theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Paulette Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the sustainability of (a) funding and (b) support for dementia treatment facilities. \p Stephen Kinnock: Presently, there are limited treatment options for people with dementia. Some drugs can modify symptoms in some cases but there are currently no disease-modifying treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use in the National Health Service, and so care is predominantly provided through social care rather than the NHS.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the NICE’s guidelines.

Local authorities are required to provide or arrange services that meet the social care needs of the local population, including carers, under the Care Act 2014. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

We have also launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission forms a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change, recognising the importance of adult social care in its own right, as well as its role in supporting the NHS. As part of this work, we will consider how best to meet the needs of people, including those with dementia.

The NHS is a world leader in rolling out innovative treatments, including personalised cancer and life-saving gene therapies, and has established a dedicated programme team to prepare the NHS for the potential arrival of new Alzheimer’s treatments that are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and determined to be clinically and cost-effective by the NICE.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative estimate of the number of people who underwent NHS elective care in Dorset in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial years; and how many people were forecast to undergo elective care in the 2025-26 financial year (i) with and (ii) without elective Care demand management. \p Karin Smyth: In the financial year 2023/24, there were 17,411,620 completed Referral-to-Treatment (RTT) pathways in the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board. In the financial year 2024/25, there were 18,116,099 completed pathways. Please note that patients may be on more than one RTT pathway. These figures exclude non-consultant led care, and the subsequent care or monitoring that occurs after a patient has had their first definitive treatment.

Forecasts of those who will undergo elective care in 2025/26, with and without elective care demand management, are not available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter of 16 May 2025 from NHS England to ICBs on referrals for elective surgery, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the rate of referrals for elective surgery on waiting times for NHS operations in Dorset. \p Karin Smyth: No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of reducing the rate of referrals for elective surgery on waiting times for operations in Dorset.

Actions to ensure care is delivered in the most appropriate clinical setting, to reduce unnecessary demand on elective care, are set out in the Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, which also details all the reform efforts needed to deliver our commitment that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment by March 2029.

The Government has set out expectations that integrated care boards (ICBs) should focus on strategic commissioning, by planning services that meet the needs of local populations. In this regard, NHS England’s letter of 16 May 2025 calls on ICBs to implement strategies to reduce unwarranted demand for all elective care, including surgery. By reducing unnecessary appointments and tests, these interventions will free up clinical time and resources for patients who do require elective surgery and other forms of elective care, and will reduce the time these patients wait for their care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policies on the adequacy of the care available to people living with dementia; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a (a) more coordinated and (b) long-term approach to foster improvements in (i) support, (ii) research, (iii) diagnosis and (iv) care. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to set out a timeline for negotiations with community pharmacies for the 2026-27 Contractual Framework. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the full budget available to community pharmacies in 2025-26 is spent on the sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to return the dementia diagnosis rate to its target level. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many appointments have been made to the Shadow Football Regulator; and how many of these were previously employed in her Department (a) employees, (b) advisers and (c) appointees to DCMS-appointed Sports Advisory Groups in the last five years. \p Stephanie Peacock: All appointments to the Shadow Football Regulator are made in accordance with Civil Service Commission rules. As at 1 June, the Shadow Football Regulator has 42 employees. 11 employees joined the Shadow Football Regulator having previously been employed in DCMS; two employees joined having formerly advised DCMS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49772 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if she will publish the (a) State of Conservation Report and (b) Historic England advice. \p Chris Bryant: The Executive Summary of the State of Conservation Report is published on UNESCO’s website: https://whc.unesco.org/document/218772. There are no plans to publish the full State of Conservation Report at the current time.

Historic England’s advice is published on Tower Hamlets’ planning website: https://development.towerhamlets.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_145208
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which stakeholders she is consulting as part of the Arts Council England review. \p Chris Bryant: Baroness Hodge is conducting extensive nationwide engagement with stakeholders via interviews, visits, and roundtables to gather diverse perspectives for a comprehensive review.

The Review launched a survey on 20 February which enables anyone with a view to share their opinions. To date we've had over 7500 responses; the survey closes on 30 June.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the film industry, in the context of President Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs in the US on films produced in the UK. \p Chris Bryant: Although an authorisation for the Dept of Commerce to introduce tariffs on films produced outside the US was announced on 5 May, no such tariffs have so far been introduced.

The deep ties between the US and UK film industries provide mutual economic and cultural benefits to both countries as film production is an inherently international business with global audiences. .

The UK agreed a landmark economic deal with the US on 8 May, and we are committed to maintaining our strong partnership.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help establish a stable government in Syria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are supporting the Syrian Government to work towards an inclusive, representative, and non-sectarian political transition that has respect for human rights and transitional justice at its core. On 25 April, we lifted some sanctions to promote economic recovery and investment, and in May we hosted the first visit by a Syrian Minister in 14 years to the Education World Forum, showcasing the UK's education programmes in Syria, which are a key part of fostering broader stability. We are also encouraging the Syrian Government and Syrian Democratic Forces to implement the agreement they made in March on North-East Syria's future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) in response to the question from the hon. Member for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, during the Urgent Question on Gaza: UK Assessment of 14 May 2025, Official Report, column 353, if he will specify (a) which responsibilities under international law and (b) what type of assessments he was referring to; and on what date did his Department last conduct one of these assessments. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

The UK's Strategic Export Licensing Criteria requires respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the UK's international obligations and commitments. To meet this requirement, the UK regularly assesses Israel's capability, compliance and commitment to IHL across four domains: conduct of hostilities; humanitarian access and relief; treatment of detainees; and forced displacement. Our IHL assessments continue, every six to eight weeks and further information on the assessment process can be found on Gov.uk [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-international-humanitarian-law-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account/summary-of-the-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account].

We have carefully collated, reviewed and assessed relevant evidence concerning the Gaza conflict. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with our all our legal obligations, including those under the Arms Trade Treaty and Genocide Convention, and we remain wholly committed to international law.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to suspend the remaining arms licences to Israel, in the context of remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu on control of Gaza made on 19 May 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government's position is clear. This conflict has had a devastating impact on civilians and more bloodshed is in no-one's interest. One of our first actions in government was to review and suspend export licences which might be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. As the Foreign Secretary set out in Parliament, that was a complex decision, which the Foreign Secretary took extremely seriously and stands by.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with exiled Iranian opposition leaders on women’s freedom in Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials continue to engage with Iranian civil society actors, many of whom are in exile, to understand their lived experiences.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: It is the UK government's long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, and not for governments or non-judicial bodies. The International Court of Justice case on genocide is ongoing, and we support the independence of the court. Our approach to genocide determination does not prevent us from taking action to call out and seek to address risks of atrocities. We have been clear that we strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza, that Israel must do much more to protect civilians, that Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change and that Israel must immediately lift its block on aid. Ministers have raised these issues with Israeli government counterparts, and we have repeatedly made our position clear through joint statements with partners and at the UN Security Council.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it remains his policy that any determination as to whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza is a matter for a competent national or international court. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK's long-standing policy is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator on the potential impact of aid shortages on baby mortality in Gaza; and if he will take additional steps to help prevent potential loss of life. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: As the Foreign Secretary said to this house on 20 May, the threat of starvation hanging over hundreds of thousands of civilians is abominable, this includes the risk to infants and children who are disproportionately affected by the conflict. On 19 May, we issued a statement, with France and Canada, calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter. The Minister for Development reiterated our support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and its critical role in delivering desperately needed aid and services in a meeting with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on 12 May and in a visit to the region on 21 May where she met UNRWA staff and separately announced a further £4 million in funding to the British Red Cross to deliver humanitarian relief in Gaza through their partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the operation of desalination plants in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Recognising the vital role that desalination plants play in providing clean drinking water to civilians in Gaza, the UK supported efforts to establish a Gaza Central Desalination Programme through the World Bank. This work is currently on hold due to the conflict, and the programme has been restructured to meet urgent, short-term water needs in Gaza.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recent killing of Dr. Sheikh Mahmood in Sargodha, Pakistan; and what steps his Department is taking to support efforts to protect the (a) rights and (b) safety of religious minorities in that region. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Promoting freedom of religion or belief is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement overseas. I raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan in a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of State for the Interior in March 2025. Our High Commission in Islamabad regularly raises the importance of Ahmadi rights at the highest levels, and has raised the tragic killing of Dr Sheikh Mahmood with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights and the Chief Minister of Punjab. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in accordance with international standards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to help encourage Iran to improve the freedom of women and girls in that country. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We have not taken legal action regarding Iran's abhorrent repression of women and girls. However, we continue to stand with Iranian women and girls in their daily fight for equal rights. The UK was instrumental in delivering the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights, and to take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect women human rights defenders and guarantee their full enjoyment of all their human rights. We continue to support the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is essential for collecting and preserving evidence of serious human rights violations, including against women and girls. On the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2024, we issued a joint statement alongside international partners, emphasising our commitment to holding Iran accountable for its rights violations. Our Ambassador to Iran has raised women's rights directly with the Iranian government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with Inter Mediate on de-sanctioning the Syrian regime since July 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not routinely disclose the content of private discussions with external organisations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) in response to the question from the hon. Member for Waveney Valley, during the Urgent Question on Middle East Update of 6 May 2025, Official Report, column 588, if he will publish his most recent risk assessment. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government published a summary of the assessment process and decisions that led to the suspension on 2 September of export licences for items that could be used by Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Further information on the assessment process can be found on Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-international-humanitarian-law-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account/summary-of-the-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account

The Foreign Secretary has committed to keeping Parliament updated.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the medical care offered to detained British national Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Egypt. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We consistently raise Mr El-Fattah's case at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government and lobby extensively for consular access. However, the Egyptian Government does not recognise his British nationality. Consular officials are in regular contact with Mr El-Fattah's family, who continue to provide regular updates with regards to his health and welfare. The Prime Minister raised the case with President Sisi on 22 May. The Foreign Secretary raised the case with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 1 June. I discussed the case with the Egyptian Ambassador to the UK on 31 May. The UK Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on lifting the aid blockade of Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, now. The Foreign Secretary regularly presses his Israeli counterparts on these issues. We are calling on the Government of Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza, and let the UN and humanitarians save lives. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. I spoke with the Israeli Ambassador on 20 May to make clear that the UK stands firmly against Israel's resumption of military action in Gaza, its wholly inadequate plan for aid delivery and to demand that a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza takes place immediately.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many requests his Department has made of the Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub to make an assessment of the risk of genocide being committed in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: It is the UK Government's long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, and not for governments or non-judicial bodies. The International Court of Justice case on genocide is ongoing, and we support the independence of the court. Our approach to genocide determination does not prevent us from taking action to call out and seek to address risks of atrocities. We have been clear that we strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza, that Israel must do much more to protect civilians, that Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change and that Israel must immediately lift its block on aid. Ministers have raised these issues with Israeli government counterparts, and we have made our position clear through joint statements with partners. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total expenditure by his Department is on overseas (a) road repairs, (b) waterways, (c) bridges, (d) highways and (e) canals in each of the last five years. \p Stephen Doughty: Year

Road Transport, including road repairs, main roads (highways), and road bridges

Water transport, including waterways and canals

2019

£37.3m

£0

2020

£15.9m

£0

2021

£22.5m

£0

2022

£24.5m

£0

2023

£9.1m

£0

Source: Statistics on International Development

NB Figures prior to the 2020 Department For International Development (DFID) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) merger were for DFID, as FCO at that time was focussed on the Prosperity Fund that was closed soon after the merger.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international human rights organisations on (a) the Xinjiang Police Files and (b) the adequacy of human rights in the Uyghur Region. \p Catherine West: This Government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghur Muslims. We continue to refer to the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang Assessment, which is based on independent evidence and China's own records, including the Xinjiang Police Files. We raise our concerns on human rights at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their counterparts. We continue to coordinate efforts with our international partners to hold China to account, for example, joining a statement led by Australia on Xinjiang and Tibet at the UN General Assembly in October.
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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of planned reductions in spending on official development assistance on funding for Voluntary Service Overseas. \p Stephen Doughty: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments, and value for money.

Our approach balances the UK's proud tradition of supporting the world's most vulnerable with our fundamental responsibility to protect British interests in an increasingly unstable world.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of the security and counter-terrorism partnership between the UK and India. \p Catherine West: The UK and India have a long-standing security relationship, including on counter-terrorism and we work together both bilaterally and through multilateral mechanisms.

We continue to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation to take decisive and concerted action against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities. India hosted the sixteenth meeting of the UK-India Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group in New Delhi in May 2024. We look forward to hosting the seventeenth Joint Working Group this year in London.

Ensuring the utmost safety of British nationals - and the protection of British interests - in India will continue to inform our deepening relationship with the Government of India.
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Yasmin Qureshi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the initiative of the UN Secretary General to create a humanitarian aid corridor from Bangladesh into Rakhine State, Myanmar. \p Catherine West: We are concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, including the deteriorating food security situation. The UK continues to advocate for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need in Myanmar. The long-term solution for Rohingya refugees remains a voluntary, safe and dignified return to Rakhine state in Myanmar, once the conditions there allow.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Kyrgyz counterparts on the dismissal of the Kyrgyz Ombudswoman Atyr Abdrakhmatova in that country. \p Stephen Doughty: The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has not made representations to his Kyrgyz counterparts regarding the dismissal of Kyrgyz Ombudswoman Atyr Abdrakhmatova in May 2023.

I raised human rights with my Kyrgyz counterparts in February and April 2025, and Lord Collins, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, also raised it in February 2025. The UK made a number of recommendations on human rights during Kyrgyzstan's Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council in April.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has concluded investigations into how British doctors working with Medical Aid for Palestine were bombed by Israel in January 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We expect Israel to investigate all attacks against humanitarians and medical staff fully and transparently. We also expect that those responsible are meaningfully held to account.

Attacks on hospitals and medical facilities are deeply distressing. We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza; nearly all Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed according to the World Health Organisation. We have made clear that this is unacceptable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_39

Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with HMRC on the effectiveness of using mediation in tax disputes. \p James Murray: HMRC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service can help in cases where there is a dispute. An HMRC mediator will work with the customer, their agent and the HMRC caseworker to explore points that might have been misunderstood and try and reach agreement on a way forward.

If a case is accepted into HMRC’s ADR process, it will typically incur no cost to the customer, unless they choose to be represented by an agent, or hire a mediator of their own choice to co-mediate. A mediator will aim to conclude the process within 4 months.

In 2024-25, of the cases accepted into the ADR process, 88.7% of these were resolved. This illustrates the benefit of ADR in appropriate cases in resolving and clarifying points to ensure both parties come to an agreement and prevent unnecessary litigation.

A key component of successful ADR is the collaboration of both parties to the dispute working towards an agreed outcome within the parameters of ensuring the correct tax at the correct time.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_40

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48449 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, which municipal green investment (a) bonds and (b) loans being offered by local authorities in England are regulated by the (i) Financial Conduct Authority, (ii) Prudential Regulation Authority, (iii) Financial Ombudsman Service and (iv) Financial Services Compensation Scheme. \p James Murray: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 establishes a framework whereby any person, whether an individual or firm, can only carry out a regulated activity by way of business if they are authorised by the appropriate regulator or are exempt from the authorisation requirement. Under this framework, the government determines which activities are regulated activities, by specifying them in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (RAO).

Where local authorities are the issuers of bonds, or borrowers under loans, they themselves would not require authorisation from a financial services regulator to act in that capacity, and would not be subject to regulation by the financial services regulators.

Financial services firms facilitating access to such funding by local authorities may, depending on the circumstances, be subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investors may be eligible to refer disputes with the regulated firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Depending on the precise circumstances of any products offered, compensation in the case of default may be available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but this may not always be the case.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_41

James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to launch a call for evidence as part of the Loan Charge review. \p James Murray: The Government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.

The Government does not think it is right for people affected by the Loan Charge to have to wait years for any progress on bringing this matter to a close for them and has therefore ensured that the review has a focused remit, allowing it to report by this summer. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

The terms of reference make clear that it will be for the reviewer to decide what arrangements are needed to engage with stakeholders during the review.

The Government is committed to tackling promoters of tax avoidance and is currently consulting on a package of measures, powers and sanctions to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations. Further options are under consultation targeting those tax advisors and legal professionals behind avoidance schemes.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_42

Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help ensure access to cash in Ashfield constituency. \p James Murray: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts.  Data from LINK (the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network) identifies 66 ATMs in Ashfield, including 47 free-to-use ATMs.  The UK’s largest banks and building societies are required to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary.

Assessments are undertaken by LINK, the industry designated coordinating body responsible for conducting cash access assessments. LINK take into account a number of factors including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities, factoring in geographic barriers such as hills, rivers and major roads.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. These hubs will provide small businesses and individuals with critical cash and in-person banking services.  Over 225 banking hubs have been recommended to date and over 150 are already open.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_43

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the Sikh population to GDP. \p James Murray: The Office for National Statistics is responsible for producing estimates of Gross Domestic Product. However, GDP data do not allow conclusions to be drawn on the impact of specific religious or ethnic demographics, and it is not therefore possible to observe the contribution of the Sikh population to GDP from this data.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_44

Jonathan Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending business rates relief for small businesses. \p James Murray: Currently, Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value. Eligible properties under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means over a third of businesses in England (more than 700,000) pay no business rates at all. There is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000, which an additional c.60,000 businesses benefit from.

The Government is committed to retaining SBRR, which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper published at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_45

Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the contribution of the Sikh population to the UK tax intake. \p James Murray: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not hold information on tax intake from the Sikh population.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_46

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48452 on Housing: Valuation, where the Valuation Office Agency obtains scaled (a) plans and (b) maps to determine plot size. \p James Murray: In addition to plans derived from the direct measurement of the property, the VOA uses plans and maps from online digital mapping platforms, ONS surveys, planning portals, property developers, estate agents and other data within the public domain.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_47

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury of 3 March 2025, Official Report, column 40WH, on what evidential basis she estimated that 100 additional private schools would close over three years. \p James Murray: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published the following Policy Paper Private school fees — VAT measure - GOV.UK . The basis for the estimate of school closures is set out in this paper under the heading ‘Impact on business including civil society organisations’.

Further explanation of the methodology behind the estimate of the demand reduction referred to in the above Paper is set out in the Annex to the Government_Response_to_the_Technical_Note_on_Applying_VAT_to_Private_School_Fees_and_Removing_the_Business_Rates_Charitable_Rate_Relief.pdf, under the heading ‘Demand’. This was also published at the Autumn Budget.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_48

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 46841 on Personal Care Services: Licensing, how many hairdresser and barber businesses has HMRC investigated following evidence suggesting that they may have misclassified individuals for tax purposes in the last five years. \p James Murray: HMRC is committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently, creating a level playing field for all compliant businesses.

Businesses providing personal care services, including hairdressers and barbers often operate using the ‘rent-a-chair’ business model. This unique but legitimate business model, unless applied correctly, can result in individuals being wrongly classed as self-employed for employment purposes.

HMRC are committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes.

HMRC have worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material including a YouTube video and have published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models, including the ‘rent-a-chair’ model. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 & https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty.

HMRC does not segment its data on businesses who have been investigated for misclassification of individuals for tax purposes by sector.
wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-03 conversation_49

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47820 on Office for Value for Money: Aviation, if she will make it her policy to instruct the Office for Value for Money to undertake an assessment into the value for money of Ministers’ use of non-scheduled flights. \p Darren Jones: At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor tasked the Office for Value for Money with supporting Value for Money (VfM) decisions as part of the spending review, including supporting departments to develop efficiency targets underpinned by credible delivery plans, scrutinising investment proposals and conducting studies into cross-cutting issues where there is a high-risk of poor VfM. The OVfM will also recommend reforms to the spending framework. The OVfM’s remit has not changed.