theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_78

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a police task force to (a) identify and (b) investigate (i) local and (ii) national officials that had knowledge of and failed to act against Pakistani heritage grooming gangs. \p Jess Phillips: This Government is focused on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors impacted by these horrendous crimes, safeguarding children, and ensuring law enforcement have the tools and capabilities to pursue and bring offenders to justice.

This includes continuing to fund the work of the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce, which is working to give practical, expert, and on the ground support for local forces investigating child sexual abuse, with a focus on complex and organised child sexual exploitation. The Taskforce has brought together the best police data that is available on group-based offending which was published in November 2024. In this context group-based offending includes any offence with two or more perpetrators. That data is available publicly online via https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publications#LatestNews). We will work further with the Taskforce to improve the accuracy and robustness of the data and analysis.

The Home Office also collects and publishes data annually on police misconduct cases finalised during a financial year period in the ‘Police misconduct, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin. This data is broken down by allegation category but does not cover the specific circumstances of individual allegations such as those described.

Launching any investigation is a decision for the police to make. But the Government will continue to ensure that all institutions and individuals remain responsible and accountable for protecting children against this vile abuse. An important part of this includes delivering on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommendation of a mandatory reporting duty, which we will deliver through the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 already protects workers who wish to make disclosures about child protection or welfare concerns. In 2015 the Home Office commissioned the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line, which serves as a national single point of contact for child abuse-related whistleblowing reports.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what preventative steps she is taking to reduce the number of fraud cases. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office has supported the rollout of the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) to all 43 forces in England and Wales. The aim of NECVCU is to support victims by building their confidence, helping them recover finances, and significantly reducing the likelihood of repeat victimisation. Since its inception in 2018, NECVCU has supported 440,994 victims of fraud and since January 2021, NECVCU has also helped victims recover £3,685,201.

Additionally, the Home Office has provided funding to City of London Police to create a coordinated police Fraud Protect Network. The network is made up of local, regional and national law enforcement officers and is designed to reduce the threat of fraud and revictimisation by providing consistent fraud prevention advice to the public.

The Home Office continues to engage with banks, trade organisations and third sector organisations to ensure proper advice and support for victims of fraud. Our “Stop! Think Fraud” campaign helps people spot and avoid fraud, and provides fraud prevention and recovery advice. Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

We are also continuing to work with individual sectors to support industry in disrupting attempts at fraud before they reach the public.

We launched the Insurance Fraud Charter in November 2024 with key insurance firms to reduce insurance fraud.

We are also developing a second telecommunications Charter to ensure the telecommunications sector takes additional steps to identify, prevent and disrupt fraud. Additionally, we are considering legislative action to ban “SIM farms”, technical devices that allow criminals to send scam texts to thousands of people at the same time.

The Online Safety Act codes of practice, which will require social media companies to take proactive measures to stop fraud originating on their platforms, will come into effect in March. The Chancellor and the Hom eSecretary have made clear that if insufficient action is taken in this area bu those companies, the Government will consider what further steps need to be taken

Later this year, we will also publish an expanded Fraud Strategy that covers the full range of threats that our society faces from this crime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 24 of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s annual report for 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what steps her Department is taking to improve the ability of the inspection regime to detect animal welfare failings. \p Dan Jarvis: The Regulator’s annual report details the range of ways in which it detects non-compliance and seeks to drive greater compliance.

Through a current regulatory reform programme, the Regulator is presently recruiting to have more Inspectors for compliance related activities and will be reviewing its compliance regime for continuous improvement.

To provide assurance of compliance with the Regulations, the Regulator provides clear and accessible guidance and conducts regular on-site audits. The published framework for audit is based on clear benchmarks and assessing compliance through organisational governance to encourage greater commitment to compliance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_81

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of how many girls have been victims of Pakistani heritage grooming gangs. \p Jess Phillips: The Government is working to ensure that perpetrators are pursued and brought to justice, and victims and survivors of all forms of child sexual abuse are protected and supported.

The Government continues to fund the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce, which has brought together the best police data that is available on group-based offending and was published in November 2024. In this context group-based offending includes any offence with two or more perpetrators. That data is available publicly online via: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publications#LatestNews. We will work further with the Taskforce to improve the accuracy and robustness of the data and analysis.

Investigation and prosecution decisions are independent matters for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. Anyone who has been incorrectly reprimanded as a result of blowing the whistle should be raising their concerns with the appropriate authority for consideration and action. Under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA), workers who blow the whistle are entitled to certain protections, including protection from detriment or dismissal as a result of blowing the whistle, and a route of redress through the Employment Tribunals if these protections are infringed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts about (a) policing fraud and (b) convicting perpetrators of fraud. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office continues to work closely with a range of partners, both bilaterally and through a range of multilateral fora, to tackle the fraud threat following the UK hosted Global Fraud Summit.

We also work closely with key overseas partners to target fraud at its source. By collaborating with governments across the world, we are making it harder for organised crime groups to operate across borders and to target prospective victims in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 16332 on Undocumented Migrants, whether she plans to make an estimate of the number of people in the UK illegally. \p Dame Angela Eagle: By its very nature, it is not possible to know the exact size of the illegal migrant population, and so the Home Office under successive governments has not published any official estimates of the illegal migrant population. In June 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a note on ‘Measuring illegal migration: our current view’.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21024 on Migrants: Detainees, if she will specify whether each Brook House Inquiry recommendation has been (a) accepted, (b) partially accepted, (c) rejected; which are (i) open and (ii) closed; and the date of closure for each closed recommendation. \p Dame Angela Eagle: 30 out of the 33 recommendations made by the Brook House Inquiry have been accepted or partially accepted. Following full consideration three recommendations (recommendations 7, 19 and 30) have been rejected.

Positive progress continues to be made against the accepted recommendations, with 12 recommendations (recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 14, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) met and closed as of October 2024, 5 (recommendations 5, 11, 27, 28 and 29) due for closure by the end of January 2025, and the remaining 13 (recommendations 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 31, 32 and 33) on track for closure by summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the UK's vulnerability to cyber-terrorism. \p Dan Jarvis: The UK is becoming increasingly digital, connected and online. This increases our exposure to a range of cyber threats from a variety of actors.

As set out in the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST 2023, the threat from terrorism is enduring and evolving, with the threat we see today and in the coming years becoming more diverse, dynamic and complex.

Cyber terrorism was part of the threat landscape used to inform the CONTEST 2023 strategy and we remain constantly vigilant to new terrorist and cyber tactics.

This government is committed to maintaining investment in critical threat assessment capabilities, including through the world-class Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

We continue to use all of HMG’s available levers to disrupt cyber threats and to keep the public safe.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit has received in each of the last three years. \p Dan Jarvis: Home Office investment in the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) for each of the last three financial years (FY) is set out below.

The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2024/25. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:

FY 2022/23 Actual Spend

FY 2023/24 Actual Spend

FY 2024/25 Indicative Budget

Home Office Investment

£2.2m

£3.2m

£3.5m
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people arriving on small boats died in the English channel in each of the last three years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: A total of 138 people are known to have died since August 2019 as a result of attempting to cross the Channel by small boat.

Almost all of these fatalities have occurred in French territorial waters, and the records of these held by the Home Office are primarily from information shared by the French authorities. The numbers of fatalities known to have occurred in the past three calendar years are as follows:

2022 – 4

2023 – 12

2024 – 78
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of efficiency savings made by her Department in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26. \p Alex Norris: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has already outlined savings found as part of the Fixing the Foundations: Public Spending Audit 2024-25. This included an agreement to £154 million in savings in response to the HM Treasury (HMT) Savings Commission. As part of this, MHCLG has stopped non-essential consultancy spend.

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper and Local Government Finance Policy Statement, it is our aim that local government reorganisation will lead to further efficiencies.

The department will also work closely with HM Treasury as part of the Spending Review 2025 Phase 2 to identify where these should be pursued for 2025-26 and onwards.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 15805 on Mo Baines, for what reason Mo Baines’ declaration of political activity was not published when her appointment as Lead Non-Executive Director was announced on 23 October 2024. \p Alex Norris: Non-Executive Board Members’ relevant interests are updated and published bi-annually as part of an established process as set out on the following gov.uk page: Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question HL46 on Faith Matters, what payments have been made to (a) Faith Matters and (b) Tell MAMA since 4 July 2024; and what the progress she has made on renewal of the grant funding agreement for 2025 onwards in relation to monitoring and supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred. \p Alex Norris: The Government works closely with police and community partners, including Tell MAMA, to monitor and support victims of Islamophobia. Tell MAMA has been funded by government since 2012 to deliver a reporting service and provide support for victims of Islamophobia. In 2024/25, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has made up to £1 million of funding available to Tell MAMA via Faith Matters to continue this work.

All relationships with government-funded partners are kept under constant review and subject to regular monitoring and evaluation. The Government is actively considering its approach to tackling Islamophobia more broadly. We will provide further details on this soon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government has taken to tackle (a) anti-semitism and (b) anti-Muslim hatred since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: Rooting out these abhorrent forms of hatred is an absolute priority for this Government, and we have already taken a number of steps to achieve this.

In July, the Prime Minister reappointed Lord John Mann as the Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism to continue providing advice on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism.

In response to public disorder in August which targeted Muslims and mosques, the Government introduced a rapid protective security response process for places of worship. We have provided security to more than 700 additional places of worship during this period. Protective security continues to be a priority, with up to £29.4 million per year being made available for protective security at mosques and Muslim faith schools from 2024/25 to 2027/28. Further, we have committed £1 million this year to support Tell MAMA to continue their work of monitoring and tackling Islamophobia. We have also committed to reversing the previous government’s decision to downgrade the recording and monitoring of antisemitic and Islamophobic non-crime hate incidents – capturing this data will aid the prevention of more serious crimes.

We are finalising our renewed, more strategic approach to tackling antisemitism and Islamophobia, working in partnership with communities, and will provide further updates shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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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 implications for her policies of the compliance rate of public sector buildings with requirements to display energy certificates. \p Alex Norris: The Government does not routinely hold or collect data to identify public buildings that are frequently visited by the public. Therefore, we have not made an assessment of the current levels of non-compliance in relation to Display Energy Certificates (DECs).

We are currently consulting on the Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime which includes proposals to support compliance with the requirements of the regulations includes those for DECs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16198 on Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, if she will make it her policy to facilitate use of the QE2 Conference Centre for Parliament to assist any partial decant under the Restoration and Renewal programme. \p Alex Norris: There is no formal agreement with the Houses of Parliament or the Restoration and Renewal Programme regarding the use of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. Therefore, there is no policy in place. Nevertheless, the Department continues to collaborate with the Houses of Parliament ahead of Restoration and Renewal proposals coming to the House in 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the transparency data entitled Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: procurement pipeline, published on 3 December 2024, what Project Heart is. \p Alex Norris: Project Heart was an internal term previously used by officials to describe the anticipated works associated with the Grenfell Memorial. This term is no longer in use.

The final design for a fitting and lasting memorial will be determined by the Grenfell community. The government is committed to supporting the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission in delivering a memorial to honour those who lost their lives and those whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy.

The Commission launched the process, in July 2024, to appoint a Multi-Disciplinary Design Team to work with the community to design the memorial.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues on whether the erection of an electricity pylon close to a dwelling is a material consideration in relation to the current valuation and council tax dwelling of a property. \p Jim McMahon: The erection of a new electricity pylon close to a dwelling (property) will give the owner or occupier the right to submit a proposal (formal challenge) to alter the Council Tax list. The proposal can be made if they believe there has been a “material reduction” in the value of the dwelling due to “any change in the physical state of the dwelling’s locality”. Material reduction is defined in section 87 part 10 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Forms and guidance for making a proposal can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of the APPG on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia on (a) free speech and (b) the ability to criticise criminal practices such as grooming gangs. \p Alex Norris: The Government has been clear that our approach to tackling religious hatred will never inhibit free speech or allow cultural or religious sensitivities to get in the way of delivering justice. We have been focused on a more integrated and cohesive approach to tackling religious hatred. While we are carefully looking at the issue of a definition for Islamophobia as part of this approach, this would not be legislative and would be used as a guidance tool for institutions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to amend the guidance entitled Illustrative text for local code of conduct, last updated on 20 September 2013, to include a free speech protection clause. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20985 on 9 January 2025, which states that government has launched a consultation on a range of proposals to strengthen the local government standards regime. This includes proposals for the possible introduction of a mandatory minimum code of conduct for local authorities in England.

The results of this consultation will help to inform any policy or legislative change with respect to local government codes of conduct.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to reform funding arrangements for Internal Drainage Board levies. \p Jim McMahon: MHCLG recognises the need for a long-term solution and are working with Defra to explore potential approaches.

In line with the previous two years, at the 2025-26 provisional Local Government Finance Settlement the government announced that it will provide £3 million in funding for authorities most impacted by Internal Drainage Board Levies.

MHCLG and Defra will ensure that all potential long-term solutions are given careful consideration.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make changes to the council tax social care precept prior to the conclusions of the Casey Commission on social care. \p Jim McMahon: The government has no plans to change the adult social care precept. However, on 8 January, the government laid regulations which will change how billing authorities include information on the Adult Social Care precept on council tax bills from 2025/26. This is a presentational change to council tax bills and has no effect on the overall operation of the precept.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, what estimate her Department has made of what business rate receipts will be in absolute terms in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial year on which the settlement is based. \p Jim McMahon: For 2024-25, English local authorities estimate business rates receipts will be £26.3 billion, of which £16.2 billion is retained locally. Local authorities have not yet submitted their estimates of business rates income for 2025-26. In addition, authorities receive income from Section 31 grant as part of the business rates retention system.

Core Spending Power, published alongside the settlement, includes Settlement Funding Assessment which is comprised of Revenue Support Grant and a component linked to business rates - Baseline Funding Levels. Baseline Funding Levels represent an authority’s need that is funded via business rates.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the change in grant is in (a) cash and (b) real terms in areas with a significant rural population between 2024-25 and 2025-26. \p Jim McMahon: The provisional Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The final Settlement will increase further, to incorporate the £515 million of funding announced for National Insurance Contributions.

This government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. Places with a significant rural population (encompassing both authorities classed as predominantly Rural, and Urban with Significant Rural) 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 cash, percentage, and real terms changes in Core Spending Power for rural and urban authorities, according to the classification methodology used by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and published by the Office for National Statistics, are found in the table below (please see below the table for further explanatory information).

Table 1. Provisional local government finance settlement 2025-26,core spending power by Rural/Urban classification

Rural/Urban Classification 2011

Core Spending Power 2024-25 (£ million)

Core Spending Power 2025-26  (£ million)

Cash increase  (£ million)

% change CSP 2023-24 to 2024-25

% real change CSP 2024-25 to 2025-26

Predominantly Rural

8,725

9,151

426

4.9%

2.4%

Urban with Significant Rural

11,194

11,844

650

5.8%

3.3%

Predominantly Urban

36,067

38,564

2497

6.9%

4.4%

Unclassified - no Rural/Urban classification available

8,996

9,326

330

3.7%

1.2%

Total England

64,982

68,884

3902

6.0%

3.5%

Explanatory information and sources

Further information on the provisional local government finance settlement, including the increases in grant for rural and urban areas can be found in the provisional local government finance settlement core spending power publications. These have now been updated to include local authority Rural/Urban classifications and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/core-spending-power-table-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-2025-to-2026.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government plans to take to amend the rules on (a) donations to political parties and (b) the permissibility of donations from foreign business owners through UK-registered businesses. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL3289 on 20 December 2024.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18514 on Social Media: National Security and Politics and Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on whether a social media company adjusting network algorithms to favour a specific political candidate or party would be a donation in kind for the purposes of election finance requirements. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government does not issue guidance on political finance matters. The Electoral Commission, as the independent body responsible for regulating political finance, has a statutory duty to provide guidance on donations.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16197 on Prisoners’ Release: Homelessness, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Justice to monitor levels of homelessness of people released under the SDS40 early release scheme. \p Rushanara Ali: Data on the number of prisoners released under SDS40 who were released homeless is retained locally at each prison. Ministry of Justice is currently collating data relating to the September and October SDS40 release dates and this will be published in due course.

MHCLG collects and regularly publishes management information from local authorities on rough sleeping. The most recent data, for September, was published here on 28 November. The management information includes the number of people seen sleeping rough following release from prison.

MHCLG collect information on duties owed to those have been in custody through the homelessness case level collection (H-CLIC) on a quarterly basis and the figures for April to June are published here. This data will be used to monitor the impact of the SDS release scheme on homelessness levels, once received.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations she has received from (a) Westminster City Council and (b) business representatives on proposals to (i) create a Mayoral Development Corporation for and (ii) pedestrianise Oxford Street. \p Alex Norris: An open letter from the Leader of Westminster City Council was published on 18 September 2024, a copy of which can be found here.

Responsibility for designating any area of land in Greater London as a Mayoral development area rests with the Mayor of London. Any future proposal for Oxford Street would be subject to a statutory consultation in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. The Government remains supportive of locally-led plans to revitalise Oxford Street and looks forward to working with the Mayor of London, local leaders and businesses to ensure Oxford Street remains a world-class retail destination.
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Mr Calvin Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken between developers signing the remediation contract and cases reaching the works contract signing stage on leaseholders. \p Alex Norris: Living in or owning an unsafe home without knowing when and how it will be made safe can have significant impact on the lives of residents and leaseholders. That is why we expect developers and owners to sign works contracts and make buildings safe as quickly as reasonably practicable, and to keep residents and leaseholders informed throughout in line with guidance in the Code of Practice for the Remediation of Residential Buildings. As part of the joint plan that we published in December 2024, developers committed to accelerate this work and government committed to support them in overcoming barriers such as disputes between developers and building owners over access license agreements and scope of remedial works.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_107

Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department will confirm allocations for the £900 million Shared Prosperity Funding announced in the Autumn budget. \p Alex Norris: Allocations for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2025-26 were published on GOV.UK on 13 December and can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_108

David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 December 2024 on the Devolution White Paper, HCWS316, what steps her Department is taking to end the use of (a) competitive funding applications and (b) ring-fenced funding. \p Jim McMahon: The Government has committed to simplifying the wider local funding landscape, reviewing and reducing the number of grants (and ringfences), and consolidating grants into the Local Government Finance Settlement wherever possible. This will support local authorities to plan budgets more effectively and have greater freedom to deliver local priorities. We will also end wasteful competitive bidding processes and cut burdensome reporting requirements for government grants - allowing local authorities to focus on delivering services for their residents. We are inviting views (until 12 February 2025) on our principles and objectives for local government funding reform through a consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_109

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish her response to the letter from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China of 4 December 2024 on the consultation process for the Chinese Embassy planning application. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not routinely publish ministerial responses to representations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_110

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 4279 on Housing: Bricks, what steps she plans to take to increase rates of swift brick installation in new build properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published on 12 December 2024 expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs.

The National Model Design Code and Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework set out how development can incorporate a range of nature friendly features including swift bricks.

We will continue to consider what action may be appropriate to drive up rates of swift brick installation in new build properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_111

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 3 of the Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment, published in November 2024, what discussions she has had with insurers on the conclusion that tenants wanting to own a pet will incur approximately £7 in discretionary costs annually per household. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government published its Impact Assessment for the Renters’ Rights Bill on 22 November 2024, following scrutiny from the Regulatory Policy Committee. The Impact Assessment received a ‘green’ rating, indicating it is ‘fit for purpose’.

Throughout the development of the Impact Assessment, we have used evidence from a range of sources. In relation to pets, we have drawn on information from the English Housing Survey, insurance comparison websites, a number of animal organisations and discussions with industry trade bodies. All evidence and assumption underpinning the costs and benefits are detailed in the Impact Assessment, which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_112

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 14108 on Arm’s Length Bodies, on what statutory basis Permanent Secretaries rather than Ministers approve framework agreements. \p Darren Jones: Permanent Secretaries are appointed as Accounting Officers for their departments by the Treasury under section 5 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. They are directly responsible to Parliament for ensuring that their department's use of public resources are regular and in line with parliamentary expectations. This includes compliance with the wider framework of authorities, which include the various rules and guidance set out in Managing Public Money.

As part of these requirements, Accounting Officers are required to have appropriate structures and systems in place to ensure effective governance of the public bodies that they sponsor. These include the Accounting Officer System Statement, and the need for a framework document for each public body sponsored. As such, in general, the requirement for a framework document is not statutory, but does form part of the Accounting Officer’s duties, meaning that the Accounting Officer is responsible for ensuring that a framework document is in place.

Framework documents, while not legal documents, set out the terms of the relationship between the arms-length body and the sponsor, including the sponsorship processes by which public bodies align with and deliver on public policy objectives set by Ministers and, in some cases, legislation. They codify a combination of policy decisions made by ministers, parliamentary expectations and general principles of good governance. The processes for approval are not set out in statute, and can vary from department to department, and from arms-length body to arms-length body.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_113

Bobby Dean:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Q36 of the oral evidence given by the Office for Value for Money to the Treasury Select Committee on 11 December 2024, HC 521, which Departments have not (a) defined and (b) commenced their zero-based reviews. \p Darren Jones: Phase 2 of the Spending Review launched on the 10th December 2024. At launch, I asked each department to carry out a line-by-line review of existing day-to-day budgets to identify where spending is no longer aligned with this government’s priorities or is poor value for money.

Departments are working with HM Treasury on an ongoing basis to define and agree their zero-based reviews. The findings of these reviews will inform Departments’ Spending Review submissions and the allocation of departmental budgets in Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_114

Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of higher bond yields on mortgage repayments. \p Darren Jones: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary when there are wider movements in global financial markets.

The Chancellor has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility for an updated economic and fiscal forecast for the 26th of March, which will incorporate the latest data.

The pricing of mortgages, which is influenced by a number of factors, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. It is worth noting that, at present, average mortgage rates are well below the recent peaks seen in Summer 2023 and Autumn 2022.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_115

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with HMRC on taking steps to ensure that advisers who behave dishonestly are removed from their positions. \p James Murray: HMRC has robust processes and controls for investigating any concerns of potential dishonesty and deciding on appropriate action where conduct issues are proven.

Possible breaches of our conduct policies are always investigated. This involves considering whether the case is misconduct, or whether it meets the criteria for gross misconduct, which can lead to dismissal for the first offence. In the latter cases, independent and specialist trained investigators from our Internal Investigations team normally investigate the case and make recommendations on whether there is a case to answer based on the evidence.

For potential gross misconduct allegations an independent trained Decision Manager determines the disciplinary outcome, following HMRC policy which aligns with ACAS Code of Practice assisted by expert advice and support from specialist HR caseworkers.

Proven fraud and other serious dishonest activity that results in a breach of trust would normally be gross misconduct and result in dismissal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_116

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of permitting community owned facilities to use red diesel for the purposes of (a) heating and (b) electricity generation. \p James Murray: In 2020, the previous Government announced that the red diesel entitlement would be withdrawn from most sectors from April 2022. Following consultation in 2020-21, the previous Government confirmed that some sectors would retain the entitlement to use red diesel, including non-commercial heat and power generation, and domestic heating. A machine or appliance may use red diesel where 75% or more of the electricity or heat generated is for premises, or parts of premises, that are not used for commercial purposes.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_117

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the non-domiciled tax regime on the number of non-domiciled people who will relocate to other European countries. \p James Murray: The Government’s priority is improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. The reforms to the tax treatment of non-domiciled individuals have been specifically designed to make the UK competitive, with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. The reforms establish a tax regime for new residents which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules.

The OBR have certified that the non-dom reforms the Government is legislating will raise £33.8bn in total revenue over the five-year forecast period. Evidence from the 2017 reforms shows that the vast majority of former non-doms who became liable for tax on their worldwide income and gains remained UK resident and continued to contribute to the UK economy.

The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy on 30 October. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_118

James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals suspected of being victims of pension fraud have been investigated for tax penalties by HMRC in the last 12 months. \p James Murray: Registered pension schemes in the UK benefit from generous tax reliefs, estimated to be £70.6 billion in 2022-23. HMRC’s role is to administer these reliefs as well as undertake compliance checks to ensure that taxpayers are paying the correct amount of tax at the right time. HMRC charges penalties to encourage compliance with tax obligations and does not open investigations with a view to charging penalties. Where inaccuracies are identified as part of a compliance check, penalties may be charged under Schedule 24 of Finance Act 2007.

HMRC does not hold the data requested, HMRC consider the correct response for each taxpayer’s case based on the unique set of facts they present.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-15 conversation_119

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question 9057 on Treasury: Minister’s Private Offices, what was spent on each item. \p James Murray: The below table shows the costs incurred.

Instillation of an exhibition in No. 11 Downing Street from the National Maritime Museum.

£2,155

Office furniture and fittings

£160

Maintenance

£330