within the data tables accompanying this publication provides the number of referrals, number of cases discussed at a Channel Panel, and the number of cases adopted by Channel, broken down by age group and sex.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will request that the National Crime Agency undertakes an investigation into the (a) laundering of funds from Bangladesh into the United Kingdom and (b) role of the Awami League. \p Dan Jarvis: The UK is committed to fighting corruption and illicit finance both domestically and internationally. As with all cases, it is for independent law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to determine whether to undertake investigations

The National Crime Agency is part of the UK's effort to support Bangladesh in tackling corruption as well as wider law enforcement issues. As a matter of policy, we do not routinely confirm or deny NCA investigations.
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Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has been made to replace the Action Fraud website with an upgraded reporting system hosted by the City of London Police. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office are working with the City of London Police to replace Action Fraud with a new and improved national police reporting service for fraud and cyber crime.

The new service will provide better support services and reporting tools for victims, provide greater intelligence to law enforcement, and allow for greater prevention and disruption at scale.  This will include an upgraded call centre and a new user-friendly, accessible website for reporting fraud, offering simpler pathways to support and guidance.

A phased introduction of the new service is underway and will continue throughout 2025.

The first phase, completed in November 2024, saw the introduction of the new crime and intelligence management system. This will improve the analysis of reports, the quality of intelligence drawn from them, and how quickly this is sent to police forces for investigation.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people referred to the Prevent programme more than once. \p Dan Jarvis: Based on data provided to the Home Office by Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ), it is estimated that between 2015 – 2025, circa 12% of all individuals on the Prevent Case Management database had multiple Prevent cases.

This data is an extract from a live database and as such is a snapshot in time. The Prevent Case Management database is used to record details of all referrals to Prevent and the subsequent outcomes.
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Blair McDougall:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department holds on the number of Hong Kongers resident in the UK under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office publishes data on the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics’ quarterly release, in the entry clearance visas and extensions detailed datasets.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of Hong Kongers resident in the UK under the BN(O) route by parliamentary constituency or by local authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_230

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of financial incentives offered to Assisted Voluntary Returns deported in Quarter 3 of 2024 was. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_231

Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Air Force operated planes flew to Israel between 9 May 2024 and 19 January 2025. \p Luke Pollard: 19 Royal Air Force operated aircraft flew to Israel between 9 May 2024 and 19 January 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_232

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December to Question 20237 on Ministry of Defence: Employers’ Contributions, whether the additional money provided to cover the cost of increased employer National Insurance Contributions will be included in the figure the Department uses to confirm the percentage of UK GDP spent on Defence. \p Maria Eagle: HM Treasury has confirmed they will provide funding for the increased cost of National Insurance Contributions for the department. GDP percentage spent on defence will be calculated in the usual way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_233

Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to question 26214 tabled on 23 January 2025 on Oded Basyuk, if he will publish transcripts of these meetings. \p Luke Pollard: Major General Basyuk visited the UK as part of our concerted effort to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East and to achieve a peaceful resolution in Gaza and Lebanon. Discussions focussed on regional security concerns and included UK calls to implement all phases of the Gaza ceasefire deal in full and establish a pathway to lasting peace and security for the region.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to publish the minutes from the meeting as they discuss operationally sensitive matters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_234

Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his policy to release land to Homes England through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to meet the government's housebuilding commitments. \p Maria Eagle: On average the Ministry of Defence releases enough surplus land for over 3,500 new homes a year.

There is no policy mandating this land is released to Homes England, however, along with other Government Departments the Ministry of Defence works with Homes England where appropriate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_235

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) in-year savings measures and (b) stockpile depletion on the delivery of live fire training in the Army. \p Luke Pollard: There have been no specific in-year financial constraints imposed on the consumption of ammunition and therefore no impact on the delivery of live fire training.

As the hon. Member will understand from his time in the Ministry of Defence, for reasons of operational security, details of replenishment and stockpiles are highly classified, and I am withholding this information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_236

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 on the (a) effectiveness and (b) operational capabilities of UK defence. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence operates within the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and we ensure that our activities are legally covered. We do not comment on details for security reasons.

The Computer Misuse Act (CMA) plays a vital role in ensuring that the UK has the right legislative framework to allow us to tackle cyber harms. The Government is committed to ensuring the CMA remains up to date and effective to tackle criminality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_237

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) increase the role of the private sector within the defence sector and (b) allow industry partners to carry out essential cyber defence activities. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works with multiple industry partners to carry out essential cyber defence activities. The Department works in a collaborative and integrated way across the technology and security sectors to deliver defensive cyber capabilities across Defence. There are two main Defensive Cyber Programmes that aim to bring in new technologies, processes, and ways of working to reduce cyber risk exposure across UK Defence. The programmes include a range of small, medium, and larger technology partners as part of their delivery ecosystems and are informed through insights gained via a wider group of Defence Industry partners through the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP).

Furthermore, the new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) will be a future-focused and representative defence sector council that will extensively engage the private sector and other key industry partners, allowing them to help deliver Ministerially-endorsed and MOD official-endorsed recommendations into the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_238

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the threat posed to underwater cables by foreign states; and what steps he is taking to protect this infrastructure. \p Luke Pollard: Subsea cables are critical to UK telecommunications digital infrastructure, and we are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of that infra- structure. We continue to co-ordinate with HMG partners, particularly DSIT who own subsea cables policy, as well as security partners, the subsea cables industry and international bodies to assess and understand risks to subsea cables.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_239

Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether compliance with international humanitarian law was raised during meetings between (a) his officials, (b) General Oded Basyuk and (c) Israeli army officials on 22 January 2025. \p Luke Pollard: Yes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_240

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of defence projects that are over budget. \p Maria Eagle: The latest published Government Major Projects Portfolio data shows variance against budget for the Ministry of Defence's major projects and can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-government-major-projects-portfolio-data-2024
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_241

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help tackle illegal narcotic trade within the Caribbean Sea. \p Luke Pollard: A Royal Navy ship is persistently deployed to the Caribbean. In conjunction with the US, this ship conducts counter illicit trafficking operations to directly intercept drug smugglers. In addition, a Royal Naval officer provides UK liaison to the US Joint Inter Agency Task Force (South) in Florida to ensure that we collaborate to best effect with allies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_242

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 25649 on Boeing E-7, what recent estimate she has made of when the E-7 Wedgetail will enter operational service. \p Maria Eagle: The modification of the three E-7 Wedgetail aircraft continues at STS Aviation, Birmingham Airport, targeting an In-Service Date with the RAF in late 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_243

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech delivered at the ADS Annual Dinner on 28 January 2025, what progress he has made on the Snapper system. \p Maria Eagle: The Snapper system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing and further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_244

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech delivered at the ADS Annual Dinner on 28 January 2025, what progress he has made on the Wasp system. \p Maria Eagle: The Wasp system is a new uncrewed maritime system, which has been rapidly developed specifically to support Ukraine. The system is currently undergoing final testing and further details will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_245

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his speech delivered at the ADS Annual Dinner on 28 January 2025, what progress he has made on the Gravehawk system. \p Maria Eagle: The Gravehawk system is a rapidly developed bespoke air defence system, jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. This innovative system, which is able to retrofit air-air missiles for ground-based air defence, can use Ukrainian missiles already in their armed forces' possession. With Ukraine under constant Russian bombardment, the Gravehawk system will boost Ukraine's air defences, allowing them to defend their cities, troops and critical infrastructure. Two prototypes of the air defence capability system were tested in Ukraine in September 2024, and a further 15 will follow this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-04 conversation_246

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter on UIN 11295 from the Minister for Veterans and People to the hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, dated 19 November 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 11295 on Army Cadet Force: Costs, at what stage through the Annual Budget Cycle process his Department is as of 27 January 2025; and how much funding he plans to provide for Control Total for Army Cadet Force expenditure in 2025-26. \p Al Carns: Autumn Budget 2024 set the Ministry of Defence budget for financial year 2025-26 as £59.8 billion, an increase of £2.9 billion from this year. The Department is currently conducting the budget-setting process for 2025-26, with final budgets to be set before the start of the financial year in the normal way.