theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) energy and (b) grid access on the deployment of high-performance compute infrastructure. \p Feryal Clark: The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and improvements in the efficiency of compute infrastructure.

AI Growth Zones will help shift energy demand to areas with more capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT are working closely with DESNZ and the National Energy System Operator to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability. The Government is working to reform the National Grid connections process, making it easier for data centres to secure a timely grid connection.

Through the AI Energy Council, we will be exploring bold clean energy solutions, from next-generation renewables to small modular reactors, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to provide compute access to early-stage AI startups. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to removing barriers to growth for AI startups and ensuring that they have access to resources and expertise needed to develop and scale.

Earlier this year, DSIT opened phase 1 of the AI Research Resource for early access to SMEs and startups to drive forward new AI-enabled innovations.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to establish AI Growth Zones close to major research centres; and what role compute infrastructure will play in their design. \p Feryal Clark: Universities and research institutions are critical to the UK’s vision for AI. To build upon our strong R&D base and to ensure we’re at the forefront of AI innovation, AI Growth Zones will help secure the UK’s position as a global leader in AI, attracting significant investment and ensuring long-term economic growth.

In February, local authorities and industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest, and hundreds of responses were received. Further updates will be provided in due course.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology,  what assessment his Department has made of the respective compute requirements for AI training and inference; and whether he plans to reflect this distinction in future infrastructure planning. \p Feryal Clark: In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, DSIT is currently developing a long-term compute strategy. At the same time, DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.

The Government has also committed to expanding the AIRR a further 20 times by 2030 to ensure that the UK has the AI infrastructure and compute capacity it needs to deliver new scientific innovations and discoveries that will drive productivity and growth throughout the economy. This expansion, and the long-term compute strategy – will reflect the evolving demands for training and inference.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) universities and (b) research institutions to host compute infrastructure. \p Feryal Clark: Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.

In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have also committed to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) by a further 20 times by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37580 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with Companies House on the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission has not had discussions with Companies House on the legislation referred to by the Hon. Gentleman.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 28325 on Parliamentary Estate: Detergents, if he will list the cleaning products used on the parliamentary estate that are not certified as cruelty-free. \p Nick Smith: On 31 March 2025 usage of a further four products which were not certified as cruelty-free was ceased. The remaining cleaning products used on the parliamentary estate that are not certified as cruelty-free are:

Our cleaning contractor is currently in the process of sourcing suitable alternatives.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to make an assessment of international comparisons of support provided to (a) minerals, (b) metals and (c) processing companies through the (i) planning and (ii) permitting process. \p Sarah Jones: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) actively monitors support provided to companies operating across the critical minerals supply chain in comparable countries, including planning and permitting processes.

In the forthcoming Critical Minerals Strategy, DBT will outline further details of the Government’s approach to supporting the UK’s domestic mining, processing and recycling industries, and developing the UK’s competitive advantage.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled UK Critical Mineral Strategy, last updated on 13 March 2024, what recent estimate he has made of the value of critical mineral exports. \p Sarah Jones: In 2024, the UK exported an estimated £10 billion worth of critical minerals. This figure was calculated using HMRC trade statistics, and the definition of “critical minerals” comes from internationally comparable HS trade codes published by the US Geological Survey. This figure does not include the many downstream products that are produced using critical minerals.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of securing the imports of critical minerals in (a) semi-manufactured materials and (b) raw materials. \p Sarah Jones: A secure supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, industrial strategy, and clean energy transition. Building on the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre’s updated criticality assessment, government will work hand in hand with industry to publish a new Critical Minerals Strategy this year. This new, targeted Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure our supply chains for the long term and drive forward the green industries of the future.

As part of the ongoing engagement, the government will engage with stakeholders to gather expertise and insights to shape our approach to securing critical minerals.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on whether any UK firms with Russian holdings are not in the process of divesting from operations based in Russia. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold any specific data on UK firms that are not in the process of divesting from operations based in Russia. UK businesses must comply with our sanctions, which form an extensive regime to constrain the Kremlin’s ability to continue the war. It is a decision for individual UK businesses on whether and how to divest from Russia in compliance with UK sanctions.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with UK businesses on the potential impact of President Trump's executive order on diversity, equality and inclusion practices. \p Gareth Thomas: The Secretary of State and Ministerial team engage in regular discussions with UK business on topics including this. Department for Business and Trade ministers have already this year hosted events launching the FTSE Women Leaders and Parker Review 2025 Reports; both of which were attended by senior leaders from across the UK's private sector. Promoting equality of opportunity and business-led initiatives for progress are key parts of this Government's Plan for Change, ensuring fair access to the best jobs for all.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health services for special educational needs and disabilities children in Manchester Rusholme constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: We know that too many children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are too long across England, including in Manchester. We are determined to change that.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, introduce open access Young Futures hubs in communities, and recruit 8,500 mental health workers to cut wait times and provide faster treatment.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish all correspondence between the NHS, his Department and Ministers on AI auto contouring funding in 2024. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department does not plan to publish correspondence between the National Health Service and Ministers on this topic from 2024.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to incentivise dentists to increase NHS appointments in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, this is the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB. ICBs have been asked to start making extra urgent dental appointments available from April 2025. The Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB is expected to deliver 5,712 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.

Areas which are struggling to recruit and retain NHS dentists can make use of the Golden Hello scheme, which aims to encourage dentists to work in areas where they are needed most.
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Dr Beccy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has allocated for smoking cessation campaigns in the 2025-26 financial year; and whether he has made an assessment of the number of additional quit attempts that may be made as a result of these campaigns. \p Ashley Dalton: The 2025/26 budget for smoking cessation campaigns has not yet been confirmed.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to reduce the time taken by doctors to issue medical certificates giving the cause of death following a death in hospital. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024, through the Death Certification Strategic Board and a cross-government data strategy group. Since the introduction of the reforms, the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by two days, from seven days to nine days. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. Working with the Office for National Statistics, weekly data is now published on the time taken to register a death by region and by setting. This is supporting NHS England and the Welsh Government to offer support and challenge.

The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification. Deaths certified by a doctor, that comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, have typically had a median time to registration of seven days, though there can be variation at a local level. It is important to note that the medical examiner system was active on a non-statutory basis before the introduction of the statutory system on 9 September 2024, and this makes direct ‘before’ and ‘after’ comparisons challenging to draw conclusions from.

The introduction of medical examiners is in part about making sure deaths are properly described and about improving practice, but the impact on the bereaved is also central. The reforms aim to put the bereaved at centre of the process and the medical examiner office must offer a conversation with representatives of the deceased, so they can ask any questions they have about the death or raise concerns. Ensuring the system is appropriately resourced and works for all those who interact with it is crucial, and something we will continue to monitor with NHS England.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a phage impact bond that is similar to previous social impact bonds. \p Ashley Dalton: Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a mechanism to raise investment for a service provider. SIBs are commissioned on a payment-by-results basis, with the payment being proportional to the delivery of a positive social outcome.

As detailed in the Government’s response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, published 1 March 2024, the Government is focusing on projects that aim to be most beneficial to supporting phage development in the United Kingdom, based on an assessment of context and barriers.

This includes exploring the case for a dedicated Good Manufacturing Practice facility to support phage innovators, working with key stakeholders, including funders and research organisations, to strengthen the UK’s phage manufacturing capabilities and thereby improve patient access to these therapies.

Currently, SIBs have not been identified as a mechanism that would progress development beyond the impact of current projects, but will be considered alongside other options.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve training for (a) health visitors and (b) community healthcare professionals on the needs of (i) preterm babies and (ii) their families. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever. To achieve this, we must ensure families have the support they need to give their babies and children the best start and the building blocks for a healthy life. This will take time, but we are committed to building a health service fit for the future with the workforce it needs. The training provided to health visitors specifically, and community healthcare professionals more generally, is outlined below.

To practice as a health visitor, a registered nurse must complete the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse qualification. Health visitor training includes a requirement for staff to be able to assess the impact of complexity and comorbidity and their impact on children and loved ones, which includes prematurity.

The Government has laid out in the Plan for Change its commitment to strengthen health visiting services. A strengthened health visiting service will enable the needs of premature babies and their families to be better supported.

NHS England has worked in partnership with key stakeholders, for instance the Tiny Lives Trust charity and clinical psychologists, to develop online learning specifically for community healthcare professionals, including health visitors. This training covers subject matters such as professionals’ work with families as they transition from neonatal units to home, as well as psychologically informed neonatal care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to Birmingham City Council for pest control services. \p Jim McMahon: The government is working closely with Birmingham and continues to monitor the disruption caused by the bin strikes and the associated public health risks to the residents of the city. The council continues to manage local service delivery and has put in place measures to deal with the accumulated street backlog which has developed, and is supported by mutual aid from neighbouring authorities. The council has also taken measures to deal with pests including setting baiting stations in key waste hotspot areas, and are considering further measures to support households. The department continues to play its part in supporting the council where necessary and cross government mechanisms have been activated to ensure a coordinated response.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities to provide infrastructure alongside new housing developments in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) Manchester Rusholme constituency. \p Alex Norris: £630 million is being devolved to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Mayor Burnham through the integrated settlement for 2025-26 to support growth in the city region.

As the relevant local planning authorities, it is for Manchester City Council and GMCA to work together to consider infrastructure requirements in support of any new housing developments.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she and her Ministers have had with Unite on the Birmingham bin strike. \p Jim McMahon: The Secretary of State engaged with Unite last week to encourage them to get back around the negotiating table with Birmingham City Council. Talks between Birmingham City Council and Unite continue.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Best Value Commissioners in Birmingham City Council have had with (a) council officers and (b) the Unite trade union on bin collection industrial action. \p Jim McMahon: Commissioners, who have been appointed to oversee Birmingham City Council’s improvement journey, continue to work constructively with the Council and encourage opportunities to resolve the ongoing waste dispute in a sustainable, meaningful way. There are ongoing and regular discussions. Commissioners are not directly involved in negotiations between the Council and Unite.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has issued guidance to local authorities on making (a) licensing, (b) planning and (c) gambling decisions during local election periods. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities are required to consider the Recommended Code of Practice for Local Authority Publicity (‘the Code’) in coming to any decision on any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public or a section of the public. A Code principle is that publicity be issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity, such as in the pre-election period.

The pre-election period of heightened sensitivity does not prevent a local authority from carrying out routine business.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has a planned timetable for the alignment of administrative NHS boundaries with mayoral combined authority boundaries. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL5657 on 24 March 2025.
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Dave Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024, what progress her Department has made on the planned pilot of the National Jobs and Careers Service. \p Alison McGovern: The Get Britain Working White Paper set out our vision to reform Jobcentre Plus and create a new service across Great Britain that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers.

We are taking a test and learn approach to develop the new service ensuring that we develop a service that is locally tailored and embedded, designed to meet the different needs of local labour markets, local people and local employers. We are in the early stages of designing the new service and more details will be shared in due course.
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Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support employees who leave employment to provide unpaid care to return to work. \p Alison McGovern: Our Get Britain Working plan aims to reduce economic inactivity levels and take the first steps to delivering our long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive, to succeed and flourish. This includes unpaid carers, whereby many of whom are excluded from the labour market due to their caring responsibilities.

Customers providing care for fewer than 35 hours a week receive personalised support through their Work Coach, and their work expectation is tailored to fit caring responsibilities. Support includes identifying skills gaps and referral to skills training, careers advice, job search support, volunteering opportunities and access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry. Unemployed customers who require more intensive employment support can also be referred to the Restart programme.

The weekly Carer’s Allowance earnings limit is now pegged to 16 hours work at National Living Wage (NLW) levels and in future it will increase when the NLW increases. The earnings limit increased to be £196 a week (net earnings) on 7 April 2025, compared to £151 in 2024/25. This is the largest ever increase in the earnings limit since Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976 and the highest percentage increase since 2001. This means carers who are receiving the NLW (and have not done overtime or received a bonus) will be able to work for 16 hours a week and still receive Carer's Allowance.

DWP also provides information to help carers and potential unpaid carers make informed decisions about combining work and care through their JobHelp Care Choices Site.
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Iqbal Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the additional number of benefits recipients who will be subject to eligibility verification notices under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill as a result of her welfare reforms. \p Andrew Western: The reforms in the Green Paper are still the subject of consultation and will undergo further development once responses have been considered.
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Sarah Coombes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of police (a) time and (b) resources used to investigate Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera mis-reads. \p Dame Diana Johnson: A total of £85.45 million has been provided for maintaining and improving national Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems in the last three years.

ANPR technology is used for law enforcement purposes, to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality at a local, force, regional and national level.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rollout of suicide prevention training on staff in police custody suites. \p Dame Diana Johnson: I refer the Hon Member to the response to PQ 38138 published on 20th March 2025.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to ensure police forces conduct due diligence in preventing crimes involving legally held firearms. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for issuing firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Since November 2021, however, Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires police forces to make robust checks on the suitability of applicants to hold a license and ensure their subsequent continuous assessment. The application process is supported by the police Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a national training programme.

We keep firearms licensing controls under constant review to safeguard the public against the misuse of licensed firearms. Firearms licensing fees were increased on 5 February 2025, giving effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams.

There were four firearms-related homicides by licence holders in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024. While other statistics are published which indicate the types of firearms involved in criminal offences, they do not always show whether the firearm used was legally held.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41564, under what circumstances the Windrush Commissioner could move from operating on a non-statutory basis to a statutory basis. \p Seema Malhotra: The Windrush Commissioner will be a public appointee, operating independently of the Home Office to serve as an advocate and trusted voice for victims, families and impacted communities affected by the Home Office Windrush Scandal.

To maintain momentum, drive early progress, and shape and refine the role in practice, the Commissioner will initially operate on a non-statutory basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of Border Force on the potential impact of channel crossings on staff wellbeing. \p Seema Malhotra: We recognise the work of Border Force staff in relation to channel crossings and continue to ensure support is in place for them. All Border Force colleagues have access to peer support on a 24/7 basis, allowing them to speak to a volunteer who is trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) or Sustaining Resilience at Work (StRaW). All operational colleagues have access to the Police Treatment Centres, which support recovery from a variety of physical and mental ailments on a residential basis.

The Border Force Wellbeing team also manage the Border Force Wellbeing Hub and run a variety of events throughout the year on key wellbeing themes, including stress, anxiety, shift working and health. Border Force line managers are also trained with the information and tools to discuss wellbeing and mental health with their teams, how to spot the warning signs and how to refer a team member for further help.

All Home Office staff also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which provides support for a wide variety of issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32013 on Asylum, whether she has commissioned any reports on expanding (a) safe and (b) legal routes for people seeking asylum within the last twelve months. \p Seema Malhotra: This country will always play our part, alongside others, to help those fleeing war and persecution, but we need a proper system where rules are enforced.

The UK welcomes refugees through our global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. We continue to keep all policies under review.

The numbers resettled through the UKRS depend on a range of factors including the flow of referrals from UNHCR in the field and the availability of suitable accommodation and integration support in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government pays the RNLI in connection with Channel crossings by asylum seekers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Any safety of life at sea operations related to attempts to cross the Channel by migrants in small boats are directed and coordinated by HM Coastguard. The Home Office does not provide funding to RNLI but does provide maritime assets and reconnaissance capabilities where necessary for any Coastguard-directed operations.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timeline is for the deportation of all remaining Foreign National Offenders in scope for removal. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 3,594 were of FNOs. This is an increase of 16% compared to 3,101 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

We are committed to delivering justice for victims and safer streets for our communities. Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will pursue their deportation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_30

Brian Leishman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons officials in her Department met with Elbit Systems on 16 December 2024. \p Dan Jarvis: Officials met with Elbit Systems with regards to the UK Coastal Radar Data Integrator procurement. Content of these meetings are commercially sensitive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_31

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful asylum claimants by nationality there were by (a) age and (b) sex in each year since 2020. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of granted asylum claims in each year, by nationality, age and sex, is published in table Asy_D02 of the Asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate to 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_32

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of local authorities providing housing for people seeking asylum. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.

A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_33

Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has a target for the removal of foreign national offenders from prisons. \p Dame Angela Eagle: HMPPS (HM Prisons and Probation Service) are working closely with the Home Office to ensure the Early Removal Scheme process runs as efficiently as possible by driving up foreign national offender (FNO) returns directly from prison.

Between 5 July 2024 and 22 March 2025, there have been 1,848 ERS returns, which is a 15% increase compared to 1,610 in the same period 12 months prior.

The ERS remains the most effective mechanism for removing eligible FNOs as quickly as possible, freeing up prison beds and saving money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_34

Mr James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce small boat crossings. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Rt Hon Gentleman to the Statements made by the Home Secretary when moving the Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill for its second reading on 10 February 2025, and when reporting on the UK’s hosting of the Organised Immigration Crime summit on 31 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_35

Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy to fund the cost of driving lessons for (a) asylum seekers and (b) other immigrants. \p Dame Angela Eagle: No.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_36

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many irregular migrants have been granted permission to work in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in each year since 2020. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_37

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with local authorities on the potential impact of the costs of supporting asylum seekers on the financial sustainability of local authorities. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day.

Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Government has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs.

The Home Office continues to work closely with local authorities to manage all the pressures arising from the provision of asylum accommodation including the impact on wider local authority obligations and plans.

The Home Office has delivered various grants through which we provide funds to support local authorities housing asylum seekers.

Working closely with MHCLG, we are also making efficiencies in supporting the integration of newly recognised refugees to mitigate homelessness risks. This includes the sharing of cross-cohort, place-based data with partners to support better planning, and the completion of scoping exercises to understand the full costs to LAs and ensure our funding package is appropriate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_38

Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the clean energy transition on (a) workers and (b) communities. \p Michael Shanks: The government’s initial assessment of the challenges of building the skilled workforce to deliver the Clean Energy Superpower Mission has been outlined in the Clean Power Action Plan. The Plan includes an Evidence Annex which provides a basis for government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning.

By 2030, the clean energy transition could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, benefiting communities across the UK representing the economic opportunity of the century.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_39

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of generative artificial intelligence on employment in the creative industries. \p Chris Bryant: AI is increasingly being used as a tool in the creative process, from music and film production to publishing, architecture and design. As of September 2024 more than 38% of Creative Industries businesses said they have used AI technologies, with nearly 50% using AI to improve business operations.

It may foster innovation and efficiency but may also disrupt the sector.We are working with the creative sector and committed to ensuring our brilliant artists benefit in working with the AI sector to harness the opportunities this technology provides.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_40

Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to provide support to theatres in Gloucester. \p Chris Bryant: The government primarily supports theatres predominantly through Arts Council England (ACE). Through their main funding programme, the 2023-2027 National Portfolio Investment Programme, ACE is providing over £100 million in grants per year to around 195 theatres across the country. Across all their funding programmes, including lottery schemes, for the financial year 2024-25, ACE awarded around £300 million to theatres/theatre based organisations.

From 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025, ACE will have invested a combined total of £455,613 across two 'Theatre' awards in the constituency of Gloucester - to Complicite, an internationally renowned touring theatre company who have recently relocated to Gloucester, and Strike a Light, a theatre organisation homegrown in Gloucester.

Theatres also benefit from the support that the government provides the sector through Theatre Tax Relief, and has also recently announced over £270 million investment for our arts venues, museums, libraries and our heritage sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_41

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to restrict the online (a) advertising and (b) selling of (i) image and performance enhancing drugs and (ii) anabolic steroids to children and young people. \p Feryal Clark: It is not permitted to advertise prescription-only medicines such as anabolic steroids. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for regulating and investigating advertising in the UK, including online.

Additionally, the Online Safety Act requires all services in scope to take proactive steps to stop their services facilitating illegal sales of drugs. Beyond illegal sale of drugs, platforms also need to protect children from harmful content that encourages ingestion, inhalation or exposure to harmful substances.

Where substances are controlled drugs then the offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 would apply, including offences of supply and possession where relevant.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_42

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of AI in his Department on security. \p Feryal Clark: The UK government is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance public services securely. The AI Playbook for the UK Government (p. 74) includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI. The Playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential risk impacts. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).

The Government Digital Service consults the AI Security Institute within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for specialist guidance when evaluating the security of AI-based tools.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_43

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of levels of research and development funding for sickle cell disorder. \p Feryal Clark: I refer the Hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4th April to Question 42203.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-14 conversation_44

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to promote training opportunities for (a) mineral processing, (b) metallurgical skills and (c) other critical minerals skills. \p Janet Daby: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Camborne and Redruth to the answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 30538.