theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_44

Mike Martin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief on orchestras that rely on touring. \p James Murray: The UK provides world-leading support for orchestras: at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government confirmed that from 1 April 2025, the rate of OTR will be set at the generous rate of 45%.

From April 2024, qualifying expenditure for the orchestra tax relief (OTR) is expenditure incurred on goods or services that are ‘used or consumed in the UK’, replacing the previous rule that qualifying costs were those incurred on goods/services provided from the UK or EEA.  To ease the transition to the new rule, orchestras with concerts in train on 1 April 2024 were permitted to continue claiming relief on goods/services provided from within the EEA until 31 March 2025.

It is appropriate to refocus orchestra tax relief on UK expenditure now that the UK has left the EU. Under the new rule, the relief incentivises activity within the UK, rather than the UK and the EEA. This does not prevent qualifying productions from touring in the EEA (nor elsewhere).
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_45

Alison Bennett:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the increase to the normal minimum pension age for accessing private pensions from April 2028. \p James Murray: The normal minimum pension age is the lowest age at which the majority of members can take benefits from a registered pension scheme without incurring tax charges, except in cases of ill-health. It will increase from age 55 to age 57 in April 2028.

The Government keeps all tax rules under review.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_46

Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Financial Conduct Authority’s decision to automatically delete emails after 12 months. \p James Murray: The FCA is operationally independent of government and therefore the Treasury has not made an assessment of this decision.

The government expects the FCA to act in accordance with high standards of transparency and operational efficiency, and will continue to hold the FCA to account for how it exercises its functions.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_47

Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the (a) transparency and (b) accountability of the Financial Ombudsman Service. \p James Murray: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is governed by the framework set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000. This includes a range of mechanisms to ensure the accountability and transparency of the FOS.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for ensuring that the FOS is, at all times, capable of exercising its statutory functions.

To support transparency and accountability, the FOS is required to lay its annual report and accounts before Parliament, and is subject to statutory audit by the National Audit Office.

Representatives of the FOS may also be called to appear before Parliamentary committees, including the Treasury Select Committee, which most recently occurred earlier this month.

HM Treasury meets regularly with both the FOS and the FCA to discuss relevant issues and performance against their statutory functions. This includes work to deliver the package of reforms announced by the Chancellor at Mansion House in November 2024, to modernise the framework under which the FOS operates and give clearer expectations to consumers and firms.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_48

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of vacancies in her Department. \p Andrew Western: DWP is a demand led organisation which determines the level of staffing resource required to deliver our services. Workforce Plans, which include recruitment, set out detailed plans to deliver the required level of resource.

Workforce Plans are regularly reviewed to meet latest demand and new policy requirements, and the Department prioritises resource across operational areas.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_49

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will meet with representatives of trade unions to discuss the potential impact of workplace visa rules on staff in her Department. \p Andrew Western: Whilst the impact of changes to the Skilled Worker Salary threshold introduced in April 2024 are affecting a very small proportion of staff within the Department, visa expiry and potential options for obtaining a future work visa are specific to individuals’ circumstances and the Home Office legislation which applies at the time that their current visa expires.

As current employee’s Visa expiry dates span several years and not all will be impacted by the changes to the skilled worker salary thresholds, the DWP Visa Sponsorship Team meet with Trade Unions weekly to ensure impacted members are supported.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_50

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27894 on Social Security Benefits: Criminal Investigation, whether her Department pursues cases where they have no record of (a) financial fraud, (b) error and (c) debt from a claimant. \p Andrew Western: A criminal investigation into social security fraud may be pursued in any case where there is a credible allegation and where there are sufficient facts, information, or intelligence, that indicate fraudulent activity may be occurring.

The individual circumstances of the claim will only be considered where they are relevant to a fraud allegation.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_51

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27894, whether her Department will pursue cases where they have no evidence. \p Andrew Western: Where DWP identifies suspected fraud that leads to a criminal investigation, the Department is obliged to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry, whether these point towards or away from a suspect. This is done in accordance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and Code of Practice.

What amounts to a reasonable line of enquiry will always involve considering the facts of, and the issues in, the case. An enquiry must be proportionate, reasonable, and necessary. The decision must be based on an objective belief grounded in facts, information, or intelligence and cannot be based on any personal factors about an individual suspect.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_52

Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to publish all recorded responses to its consultation on reforms to health and disability benefits. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There are currently no plans to publish all recorded responses to the forthcoming Green Paper consultation on health and disability benefits.

After the consultation period, we will review and analyse consultation responses and we will set out our response in a White Paper later this year.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_53

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Carer’s Allowance rates. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave on 6 February 2025 to question UIN 28443.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_54

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 8343 on Universal Credit, what progress his Department has made on reviewing Universal Credit in the context of rent charging years with 53 Mondays. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department will be considering the issue of rent charging years with 53 Mondays as part of its wider Universal Credit Review.

The Department is committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to and meeting our objectives of making work pay and tackling poverty. We have already begun this work with the introduction of the new fair repayment rate announced in the Budget. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the review progresses to seek views on proposed areas of focus and untapped opportunities in UC. Parliament will be updated on progress and future changes accordingly.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_55

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review Personal Independence Payment Mandatory Reconsideration decision timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The role of a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) decision maker is to make a robust decision, supported by the law and available evidence.

In law there is no time limit within which a MR decision must be made. This reflects the overarching policy that the focus should be on making the right decision and not the speed of clearance. Decisions will be made without delay, but if the decision maker considers that more time is needed to gather or consider evidence, then they will give themselves that time to ensure they are confident that the decision made is correct.

There are no plans to review PIP MR timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned. However, we are recruiting more MR decision makers and making overtime available to increase productivity and, in doing so, we expect to reduce wait times.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_56

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February to Question 30234, on British Nationality: Applications, how much of the revenue cited covered administrative costs; how much was profit; and if she will provide a breakdown of what the profits were spent on. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system.

Fees transparency data produced by the Department can be accessed at the link below, in case helpful: Visa fees transparency data - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_57

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will make an assessment on the potential merits of exempting British National (Overseas) passport holders from Electronic Travel Authorisation. \p Seema Malhotra: The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme was introduced on 25 October 2023 to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK.

ETAs were expanded to British National (Overseas) BN(O) passport holders on 27 November 2024 and are currently a requirement for travel to or transit, landside, via the UK. We keep all policies under review.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_58

Chris Philp:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the judgement in case UI-xx-xxxx-xxxx issued in the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber on 13 January 2025, whether her Department has plans to appeal the judgement. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases or legal proceedings in which it is a participant.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_59

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a review has been undertaken of the Metropolitan Police’s involvement in the case of Ali Kololo. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office has not undertaken a review of the Metropolitan Police’s involvement in the case of Ali Kololo.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_60

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Cambridgeshire Constabulary will be awarded the South East Allowance, in the context of that arrangement for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire constabularies. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (PRRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.

This Government will give very careful consideration to any recommendations regarding the South East Allowance.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_61

Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding was requested by West Mercia Police for the special grant for financial year 2025-26; and how much of the special grant was allocated to West Mercia Police for the same financial year. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office agreed to provide West Mercia Police with Special Grant funding of up to £1.8m in 2024-25, for Operation Lincoln. The final amount provided will not be known until after the end of the financial year.

The Home Office has not yet received a formal application from West Mercia Police for funding in financial year 2025-26. Special Grant funding is reviewed annually and the Department will consider a request when received.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_62

Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a legal pathway for Palestinian children in Gaza to travel to the UK to receive medical treatment. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 7 November 24 to Question UIN 11872.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_63

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Technical Advisory Board (a) last met and (b) last provided advice to the Government. \p Dan Jarvis: For reasons of national security, we do comment in detail on the activities of the Technical Advisory Board (TAB), including if and when it provides advice.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_64

Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for the security service in the context of existing and emerging state and non-state threats to the UK’s national security. \p Dan Jarvis: Keeping the country safe is the first duty of government. MI5 has a key role to play alongside SIS, GCHQ and the rest of the UK’s national security and law enforcement community in achieving that.

The Chancellor confirmed in the Autumn Budget on 13 October an additional £499m funding for the Single Intelligence Account, which includes MI5, SIS and GCHQ, to ensure that our agencies are equipped to do the vital job we require of them.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_65

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures. \p Dan Jarvis: I refer the Hon. Member to Question UIN 15502 answered on 26 November 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_66

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated  to the (a) Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, (b) Jewish Community Protective Security Grant and (c) the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme in 2025. \p Dan Jarvis: In 2025/26, up to £50.9 million is available to protect faith communities. This includes £18 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £29.4 million through the Protective Security for Mosques scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools, and £3.5 million for the places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_67

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish an impact assessment of the updates to her Department's guidance entitled Good character: caseworker guidance, updated on 10 February 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 25 February to Question 31371.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_68

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce charges for EU visitors to the UK, in the context of the EU’s planned introduction of the EUR 7 visa waiver charge under its Etias system. \p Seema Malhotra: Electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) have been introduced to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK. ETAs will be extended to eligible European nationals on 5 March 2025, and will be a requirement for this cohort for travel from 2 April 2025. The price of an ETA is currently £10, although the Government has made clear its intention to increase the fee to £16 by amending the relevant legislation.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_69

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of (a) arrests and (b) cost of enforcement of the Public Order Act 2023 since its implementation. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not hold the requested data, but the department has published statistics on arrests for public order offences in the year ending March 2024, the first statistical series since the Public Order Act 2023 was implemented:

Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024 - GOV.UK

We have committed to holding expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023, beginning in May 2025. This process will include an assessment of how the Act has worked in practice since it came into force, which will include the number of arrests made and the enforcement of the Act.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_70

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to not build new asylum accommodation in Bromsgrove constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government has no plans to build new asylum accommodation at the current time.

Home Office relies on pre-existing accommodation to house asylum seekers.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_71

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of foreign national offenders were released from prison in each quarter since 2012; and of these how many were released because (a) an immigration judge granted bail, (b) her Department granted bail, (c) an immigration judge accepted an appeal against deportation, (d) they were released at the end of a prison sentence and (e) of a mental health discharge. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes data relating to numbers of FNOs released into the community by reason of release in the Immigration Enforcement transparency data. Table FNO_02 of the latest Immigration Enforcement data contains data on FNOs released into the community by reason for release up to the end of December 2021. Please see the ‘Notes’ sheet for information about how to use the data.

Data in this series after the end of 2021 is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office also publishes data on people leaving detention by reason for leaving in the Immigration System Statistics release. This includes any detainees held in prisons under immigration detention powers, or in the detention estate under custodial or immigration detention powers. Some of these cases will be FNOs, but not all FNOs who are released from prison will be included in this data. This data is published on a quarterly basis in Det_D03 of the detention detailed datasets. The latest data is for the end of September 2024. Data covering the period of October to December 2024 is due to be published on 27th February 2025.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_72

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many FNO appeals against Deportation were (a) lodged, (b) Allowed and (c) Allowed, Human Rights grounds only in each Financial Year since 2008-09. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office does not regularly publish information about FNO appeals against deportation. However, in February 2022 an ad-hoc transparency piece on FNO lodged and allowed appeals, covering the period 2008 to 2021, was released. This provides numbers of appeals regarding the deportation of FNOs lodged, and the numbers of those which are subsequently allowed, and of those how many were allowed on human rights grounds only, broken down by financial year of the appeal lodged date.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_73

Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing asylum applications from people from Syria. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office has withdrawn the Country Policy Information Notes and Guidance relating to Syria, and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions from Syrian nationals.

We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review, so we can respond to emerging issues. When there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions on Syrian claims, we will resume the processing of them.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_74

Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has commissioned the use of hotel accommodation for the purpose of housing asylum seekers within the Arun District since 5 July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers.

When a hotel has been identified for use as contingency accommodation, Home Office officials will write to the local authority Chief Executive and the constituency MP to inform them of plans to accommodate asylum seekers there.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_75

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a breakdown of migrants removed since 5 July 2024 by (a) voluntary and (b) enforced removals; and by nationality. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data on returns are presented in table Ret_D01 of the ‘returns detailed tables’, where the data can be broken down by return type, quarter and nationality. The latest data goes up to September 2024.  Data up to the end of December 2024 is due to be published on 27 February 2025.

Information on enforced and voluntary returns from 5th July to 31st January is published at Returns from the UK since 5 July 2024 - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_76

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants on Health and Care Worker visas claimed asylum in each year since 2020. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_77

Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the level of the  backlog in Home Office asylum cases in (a) England, (b) North West region and (c) Runcorn and Helsby constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum seekers awaiting an initial decision is published in table Asy_D03 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. This table is not broken down by constituency.

Data on asylum seekers on support by local authority is published in table Asy_D11 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Please note that not all asylum seekers awaiting a decision will be on support.

Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_78

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of irregular migrants that will enter the UK via the English Channel in each of the next five years following the passing of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. \p Dame Angela Eagle: An impact assessment of the Bill is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-security-asylum-and-immigration-bill-2025-impact-assessment.

This includes analysis of how the new powers in the Bill could achieve the intended impacts, including by leading to more effective interventions in disrupting and prosecuting those who seek to facilitate irregular migration to the UK. The Home Office will continue to monitor and evaluate measures within the Bill once they have been implemented, subject to Parliament’s approval.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_79

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to bar Mohamed Hoblos from entry into the UK. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As the Honourable Member will be aware, it is longstanding policy that the Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

However, we have robust safeguards to ensure that those who intend to sow hatred and division in our communities are refused entry to our country, and we make no apology for this. Our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and our communities.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_80

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff worked for the Grocery Code Adjudicator in (a) 2015, (b) 2020, (c) 2022 and (d) 2024. \p Justin Madders: The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and his office is funded via a levy charged on the regulated retailers. Under the Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013, the GCA may second staff from any other public bodies. GCA staff numbers, at 31 March each year, as stated in their Annual Reports and Accounts, were:

a) 2015/2016 – 5 secondees

b) 2020/2021 – 4 secondees

c) 2022/2023 – 7 secondees

d) 2023/2024 – 8 secondees

As of 26 February 2025 there are 9 secondees.

These reports are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/gca-annual-reports-and-accounts
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_81

Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation on the UK Internal Market Act 2020. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The consultation on the UK Internal Market Act 2020 follows the UK Government Consultation principles (Consultation principles: guidance - GOV.UK).

The consultation is available in HTML format to provide greater accessibility for users and all pages can be printed in an accessible format.

Alternative methods of completing the consultation are available including online, via email and via post. The Department can provide hard copies of the consultation document upon request.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_82

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what goods and services are still traded between the UK and Russia. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Department for Business & Trade publishes regular Trade and Investment Factsheets, which are available on gov.uk and contain the latest available data on goods and services traded between the UK and other countries, including Russia.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_83

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle potential barriers to trade for UK consultancy businesses operating in the EU; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of differing requirements for work permits in individual EU countries on those businesses; and what steps he plans to take with Cabinet colleague to help improve the (a) competitiveness of those businesses in and (b) access of those businesses to the EU market. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: To grow the economy and boost living standards, we need to build export and investment opportunities for UK businesses, including consultancy firms, and reduce barriers to trade with the EU.

The Government recognises the importance of mobility for UK businesses, and regularly engages other EU Member States to address any bilateral mobility issues and to ensure the visa information they provide is clear. To help businesses navigate the visa and work permit rules of EU Member States, the Government has also published guidance on GOV.UK on entry requirements, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_84

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the production of cathode active materials for use in the (a) critical minerals and (b) battery supply chain. \p Sarah Jones: Our vision is to achieve a domestic battery supply chain by 2030 by accelerating the growth of domestic capabilities, collaborating with international partners, and enhancing international markets. The UK National Wealth Fund (NWF) announced in January an investment of £28m in Cornish Metals. This recognises the crucial role of a domestic supply of raw materials for electric vehicles and other technologies in the nation's transition to net zero.

We are also working on regulatory levers to incentivise reuse, repurposing, and recycling infrastructure for all battery chemistry types, including lithium-based technologies.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_85

Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of encouraging Community Infrastructure Levy contributions in place of S106 Agreements under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for new developments through upcoming planning reforms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is not intended to make individual planning applications acceptable in planning terms.

As a result, some site-specific impact mitigation may still be necessary for a development to be granted planning permission.

Some of these needs may be provided for through the levy but others may not, particularly if they are very local in their impact.

There is still a legitimate role for development specific planning obligations, even where the levy is charged, to enable a local planning authority to be confident that the specific consequences of a particular development can be mitigated.

The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_86

Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take legislative steps to instruct councils to overturn decisions on use class properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has no plans to legislate to require planning decisions, including those related to change of use, to be overturned.

Local planning authorities have the power to revoke or modify planning permission under section 97 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

However, such action can only be taken before a planning permission has been implemented and the local authority may be liable to pay compensation to the developer.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_87

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 20653 on Planning: Reform, whether her Department has a policy on the publishing of lists of respondents to consultations. \p Matthew Pennycook: The policy in question is set out in Chapter 15 of the consultation document which can be found on gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_88

Alison Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of removing levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships on the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2030. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has been actively engaging with the Department for Education to discuss the proposed changes to the apprenticeship levy to understand the impact on housing delivery.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_89
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_89

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what responsibilities Strategic Authorities will have for setting (a) locations and (b) targets for new traveller pitches in the spatial areas for which they have planning oversight. \p Matthew Pennycook: The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth, sets out that all strategic authorities will have a duty to produce a Spatial Development Strategy.

Spatial Development Strategies will guide development for the local planning authorities in any given area, and their local plans will need to be in general conformity with them. Further detail will be set out in legislation in due course.

It is too early at this stage to make a firm commitment as to their role in relation to authorised traveller pitches.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_90

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine how additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme will be distributed. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor set out details of an immediate one-year cash injection of £500 million to top up the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 5,000 new social and affordable homes.

On 12 February 2025, the government announced a further cash injection of £300 million to the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 2,800 new homes, with more than half being Social Rent homes.

In awarding contracts under the programme, Homes England and the GLA respectively assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis. In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.

More details of the bidding process and criteria can be found on gov.uk here for London and on gov.uk here for projects outside London.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_91
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_91

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) increase standards and (b) improve the regulation of social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: All registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing.

On 1 April 2024, to complement the existing proactive economic regulation of private registered providers of social housing, a new, proactive consumer regulation regime was introduced. The Regulator of Social Housing has begun proactively seeking assurances that registered providers are meeting the outcomes of the strengthened consumer standards through routine inspections of large landlords (those with more than 1,000 homes). Following inspection, the Regulator issues all large landlords with a consumer grading to ensure it is clear how landlords are performing.

The Regulator works intensively with providers who are not delivering the outcomes set out in the standards and has a series of powers at its disposal when it identifies serious failings.

The government is committed to taking further action to raise quality standards in both rented sectors, and to strengthen residents’ voices. In the coming months, we will bring forward legislation on Awaab’s law for the social rented sector, consult on a new Decent Homes Standard, and introduce new requirements on competence and conduct and access to information.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_92
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_92

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20827 on Religious Freedom, what steps the Government is taking to protect freedom of speech in relation to the expression of lawful statements which may be critical of organised religion. \p Alex Norris: This is a tolerant multi-faith country in which all faiths contribute towards creating a richer society. There are no blasphemy laws in this country and there are no plans to introduce blasphemy laws. This Government will always recognise British citizens’ unchanging right to freedom of speech and expression.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_93

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 24189 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, how many submissions to the Planning Inspectorate’s inquiry were accepted after the deadline for submissions. \p Matthew Pennycook: Representations that were made to the inquiry subsequent to the deadline for submissions can be viewed in the inquiry library here.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_94

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 24189 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether representations made to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the 2024 Chinese Embassy planning application have been transferred to the Planning Inspectorate; whether representations not resubmitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the respondent are deemed to be material planning considerations in the planning inquiry; and if she will publish such representations. \p Matthew Pennycook: Representations made to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with regard to the 2024 Chinese Embassy planning application have been transferred to the Planning Inspectorate.

These representations are deemed to be material considerations in the planning inquiry.

The Planning Inspectorate does not publish such representations.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_95

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to address the failures in remedial work to combat mould in rented properties, in the context of the associated health risks. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring that rented homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February (HCWS423) confirming that the government will bring Awaab’s Law into force for damp and mould in social housing in October this year. The Renters’ Rights Bill, which is currently progressing through the House of Lords, will apply Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector.

Social housing tenants who have already reported a problem to their landlord about damp and mould and who are dissatisfied with the response can make a complaint to the Housing Ombudsman. Through the Renters’ Rights Bill, we are introducing a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman Service which will be mandatory for nearly all private landlords to join.

In addition, all tenants who think their house or flat is in a seriously dangerous condition can take their landlords to court under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_96

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether renting out a dwelling on Airbnb for ongoing short-term lets constitutes a material change of use. \p Matthew Pennycook: In London, primary legislation identifies where there is a material change of use from dwellings to temporary sleeping accommodation.

In all other cases, whether there is a material change of use is a matter of fact and degree and will depend on the circumstances of any given case.
wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-26 conversation_97

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, what her planned timetable is for (a) consultation and (b) secondary legislation. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 includes a number of duties to consult on the core elements of the new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports – including the setting of outcomes.

The government will consult on draft regulations in due course following policy development and engagement with key stakeholders.

While we want to realise the benefits of reform as quickly as possible, we recognise the need to manage the transition to the new system carefully. Until a new system is implemented, current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.