theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on whether breaching the Business Appointment Rules is grounds for consideration by the Forfeiture Committee for the revocation of an honour. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Honours, by their very nature, are a form of recognition for creditable actions or service by an individual. The Forfeiture Committee considers cases put to it when the holder of an honour may be deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute. This might include being found guilty of a criminal offence, behaviour which results in censure by a regulatory or a professional body, or any other behaviour that is deemed to bring the honours system into disrepute.

The Cabinet Office provides wide-ranging guidance relating to the handling of potential forfeiture cases to all government departments. Each case is considered individually.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 18402 on Freedom of Information, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent FOI Round Robin list, redacting the personal names of any requester. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As with the previous administration, this Government does not publish Freedom of Information round robin lists.

Freedom of Information round robin lists contain a reference number, the text of the request, and any advice or guidance on the approach to be taken. The lists do not include the names of the requestor.

Further information on round robin lists can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the national resilience review will prioritise national adaptation to extreme weather. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The national resilience review is considering our resilience against the full spectrum of risks the UK faces, including extreme weather. It is considering existing resilience policy and practice to identify what should be kept, changed or improved to ensure we are best prepared now and into the future. The review will conclude in Spring 2025.
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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Guide to Handling Correspondence, updated on 6 September 2024, and with reference to his Department's transparency data entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers, 2023, updated on 23 May 2024, when correspondence performance data will be published for 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Department for Work and Pensions complies with correspondence reporting and data requests from the Cabinet Office. The data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers 2023 includes performance when responding to correspondence from members of devolved Parliaments and Assemblies. This information has not been separated out in this or previous reports. Correspondence performance data for 2024 will be published in due course.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards to the Prime Minister of 14 January 2025, what information his Department holds on whether the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards (a) held oral discussions and (b) corresponded with the Bangladeshi Anti-Corruption Commission during his investigation. \p Georgia Gould: The Independent Adviser’s advice to the Prime Minister regarding Tulip Siddiq MP and the fact-finding exercise undertaken was published on 14 January 2025 and is available on GOV.UK. As is set out in the Independent Adviser’s terms of reference, “Information provided to the Independent Adviser for the purposes of their functions is provided in confidence” (paragraph 4.2).
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what purposes (a) special advisers and (b) officials in 10 Downing Street have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Georgia Gould: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Government draws on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

The department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 12231 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, if he will list each of the other (a) works of art and (b) portraits that have been removed for restoration. \p Georgia Gould: No further works of art or portraits have been removed for restoration.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of trends in the level of consumer spending amongst pensioners in quarter four of (a) 2024 and (b) 2023. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 15 January is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 106.9KB)
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 18205 on Former Prime Ministers: Convictions, and with reference to paragraph 1.6 of the Ministerial Code, if the Prime Minister will take steps to correct the record of his oral contribution of 4 December 2024, Official Report, column 291. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer of 8 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 18205. The Prime Minister stands by the relevance of raising to the attention of the House that two former Conservative Prime Ministers were fined by the police for breaking the COVID rules that they put in place for others.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of gas boilers installed each year by (a) local authority and (b) constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The government does not hold this data. DESNZ publishes yearly data on the number of properties connected to the gas network, including by local authority. This data can be accessed using this link: Subnational estimates of properties not connected to the gas network - GOV.UK. The number of gas boilers installed each year, either in new buildings or to replace existing boilers, will typically be higher in local authorities and constituencies with a higher number of gas network connections.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost was of operating gas power plants through the Balancing Mechanism in each month since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing network constraints, including through the Balancing Mechanism.
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the oil and gas sector contributes to meeting global climate targets. \p Michael Shanks: The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets.

The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and is consulting on new guidance to ensure the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs in the decommissioning sector of the offshore oil and gas industry in each financial year from 2013-14 and 2024-25. \p Michael Shanks: No such estimates have been made. The planning and delivery of decommissioning is often integrated into the organisational capabilities of upstream oil and gas operators and supply chain companies. It is therefore difficult to determine how many of this workforce are, or have been, focused on decommissioning activities over the last 10 years.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Solar Stewardship Initiative Traceability Standard on helping to tackle forced labour in solar supply chains. \p Michael Shanks: The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), developed by Solar Energy UK in partnership with Solar Power Europe, works across the global value chain to ensure responsible production and sourcing of materials. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its Environmental, Social, Governance and traceability standards, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain. The Government is closely monitoring the Initiative’s progress as it carries out its first round of traceability audits.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the area’s badger population of proposals for the Morgan and Morecambe (a) cabling corridor and (b) substations. \p Michael Shanks: National Energy System Operator considered the onshore and offshore impacts of the proposals for the Morgan and Morecambe windfarms cable corridor and substation on sensitive habitats as part of its Holistic Network Design.[1] Following this, the developers BP and EnBW submitted detailed environmental assessments as part of the project planning application, which include assessment of the impacts on specific species such as badgers.[2]

[1] https://www.neso.energy/publications/beyond-2030/holistic-network-design-offshore-wind

[2] https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN020032/documents?date-to-day=6&date-to-month=12&date-to-year=2024&itemsPerPage=25&lang=en&page=8
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the document entitled UKCS Decommissioning Cost and Performance Update 2024, published on 16 June 2024, whether the estimates of the annual cost of decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure are net of annual relief on corporation tax granted for decommissioning expenditure in the oil and gas sector. \p Michael Shanks: The decommissioning cost estimates referred to, which are published by the North Sea Transition Authority, are pre-tax. Any annual relief on corporation tax granted for decommissioning expenditure in the oil and gas sector has not been applied.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the estimated cost was of curtailment payments to wind generators in each month since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for managing network constraints and publishes daily constraint costs here: Constraint Breakdown Costs and Volume | National Energy System Operator. Data are not available on the split of costs between different types of generators.

As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, Government is working to accelerate the build of electricity network infrastructure to increase capacity, reduce constraints and enable a cheaper and secure energy system for Britain.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the estimated cost of energy imports was in each month since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The Department does not hold data on monthly energy import costs. Annual energy import costs up to 2023 are published in table G.2 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. Monthly import data are published by HMRC in the Overseas Trade Data tables.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of future heat pump uptake in each year to 2035. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Heat pump uptake is growing rapidly: in the year to September 2024, 38,305 heat pumps installed in the UK were supported by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero schemes, a 46% increase over the preceding 12 months.

The Government is taking steps to maintain this growth through delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including a near doubling of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget to £295 million in 2025/26. Further details of our plan for building uptake over the coming years will be set out in detail in due course as part of the full Warm Homes Plan strategy.
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on trends in the level of carbon emissions. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has contracted European Economic Research Limited to analyse the future net energy demand of AI and the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres. These assessments will help the Department evaluate the potential impact of AI-driven technologies on energy consumption patterns and their contribution to carbon emissions trend.
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he make an assessment of the potential impact of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on trends in the level of electricity demand. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has contracted European Economic Research Limited to analyse the future net energy demand of AI and the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres. These assessments will help the Department evaluate the potential impact of AI-driven technologies on electricity demand trends.
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on the Clean Power Action Plan. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has established the AI for Decarbonisation Virtual Centre of Excellence (ADViCE) to support the development and adoption of AI technologies for decarbonisation.[1] ADViCE has identified seven focus areas where the use of AI can contribute directly to the Clean Power Action Plan, including enabling net zero infrastructure, optimising new connections and maximising flexibility in energy networks.

[1] https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/research-projects/advice
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how the AI Energy Council will engage with the (a) renewables, (b) nuclear, and (c) oil and gas industries. \p Michael Shanks: DSIT and DESNZ officials are currently agreeing the membership and Terms of Reference of the AI Energy Council and as part of this they are also discussing how to engage with the renewables, nuclear, and oil and gas industry.
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how the AI Energy Council will engage with (a) the National Energy System Operator and (b) Distribution Network Operators. \p Michael Shanks: DSIT and DESNZ officials are currently agreeing the membership and Terms of Reference of the AI Energy Council and as part of this they are also discussing how to engage with the National Energy System Operator and Distribution Network Operators.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of incentives to landlords to improve the energy efficiency of residential properties. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Current regulations require privately rented homes in England and Wales are to meet a minimum standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band E, unless a valid exemption applies. Government will shortly consult on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector.

Support is currently available to landlords and tenants to improve rental properties. An eligibility tool is available on our ‘Help for Households’ GOV.UK page that will help people find the support available to them via the Home Upgrade Grant and the Great British Insulation Scheme. There is also a zero-rate of VAT until March 2027 on energy saving measures, such as insulation and low-carbon heating.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Great British Energy on the cost of energy bills paid by farmers. \p Michael Shanks: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave him to Question UIN 22545.
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Josh MacAlister:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies offers employees who are foster carers (i) flexible working, (ii) paid time off for (A) training and (B) settling a new child into their home and (iii) other support. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does offer our employees who are foster carers flexible working but not paid time off for training or settling a new child into their home. The Department provides a strong offer to all staff with respect to annual leave and hybrid working, as well as flexibility around taking unpaid time off, along with employee wellbeing support through the 24/7 service of our Employee Assistance Programme.

DESNZ public bodies similarly exercise a range of flexible working policies that can support staff with caring and other responsibilities.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Michael Shanks: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has huge potential to support the Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower and accelerate to net zero. Over the last 12 months DESNZ officials have, with robust safeguards and governance, used AI tools to:

Ministers have been supported by officials using AI tools, in line with the uses above.
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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps with his international counterparts to negotiate a treaty on ending the (a) use and (b) production of fossil fuels. \p Kerry McCarthy: We are committed to working with all international counterparts to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the UK’s domestic and international commitments including from the COP28 Global Stocktake.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) clarify (i) liability and (ii) enforcement thresholds under the Online Safety Act 2023 and (b) help tackle the unintended consequences of that Act for small, independent online community operators. \p Feryal Clark: All user-to-user and search services in scope of the Act must tackle illegal content and, where relevant, protect children from harm. Ofcom is the independent regulator for this regime and takes a proportionate and risk-based approach to regulation. Ofcom must ensure burdens on providers are proportionate to their risk factors, size, and capacity.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to introduce transparency obligations on generative AI developers to disclose detailed information on all creative works used in AI training. \p Feryal Clark: The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.

This consultation seeks views on a number of issues relating to copyright and AI. It sets a clear objective of achieving proportionate transparency from AI developers over the creative content that is used to train their models.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish the Sullivan Review. \p Feryal Clark: In line with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the government recognises the importance of transparency with publicly-funded research. As such, we expect the report to be published shortly.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of copyright law to ensure that creators are remunerated for the use of their work in training AI tools. \p Feryal Clark: The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.

Through this consultation, the Government aims to ensure that right holders in the creative industries can control and be remunerated for the use of their work, while supporting the development of world-leading AI models in the UK.

The Government recognises that this is a complex area and welcomes all views and evidence to help shape its thinking.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Succession Select search tool published by Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, on 17 December 2024, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the rationale for the Succession Select tool with the policy of external recruitment for Senior Civil Service vacancies. \p Feryal Clark: Succession Select is an enhanced search assistant powered by a large language model (LLM). It is an efficiency tool which provides a list of potential candidates to human talent specialists for consideration and is not used to fill vacancies. When there is a SCS vacancy the usual recruitment practices, policies and procedures apply. This includes the ‘External by Default’ policy to ensure that, where a SCS role is being advertised, it is advertised outside the Civil Service as well as inside. Departments and agencies have authority to determine their practices and procedures for the recruitment of staff to the Civil Service. For Senior Civil Service vacancies, the relevant minister must approve circumstances when the role is not advertised externally.
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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the use of artificial intelligence complies with existing copyright law. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is clear that making copies of protected material will infringe copyright unless it is licensed, or an exception to copyright applies.

However, the application of existing copyright law to generative AI models is untested in the courts, and there is a lack of legal certainty.

The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024, seeking views on how to create clarity in this area through a package of measures.

The Government recognises that this is a complex area and welcomes all views and evidence to help shape its thinking.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Melanie Ward:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to tackle websites which (a) promote and (b) normalise suicide. \p Feryal Clark: Under the Online Safety Act, websites that allow user-generated content must proactively prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children of all ages from encountering legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide.

Last year, the Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom to ask about its plans to tackle suicide forums which breach their obligations under the Online Safety Act. The regulator confirmed it stands ready to move to rapid enforcement action, where necessary.

The Act also provides search services with targeted duties to minimise the risk of all users encountering illegal search content either in or via search results.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that the use of AI does not lead to large scale job losses. \p Feryal Clark: A technology as transformative as AI will inevitably have an impact on the UK labour market. The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out how we will address key labour market challenges and spread opportunity.

A key element of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and our broader work on education, is focused on ensuring citizens have the right skills to adopt and take advantage of AI capabilities.

We are working across government to understand and address the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed AI data centres on UK (a) security and (b) defence. \p Feryal Clark: The government recognises the critical role of AI and data centre infrastructure in supporting the UK’s security and defence. AI Growth Zones will help develop domestic AI capabilities, ensuring the UK can harness AI to strengthen national security and defence capabilities. The UK must also have sufficient domestic data centre capacity to support our digital economy and ensure we are not overly reliant on international markets for storing and processing sensitive data.
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Jessica Morden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his Armenian counterparts on strategic defence cooperation with that country. \p Luke Pollard: The Secretary of State has not yet had personal discussions with his Armenian counterparts, but we do have good and growing engagement in the region, including Staff Talks in Yerevan shortly and the announcement of a resident Defence Section, due to open in Armenia later in the year. We are currently exploring the possibility of Ministerial bi-lateral engagement later in the year.
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Helena Dollimore:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024. \p Al Carns: The Directorate of Defence Communications and Top Office Group in the Ministry of Defence Head Office spend on media and voice training for Ministers between the 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024 is nil.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the AI tool entitled MOD: Textio, published on 17 December 2024, whether the tool has been programmed to (a) avoid unconscious bias and (b) promote equality, diversity and inclusion. \p Al Carns: Textio is a recruitment AI tool, procured for use within the Ministry of Defence to support recruitment of the best candidates. Whilst Defence is not privy to the specific programming of the software by its developers, we have utilised it over several years to create more appealing and more widely accessible job adverts. Defence utilises the software to highlight the use of jargon and acronyms, as well as to identify opportunities for more inclusive wording, thereby creating attractive adverts for potential applicants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department issues guidance to the armed forces on the use of barracks to host MP constituency surgeries for serving personnel. \p Al Carns: Guidance on the use of Ministry of Defence sites to host MP constituency surgeries is set out in Joint Service Publication 850, entitled Infrastructure and Estate Policy, Standards and Guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_176

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the defence industry of lost output arising from protests at (a) Glasgow Govan shipyard, (b) Glasgow Scotsoun and (c) Samlesbury aerospace factory in each of the last 12 months. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 September 2024 to Question 4231.

Defence: Demonstrations (docx, 28.9KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_177

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to transfer the management of RAF Odiham from the Army to the Royal Air Force. \p Maria Eagle: There is a joint Army and Royal Air Force (RAF) proposal to adopt an Air Base/Air Wing operating model at Benson and Odiham airbases. This would see the RAF take responsibility for running the Airbases, with helicopters from the Army’s Joint Aviation Command (JAC) continuing to operate from both sites. This will have no effect on operational outputs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_178

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential lessons that could be learned for (a) her Department and (b) other Departments from the policies of the Javier Milei administration in Argentina in the context of trends in the level of (a) economic growth and (b) inflation in that country; and if she will hold discussions with her Argentinian counterpart on economic policy. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK Government continually monitors international economic developments and is aware of the domestic reforms that the administration of Javier Milei is undertaking to reduce inflation and restore economic growth.

The UK regularly engages with Argentina on international economic issues, both bilaterally and through various multilateral fora including the G20. In the last six months, the Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Business and Trade have met their Argentine counterparts to discuss how to further deepen the trading and investment relationship. UK-Argentina trade was worth £2bn in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2024.

The UK will continue to work with the Milei administration to further strengthen our economic relationship in areas of mutual interest.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_179

Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many investigations by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation into breaches of Russian sanctions (a) are open and (b) have been undertaken since February 2022. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (“OFSI”) currently has 318 investigations open regarding potential breaches of The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “Russia Regulations”).

Since February 2022, OFSI has investigated and closed 388 cases relating to potential breaches of the Russia Regulations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_180

Callum Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps to support greater supervisory data sharing between UK and Chinese financial regulators. \p Emma Reynolds: As the Chancellor’s Statement to the House on 14th January set out, the dialogue has delivered a set of tangible benefits to ensure that British firms have greater access to the world’s second largest economy, while safeguarding our national security and securing commitments to enhance financial regulatory and supervisory cooperation.

The total value of what was agreed is worth £600 million over the next five years for the UK economy and sets us on course to deliver up to £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

In particular, the agreement secured: new licences and quota allocations for UK asset managers, which will immediately improve their operating access and competitiveness in China; the launch a feasibility study into a UK-China Wealth Connect; the launch of UK-China over-the-counter bond business, which allows international investors to trade and settle RMB bonds more easily through the UK; and a commitment for the issuance of Sovereign and Corporate green bonds in the UK solidifying the City’s role as a Global Financial Centre and benefitting UK firms through increased fees for delivering this business.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_181

Andy MacNae:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the hospitality industry; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending VAT for that sector. \p James Murray: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government has extended the current RHL relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced VAT rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £10 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_182

Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to line 26 on page 118 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will disaggregate the measures of (a) changing the Secondary Threshold to £5,000 and (b) increasing the employer National Insurance rate by 1.2% for each financial year to 2029-30. \p James Murray: The static revenue of increasing the Employer National Insurance rate from 13.8% to 15%, and reducing the Secondary Threshold to a £5,000 annual equivalent are set out below.

(£m)

2025-26

2026-27

2027-28

2028-29

2029-30

Revenue from increasing the Employer NIC rate from 13.8% to 15%

11,105

11,440

11,770

12,080

12,440

Revenue from reducing the Secondary Threshold to £5,000

17,230

17,350

17,460

18,040

18,600

This is a subset of the static costing published in table 5.1 of the HMT Budget documents, and table 3.2 of the OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook, October 2024, and does not account for direct or indirect effects from the wider package. The cost of increasing the rate is calculated before any other parts of the announced package of Employer NIC changes have been calculated – and so assumes the Secondary Threshold and Employment Allowance remain unchanged. The cost of reducing the Secondary Threshold accounts for the higher rate of Employer NICs, but does not account for changes to the Employment Allowance.

In addition to the changes outlined above, the Government has protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, which means that 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all next year, more than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from this package, and all eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_183

Priti Patel:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21589 on Military Bases: Diego Garcia, when she plans to publish the costs of the (a) proposed economic partnership and (b) Chagossian Trust Fund; and whether she plans to frontload payments for the proposed lease of the military base. \p Darren Jones: The UK-Mauritius treaty, which will enable the continued operation of the base on Diego Garcia, alongside the structure of any associated financial obligations, still remains subject to finalisation and signature.

It is not normal practice for the UK to confirm the value of its payments for military bases anywhere across the globe. Any financial obligations arising from this agreement will be managed responsibly within the government’s fiscal framework, including through the upcoming Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_184

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 26 November 2024 from the hon. Member for North Norfolk, reference SA01948. \p Darren Jones: This correspondence is receiving urgent attention and a response will be sent from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for North Norfolk in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_185

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to make updates to the Financial Reporting Manual. \p Darren Jones: The government financial reporting manual (FReM) for financial year 2024-25 has been updated and was published in December 2024. The draft FReM for financial year 2025-26 was also updated and published in December 2024. Updates made are reviewed by the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB) before publication on gov.uk. The 2024-25 FReM can be found here: Government Financial Reporting Manual: 2024-25 - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_186

David Simmonds:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15199 on Council Tax: Wales, if he will list each individual value significant code that is utilised in the Automated Valuation Model. \p James Murray: The subsidised housing indicator is the only value significant code used in the Automated Valuation Model, as detailed in the response to UIN xx-xxxx-xxxx.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_187

Dan Norris:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many adults who are eligible for the Child Trust Fund have not accessed their fund in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. \p James Murray: Information on Child Trust Funds is available in HMRC’s Annual Savings Statistics.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2024

HMRC does not hold information on the geographical locations of Child Trust Fund account holders, therefore the requested constituency breakdown cannot be provided.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_188

Tristan Osborne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for the proposed consultation on e-invoicing. \p James Murray: At Budget 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a public consultation on e-invoicing to promote its wider use across UK businesses and government departments.

HMRC and Department for Business and Trade will be publishing a joint consultation with an expected publication date of early 2025. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will be open to all business sizes and sectors, individuals, and software providers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_189

Helena Dollimore:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department spent on (a) media and (b) voice training for Ministers between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024. \p James Murray: Between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024, the Department spent £3.3k on media training for members of the Ministerial team. No spend on voice training for Ministers was incurred during this period.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-23 conversation_190

Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the full introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation on Northern Ireland under the terms of the Windsor Framework. \p James Murray: The Government plans to apply the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland, from 2027. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the EU, to ensure our approach is implemented in a way that works for businesses.

The EU's CBAM could only apply in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the UK and in line with the democratic safeguards of the Windsor Framework.