theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of empty and abandoned homes in Devon. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government wants to see more empty homes brought back into use across the country, including in Devon.

Local authorities have strong powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. They have the discretionary powers to charge additional council tax on properties which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The maximum premium that a council can apply increases, depending on the length of time that the property has been empty for, with a premium of up to 300% on homes left empty for over ten years.

Local authorities can also use powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of levels of resourcing for Natural England on the use of developer levies collected through the Nature Restoration Fund for nature recovery. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is working closely with Natural England to ensure that resources are in place to administer the Nature Restoration Fund, which is designed to run on a cost recovery basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure local authorities are able to require standards in excess of legal minimums as conditions for planning approval. \p Matthew Pennycook: Planning conditions attached to the grant of planning permission can be used to require development to meet certain standards.

However, as the National Planning Policy Framework states, such conditions should only be imposed where they are necessary, relevant to planning and to the development to be permitted, enforceable, precise and reasonable in all other respects. They should also not duplicate the role of other regulatory regimes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58289 on Planning: Bank Services and Postal Services, what data her Department holds on the accessibility to banking and postal services in planning applications approved in each of the last five years. \p Matthew Pennycook: Policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing local development plans and are a material consideration in planning decisions.

Local planning authorities are responsible for implementing these policies, so my Department does not hold detailed information on how they have been considered in respect of specific decisions made at a local level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend planning (a) policy and (b) legislation to help facilitate the construction of new water reservoirs. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 29 May, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the Fens and Lincolnshire Reservoirs would be given ‘nationally significant’ status and set out the government’s intention to legislate so that similar projects would automatically be ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ and considered under the Planning Act 2008.

The National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure, which includes policy on reservoirs, was designated in September 2023.

The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs intends to undertake a targeted update to the NPS to streamline water resources infrastructure projects.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued on considering downstream carbon emissions in planning applications. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications.

The government provides guidance on how carbon impacts can be taken into account in the planning process through its Planning Practice Guidance on Climate Change, the National Design Guide, and the National Model Design Code.

While these do not deal with downstream emissions specifically, the government keeps guidance under review and intends to update the Climate Change guidance to provide additional advice on taking carbon emissions into account.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.39 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 12 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund; and whether the new local growth fund will be devolved in full or partially. \p Alex Norris: UKSPF was committed for a further transition year in 2025-26. From 2026-27, the government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This includes establishing a new local growth fund, including a 10-year capital settlement from 2026-27 to 2035-36 for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands with the highest productivity catch-up and agglomeration potential.

Further detail on the fund and how it will operate will be set out in due course.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to consult with local authorities on the development of a revised Disabled Facilities Grant allocations formula. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government is reviewing the formula for allocating Government Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding to local authorities in England to ensure the funding is better aligned with local needs. It is important that we take the time to consider the issues properly and have committed to consult on a new approach this year. Following the consultation, we will carefully consider responses from local authorities and MPs before finalising the new approach, with a view to implementation as soon as possible thereafter.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50172 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Trade Union Officials, whether her Department has made an assessment of the value for money of providing trade union facility time in local government since 2013. \p Jim McMahon: Local authorities are independent employers and MHCLG does not make an assessment of the value for money of providing trade union facility time in local government. As public sector organisations, councils are required to publish data relating to the use of facility time in their organisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will publish a breakdown of the sources of the funding increase for social care in 2028-29. \p Jim McMahon: The government is committed to transforming social care and making tangible improvements in the short term. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion available for adult social care in 2028–29 compared to 2025–26.

This includes additional grant funding, growth in other sources of income available to support adult social care, and an increase to the NHS’s contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, in line with DHSC’s Spending Review settlement.

We will set out further details at the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year. The provisional Settlement will be subject to consultation, as in previous years
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent steps her Department has taken to (a) strengthen electoral integrity and (b) tackle voter fraud. \p Rushanara Ali: This Government is committed to strengthening the UK’s democracy and upholding the integrity of elections. It has already taken steps in this area including the work undertaken to review and reform the voter identification policy, successfully passing legislation which allows use of the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card as identification at polling stations.

The Government will be setting out its approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament in an overall Government Strategy for Elections, to be published later this year, where it will set out plans for further strengthening the integrity of elections and encouraging participation in democracy.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who the members of the Reorganisation Advisory Group in her Department are; and what the terms of reference for that group are. \p Jim McMahon: The Department has convened a Local Government Reorganisation Advisory Group. It is made up of a number of senior sector representatives to provide expert advice relating to the Local Government Reorganisation Programme. It has an advisory role. We will publish further details on the group’s membership and terms of reference shortly.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55454 on Local Government: Surrey, whether the Local Government Boundary Commission will be formally commissioned to undertake a full boundary review for the new unitaries. \p Jim McMahon: My department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authority.

The LGBCE is responsible for electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors. When a full electoral review of a newly established authority is carried out, the LGBCE will follow its guidance (which is available on its website). The LGBCE have recently published FAQ on their website to support councils going through Local Government Reorganisation and have set out as part of this that they expect to carry out an electoral review of all newly established local authorities after their first elections and before their subsequent elections.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many projects received Community Ownership Fund funding in (a) Fylde constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) each NUTS region of the UK. \p Alex Norris: There are no Community Ownership Fund (COF) projects in the Fylde constituency. The Department awarded over £900k to three COF projects in the Lancashire County Council area. These projects are Whitworth Leisure Centre, Elmfield Hall and Mercer Hall.

In each region, the Department awarded:

A full breakdown of funding is available on the COF successful bidders page on GOV.UK.
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Anna Dixon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to extend the time limit on exceptions to council tax premiums for category G properties to cover the full period for which a property is being actively marketed for sale for (a) long-term empty homes, (b) second homes and (c) leasehold retirement properties. \p Jim McMahon: The government has published guidance on the implementation of council tax premiums and exceptions to those premiums. This is available gov.uk here. The government does not have any plans to change the exceptions to the council tax premiums.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many projects have benefitted from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Lancashire. \p Alex Norris: We do not hold constituency level data, but Fylde Borough Council received a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation between 2022-25. For 2025-26, in line with new devolution deals, funding will be allocated to Lancashire Combined Authority for the area.

In Fylde Council, thirteen projects were supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) between 2022-25 and three new projects are forecasted to receive funding in 2025-26.

Across Lancashire Combined Authority, 380 projects were supported by UKSPF between 2022-25 and 57 new projects are forecasted to receive funding in 2025-26.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47125 of 22 April 2025 on Community Assets; Finance, what estimate she has made of the difference in funding availability; and what steps she is taking to ensure a smooth transition for communities relying on such support. \p Alex Norris: The government has now announced funding for up to 350 deprived communities, including the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025. 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods will receive up to £20 million over the next decade as part of a new fund announced at the Spending Review. Detailed guidance will be provided in due course; however, the programme will adopt a flexible approach offering areas a broad range of options to address the unique challenges in their local area. This could include funding for community assets such as youth clubs, libraries, and cultural venues.

Areas will receive investment over the next decade, with funding starting from April 2026. Further information will be published in due course.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what role qualified roofing professionals will have in assessing the condition of roofs before solar PV installations under the Future Homes Standard. \p Alex Norris: The Future Homes Standard, which will be set through the Building Regulations in autumn this year, will apply to new-build homes only. As solar PV will play a fundamental role in the new standards, we would expect roofs to be designed to accommodate solar panels from the outset, rather than requiring an assessment of roof condition post-construction. The Future Homes Standard will not apply to existing homes, which is where such assessments of roof condition might be necessary.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, March 2025, published on 28 April 2025, what the spending to LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS LLP entitled Consultancy was for. \p Alex Norris: This spend related to the Local Partnerships’ programme management of the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP). The CMPP was a capability-building initiative designed to strengthen contract management across local government. It aimed to equip councils with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to manage complex contracts more effectively, improve service outcomes, and deliver better value for money.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the cost pressures faced by local authorities in providing statutory services. \p Jim McMahon: The government recognises the significant pressures that councils are facing.

This Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding to be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29.

The £3.4 billion, when taken together with a 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept, results in an average overall real terms increase in local authority core spending power of 2.6% per year over the next multi-year settlement (2026-27 to 2028-29).

The Department works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. This involves looking at a range of cost and demand data, alongside regular engagement with local authorities.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the ​​English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether new unitary councils will have the option of adopting council mayors as their executive governance. \p Jim McMahon: In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider the governance models available to local authorities across the sector.

As part of wider reforms to the local government landscape, the department continues to review available governance models to ensure decision making is best supported at all levels of local government.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to take steps to help support community groups to (a) maintain and (b) promote local (i) green and (ii) blue spaces in Fylde. \p Alex Norris: The government is committed to improving access to parks and green spaces for all, recognising their role in fostering stronger communities. Community groups are a key component in helping people to connect with their local parks through community engagement and volunteering.

The government’s Green Flag Awards scheme sets quality standards for green spaces, focusing on community engagement, increased access, and addressing health and environmental priorities. There is a Green Flag award specifically for community groups that aims to celebrate groups that appropriately manage and meet the needs of the communities that they serve. Impressively, Fylde borough received a green flag award for six parks last year including Lytham War memorial park and the Promenade Gardens.

Furthermore, the government’s Parks Working Group collaborates with key stakeholders to enhance park quality and sustainability, including representatives of the UK’s 6,000-plus friends groups.

The government is working to improve access to blue spaces, including through the King Charles III England Coast Path, which will significantly enhance coastal access in Fylde. Proposals for the Cleveleys to Pier Head stretch — which includes a section passing through Fylde — have been approved, and work to establish the route is currently underway.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, if her Department will publish their methodology for (a) calculating and (b) allocation of funding from her'10-year local growth fund to the 350 deprived communities. \p Alex Norris: On 11 June 2025, the government has announced communities funding for up to 350 places, including the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025. Within this, 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods will receive up to £20 million over the next decade. We will set out full place selection and methodology in due course.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50850 on Local Government: Israel, whether the (a) Local Government Ombudsman, (b) Local Auditor and (c) Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman has powers over breaches of procurement guidance by local authorities. \p Jim McMahon: There are no specific legal powers invested in independent, external bodies to take action over breaches of procurement guidance.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether prisoners undertake (a) litter collection and (b) graffiti removal. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Prisoners currently can access community service work through Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) during the custodial element within their sentence.

The Prison Rules in England and Wales provide that a prisoner may be granted leave from prison for short periods on temporary licence. ROTL is an important rehabilitation tool which allows prisoners to participate in activities in the community which have been identified as serving a particular purpose in meeting their individual resettlement objectives. Suitable, risk assessed prisoners may be allowed out during the day to, for example, attend college, attend an interview, maintain/re-establish links with their family or undertake community work, such as litter clearance or graffiti removal. This helps them develop responsibility and gain valuable skills.

The decision to allow temporary release is taken by the prison governor, on behalf of the Secretary of State, who must always balance the needs of the prisoner and the purpose of the ROTL applied for, against the need to maintain public safety and the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system. Each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis to safeguard the public. Any breaches can result in additional time in custody.

In addition, Unpaid Work is the punitive community requirement set by the court. In 2023, around half of those on community sentences had such a requirement, with around 5 million hours delivered each year. This can include carrying out work such as litter clearance and graffiti removal.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many courts and tribunals have been closed since 2015. \p Sarah Sackman: Since 2015, 90 courts and 4 tribunals have been permanently closed. All of these closures took place under the previous Government.

The figures do not include integrations, where workload remained in the local area by transferring to another building in close proximity, or courts that are temporarily closed.
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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Sikhs are employed in her Department; and whether they are recorded as (a) an ethnic or (b) a religious group. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice records Sikh or Sikhism, as a religion or belief and not as an ethnicity.

Please refer to Civil Service Statistics 2024 Table A3 where statistics on religion or belief by department as at 31 March 2024 are published: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2024. This includes statistics on those recorded as ‘Sikh’.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to introduce mandatory prison sentences for carrying bladed articles. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government is committed to tackling knife crime as a priority. We are clear that those who carry knives unlawfully must face serious consequences, and that sentencing must reflect the harm these offences cause to victims and communities.

In recognition of the seriousness of offences related to knives, the courts already have robust powers to deal with knife-related offences. The maximum sentence for possession of a bladed article or threatening with an offensive weapon is 4 years’ imprisonment. The law also provides for minimum custodial sentences for repeat knife possession and for threatening with a weapon. Adults convicted of a second or subsequent possession offence face a minimum of six months in custody, while those aged 16 or 17 face a four-month Detention and Training Order. Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.

Minimum and mandatory sentences are also rare in England and Wales. This is because it is, rightly, the function of the independent judiciary to decide the sentence in each case subject to the maximum that Parliament has provided and any relevant Sentencing Guidelines published by the Sentencing Council.

The existing framework provides the right balance between ensuring robust penalties for knife crime, and allowing courts to tailor sentences to the individual case.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign-born prisoners are currently serving sentences for knife crime offences. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Statistics of this nature do not currently form part of our published statistics. Our current approach to publication of nationality data is in line with that used during the previous Conservative Government. However, we are monitoring the data that we collect and publish on the prison population and will keep this under review.

Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. The Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. Since 5 July 2024, more FNOs have been returned than in the same period 12 months prior.
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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has plans to raise the starting salary for prison officers. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Pay for Prison Officers is informed by independent recommendations made by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) through the annual pay review process.

On 22 May, the Government accepted all 13 of the independent recommendations put forward by the PSPRB for 2025/26. This year’s award represents an increase of at least 4% for all operational prison staff, delivering another real-terms pay rise on top of the one provided last summer.  This will bring the starting salary for an entry-level Prison Officer (on the national rate, 39 hours with unsocial hours) from £34,494 to £35,875 and will be effective 1 April 2025 when implemented.

We announced the 2025/26 award more than two months earlier than last year, keeping our promise to give prison staff more certainty about the pounds in their pockets.
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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has plans to lower the prison officer retirement age. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Prison officers are members of the Civil Service Pension scheme (CSPS), and the normal pension age (at which unreduced benefits can be taken) is linked to their state pension age.

We recognise the unique and challenging role that prison officers play in protecting the public and reducing reoffending. The Lord Chancellor has requested advice from officials on the pension age of prison officers, and we will continue to engage with trade unions as this is considered.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether contracts agreed with the Prison Education Service will include provision for inflationary increases to budgets for each prison in each year. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The overall budget for the Prisoner Education Service is subject to the Ministry of Justice’s internal annual budget allocations process to set internal budgets following the Spending Review period, so it is not possible to comment on budgets at prison level for future years at present.

The indexation provisions in the circa. 70 service contracts within the Prisoner Education Service vary between the services to ensure they are proportionate and relevant to the services being delivered. The most significant contracts by value Core Education and Careers Information, Advice & Guidance currently include provision for an annual indexation of contract prices. The two indices that are used to calculate inflationary increases are as follows:

1) Average Weekly Earnings index for staff costs, and

2) Consumer Price Index for all non-staff costs.
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Chris Philp:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will provide a breakdown of offences by the nationality of the serving inmate. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Our current approach to publication of nationality data is in line with that used during the previous Conservative Government and does not include a breakdown of offences by nationality of prisoners. However, we are monitoring the data that we collect and publish on the prison population and will keep this under review.

Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. Where appropriate, the Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. Since 5 July 2024, more FNOs have been returned than in the same period 12 months prior.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to review the system for bereavement damages. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government is working to deliver a major series of reforms to the civil justice system and while the issue of bereavement damages is being kept under review, there are no immediate plans to undertake a formal review of this issue.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will review the Guide to Judicial Conduct. \p Sarah Sackman: The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice have a joint responsibility for judicial discipline. However, to preserve judicial independence, the statutory responsibility for the guidance of the judiciary, including for setting the conduct standards for the judiciary, is held by the Lady Chief Justice, Senior President of Tribunals and Chief Coroner, under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, and Coroners and Justice Act 2009 respectively.

The Lord Chancellor has no role in this respect, and it is not constitutionally appropriate for the Government to review the judiciary’s guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_90

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people in prison convicted under joint enterprise law have autism. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Ministry of Justice does not collect centrally information on whether a person in prison has autism, or whether their conviction related to joint enterprise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_91

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen the (a) legal rights and (b) financial protections of (i) survivors of domestic abuse and (ii) cohabiting partners; and when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals for reform in this area. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The financial difficulties that cohabitants, including survivors of domestic abuse, can face when their cohabiting relationships come to an end is a matter of concern. That is why the Government committed in its manifesto to strengthening the rights and protections for women in cohabiting couples. We will launch a public consultation later this year to build public consensus on what form those cohabitation protections should take.

The Government is also carefully considering the findings of the Law Commission’s scoping report on financial provision on divorce, including in relation to issues raised about domestic abuse. The Government will provide a response to this report in due course.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_92

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Staff networks are collaborative volunteer networks, organised by staff rather than the Department. The majority of staff time spent on network activities is voluntary and unpaid.

We are aware of seven events organised by networks in May 2025:

Parenting in the Fast Lane: Managing work, life, and everything in between. Parents Network panel event.

Meet the new MoJ Armed Forces Network and commemorate VE Day.

My journey to Islam: A panel event hosted by the MoJ Muslim Network where colleagues explore their experience of joining Islam.

Meet your staff networks: lunchtime marketplace event in Petty France.

Parent’s Network and Safe Space Forum session on understanding the impact of domestic abuse.

Frontline Staff Network Knowledge Sharing event: Tips for presenting data.

Let’s Talk Menopause: Supporting the Workplace in Menopause (SWIM) Network Event for Managers.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_93

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what legal redress is available to victims of rogue traders where alleged misconduct spans multiple jurisdictions in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland. \p Sarah Sackman: A range of legal redress options are available to those who consider they have fallen victim to rogue traders, including both civil and criminal justice remedies. Citizens Advice provide help and information on consumer rights in England and Wales (and equivalent agencies in Northern Ireland) as well as being able to refer individuals to partner consumer organisations for additional help or enforcement, such as Trading Standards.

Civil claims for the recovery of assets or compensation may be pursued under consumer rights legislation, much of which applies across the United Kingdom. Claims are generally brought in whichever jurisdiction the defendant is domiciled, although the court will determine whether it, or the courts of another jurisdiction, is the more appropriate forum to hear the dispute between the parties.

Consumers have rights to redress for misleading actions under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024. Redress includes the right to unwind the contract, claim a discount and claim damages. Further, the DMCC Act makes provisions for enforcers and courts to include enhanced consumer measures in undertakings and enforcement orders. This includes compensation or other redress to consumers who have suffered loss as a result of certain breaches of consumer law.

Criminal justice remedies may also be applicable, such as offences under the Fraud Act 2006 (for example fraud by false representation) and should be reported to the police.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_94

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Annex 3, Clause 2, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], who will sit on the Joint Commission as representatives of the UK. \p Luke Pollard: As Annex 3 of the Treaty states, the UK delegation to the Joint Commission will consist of one senior representative (as co-chair with Mauritius) and four additional representatives.

Decisions on who will represent the UK side will be made in due course.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_95

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Annex 1, Clause 5, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], what the areas of assistance agreed to provide Mauritius to (a) monitor, (b) detect and (c) adjudicate security risks and conduct Security Reviews were. \p Luke Pollard: As set out in the new UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework, Mauritius and the United Kingdom will cooperate on matters relating to maritime security. This includes the UK working with Mauritius to improve maritime surveillance, the tracking of suspicious vessels and data sharing. Further engagement on the details of this cooperation with Mauritius is ongoing.

Decisions on the areas of assistance required for Mauritius to adjudicate security risks and conduct Security Reviews will be made as part of the current implementation process.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_96

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to procure a land cruise missile. \p Maria Eagle: The Strategic Defence Review signifies a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro-Atlantic. Through the Strategic Defence Review, the UK’s defence and deterrence is being bolstered with 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and a new £1.5 billion Government investment in munitions and energetics factories.

Complex weapons, of which cruise missiles are one option, are a necessary part of our warfighting and deterrence. The exact laydown of our complex weapons capability mix is confidential, and it would be inappropriate to comment outside of information that will be included in the Defence Investment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_97

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the refit of HMS Dragon. \p Maria Eagle: HMS Dragon has completed her Power Improvement Project (PIP) upkeep, which includes installation of three new diesel generators, an additional high voltage switchboard and broader control system dependencies.

HMS Dragon has returned to the Fleet having achieved Materiel Assessment Inspection on 1 May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_98

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 17 on European security, what recent discussions he has had with drone component suppliers to ensure that the UK military is up to date when it comes to drone technology and capability. \p Maria Eagle: Defence routinely engages with drone component suppliers to iterate and spiral develop capability in close cooperation with allies.

One of the key mechanisms to ensure that Defence is up to date with the latest developments in drone technology and associated tactics is through our support to Ukraine, where drone capabilities are developed and exploited in cooperation with drone component suppliers. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence will continue to invest in drone technology to advance our capabilities in tandem with UK industry.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_99
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_99

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) ships and (b) submarines are currently (i) in-build and (ii) on order. \p Maria Eagle: There are currently eight ships in build, with a further eight on order. These include the next-generation Type 31 General Purpose Frigates, Type 26 Anti-Submarine Frigates, and the Fleet Solid Support ships, to be crewed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

There are currently five submarines in build, and one on order. This includes the Dreadnought class, the replacement for the Royal Navy’s current Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines, and Astute-Class attack submarines.

The above figures do not include programmes that are in development but not yet contracted for, such as SSN-AUKUS submarines, Multi Role Strike Ships and the Type 83 Air Defence Destroyer.

These ships and submarines, together with other capabilities, are a vital part of achieving the new hybrid navy as outlined recently in the Strategic Defence Review.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_100

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope is of Project Grayburn; and what requirements were laid out to the defence industry on the core characteristics of the next-generation individual weapon to replace the SA80 family of rifles. \p Maria Eagle: Project GRAYBURN is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the characteristics under consideration. Due to the current phase of the project and commercial sensitivities I am unable to provide further detail.

The Strategic Defence Review sets out a clear path for transformation across Defence. The Defence Investment Plan will set out in more detail the Department’s capability plan in the Autumn, replacing the Defence Equipment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_101

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Annex 1, Clause 7, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], which activities his Department considers risk conflicting with the obligations in Article 3(2)(b). \p Luke Pollard: As set out in Annex 1, Clause 7 of the Treaty, the UK holds the right to notify Mauritius about any activity that is seen as potentially undermining, prejudicing or otherwise interfering with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base on Diego Garcia. Mauritius would then commence a Security Review in respect of these activities . This means that the UK will have an effective veto over any activity that presents a clear and direct threat to the base on Diego Garcia. There is no limit to the scope of activities considered under this condition.
wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-20 conversation_102

Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, what his policy is on providing military training to foreign armed forces (a) engaged in active conflict and (b) where there are alleged breaches of international humanitarian law. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence’s provision of assistance to foreign armed forces is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.