theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in funding for the BBC World Service on the UK's soft power. \p Catherine West: The Government highly values the BBC World Service, which makes a significant contribution to UK soft power. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressions of the UK and is the country's most recognised cultural export internationally. Decisions have not yet been made on future funding. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process in the autumn.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Africa has had with trade unions on women’s empowerment; and on what dates those discussions were held. \p Catherine West: The Minister for Africa had two official engagements on the topic of women's empowerment during the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Firstly, a meeting with a senior delegation from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on 12 March 2025, comprising Paola Simonetti, Director of the ITUC, Siobhan Vipond from the ITUC Canada and Dur e Shawar from the Pakistan Workers Party. Secondly, a meeting with Christina McAnea, General Secretary of UNISON, on 13 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic démarches his department has delivered to advance religious freedom during bilateral visits to Vietnam. \p Catherine West: I pressed the Vietnamese Government to respect people's rights to speak freely, to meet in groups, and to practice their religion during my October 2024 visit to Vietnam. I followed up with my counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Hang, on 17 March and will keep raising this with Vietnam alongside our Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, David Smith MP. The UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership includes cooperation on human rights, including concerns about religious freedom.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial support his Department provides for the protection of (a) rainforests and (b) Indigenous People and Local Communities in a context of aid cuts. \p Catherine West: It remains the Government's ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be for forests. In the context of aid cuts, we will sharpen the focus of our Official Development Assistance investments onto three priorities where we can drive real change: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature.

At COP26 in Glasgow, the UK mobilised the $1.7 billion Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Forest Tenure Pledge and committed £163 million to advance IPLC tenure rights. We continue to prioritise supporting IPLCs, recognising their vital role in tackling the climate and nature crises. We do this through flagship Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office programmes, including on forest governance and land tenure in the Amazon, and as co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to advocate for the protection of children in armed conflict in (a) the Occupied Palestinian Territories, (b) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (c) Haiti, (d) Somalia and (e) Nigeria. \p Catherine West: The UN Secretary-General's 2025 report on children and armed conflict highlights a shocking 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children. The UK statement at the UN Security Council open debate on 25 June called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children. It also called on Israel to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children.

The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, playing a key role ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.

We have raised child protection issues and concerns with the governments of Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Somalia. In Nigeria, we are working with partners on the ground to protect children, focusing on girls, explosive weapons and the recruitment and use and detention of children.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will publish a cross-government strategy on children and armed conflict. \p Catherine West: The latest UN Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict is shocking. It shows that children are being harmed and denied lifesaving aid on an unprecedented scale.

In the UN Security Council, the UK has called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children, and for perpetrators to be held to account. The UK also remains committed to promoting and defending the UN's Children and Armed Conflict mandate.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) is currently reviewing our approach to children in conflict.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of using the certificate of sponsorship start date to start the qualifying period for care workers on skilled worker visas to apply for indefinite leave to remain. \p Seema Malhotra: The requirement to hold a certificate of sponsorship is part of the eligibility criteria of the skilled worker route and does not confer any permission to enter or stay in the UK. An applicant for settlement must show a period of lawful continuous residence.

The new Immigration Rules will end overseas recruitment for Care Workers and take effect on 22 July. Transitional arrangements will allow in country switching until 2028 and individuals will continue to be able to extend their permission. The qualification period for Indefinite Leave to Remain begins when the individuals first entered the UK in the Skilled Worker route.

The Immigration White Paper sets out proposed changes to settlement rules. We will consult on the details of the policy later this year. These are important changes, we recognise how important this is to people, and will listen to what people tell us in that consultation. We will provide further details of how the scheme will work after that.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new visa requirements on travellers from Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an exemption for cultural workers from Trinidad and Tobago with confirmed professional work in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are now required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UK. The UK introduced a visitor visa requirement for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago on 12 March 2025 due to the number of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago travelling to the UK for reasons other than those permitted under the Immigration Rules for visitors. This included a significant increase in asylum claims made on arrival at the UK border. Full reasons for the introduction of the visa requirement and a summary of the impact were provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the changes in the Immigration Rules.

We have no plans to introduce a visa exemption for cultural workers. The Creative Worker visa concession is available to individuals who do not require a visa to enter the UK as a visitor. Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago can apply for the Creative Worker route, but are required to obtain a visa before travelling.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a concession for care workers in the qualifying time for indefinite leave to remain due to delays in UK visa and immigration processing times for skilled worker visas. \p Seema Malhotra: There are no delays in processing straightforward Health and Care Worker visa applications.

Section 3C leave, as defined in Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, automatically extends a person’s immigration permission if they have submitted an application to extend or vary their permission before the person’s existing permission expires. Time spent on the skilled worker route under section 3C can be counted towards settlement.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms exist with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive for (a) communication and (b) support to ensure immigration legislation is applied consistently. \p Seema Malhotra: Nationality, Immigration and Asylum are excepted matters under the Northern Ireland (NI) devolution settlement, and the Home Office works closely with the NI Executive on areas where Nationality, Immigration and Asylum matters impact on transferred matters that are the NI Executive’s responsibility.

Everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 16 May 2022 to Question 245 on Migrant Workers: Football, whether her Department considers football academies to be places of employment for children; and if she will take steps to ensure that children on dependent visas can participate in football academy non-professional developmental programmes. \p Seema Malhotra: The restriction on work as a ‘professional sportsperson’ is present in certain routes’ visa conditions, including for dependent children. The condition and associated definition have been established following extensive consultation with over 60 Home Office approved Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs), including the four home nations’ football associations (FAs). The restriction includes those registered at an academy of a professional or semi-professional sports team. The definition, and the visa condition restricting such activities, is currently being reviewed.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic and (b) social impact of uncontrolled migration on communities. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office’s Immigration White paper, published on 12 May, sets out proposed reforms in a wide range of areas to restore control to the immigration system, after the chaos inherited from the previous government, when the level of net migration rose to more than 900,000 per year, and when 400 asylum hotels were in use across the country, at a cost of almost £9 million per day.
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Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made with Cabinet colleagues of how many (a) prison service, (b) DWP and (c) general civil service staff members with Skilled Worker visas will lose their visa eligibility due to changes to immigration rules from 22 July 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: Under the current transitional arrangements, existing Skilled Worker visa holders are exempt from the changes to the skills threshold introduced on 22 July and can continue to extend in their current occupations.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people on the (a) Homes for Ukraine and (b) Ukraine Family Schemes who are working in the agricultural sector. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics.
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Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether her Department has undertaken an (a) equality and (b) impact assessment on the potential impact of its proposed changes to the qualifying period for settlement on (i) British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders and (ii) their family members. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details of the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An assessment of equality and other impacts will be developed alongside any finalised policy.

We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review (a) citizenship and (b) settlement criteria to place greater emphasis on (i) cultural integration and (ii) long-term contribution to the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: We set out our plans to reform the settlement and citizenship rules in the white paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”. We will be consulting on the settlement and citizenship schemes later this year, and further details will be provided at that time.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims have been submitted by Ukrainian nationals in each of the last three years; and what proportion of those were successful by oblast of origin. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum claims and initial decisions by nationality is published in table Asy_D01 of the ‘Asylum claims and initial decisions detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2025.

Please note that data on asylum claims by sub-national regions of origin is not published.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average period of time taken was to conclude an investigation of misconduct against a police officer under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 in each local police force area in each of the last five years. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office collects and publishes data on police misconduct proceedings, cases, and allegations on an annual basis in the ‘Police misconduct, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics.

The latest information covers cases finalised in year ending 31 March 2024. The data tables accompanying these statistics contain information on individuals referred to proceedings by proceeding type and Police Force Area (table MP1), and the subsequent misconduct finding level (table MP3).

Not all allegations are referred to misconduct proceedings. Tables PC6a and PC6b, CM5, and RC5 contain information on the number of allegations finalised by action (for example, referral to proceedings, or referral to reflective practice review process) and Police Force Area, for cases arising from complaints, conduct, and recordable conduct matters respectively.

Tables CM7a and RC7a contain information on the average (median) time to finalise conduct and recordable conduct matter cases, by Police Force Area. These statistics include all finalised cases, including those not referred to misconduct proceedings or where no action was deemed necessary. A case is considered finalised once all resultant actions have concluded, including criminal proceedings, appeals and any associated reviews.

These statistics are designated Official Statistics in Development to acknowledge that they should be interpreted with caution, particularly when comparing between years. Please see the user guide for further details https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/user-guide-to-police-misconduct-statistics/user-guide-to-police-misconduct-statistics.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many suicides by police officers have been recorded in each of the last ten years, by local police force. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not currently collect or hold this information centrally. The Office for National Statistics publishes data on the number of suicides registered in England and Wales by occupation. The latest available data can be found here: Suicide by occupation in England and Wales: 2023 and 2024, provisional - Office for National Statistics

This Government has been clear that the health and wellbeing of our police workforce is a priority.

The National Police Wellbeing Service has created a national suicide action plan which aims to educate and support the workforce, reduce stress and improve data recording. In addition, the Service has put in place a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support Line to provide urgent support for our police when they need it the most.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support police to enforce laws prohibiting e-scooters being ridden on pavements. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles, including e-scooters, involved in anti-social behaviour with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.

On 28 May, the Government launched a six-week consultation on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles such as e-scooters, which have been used anti-socially.

Combined, these proposals will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially by sending a clear message to would be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

There are various offences relating to e-scooter use that the police can enforce with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). Riding an e-scooter on the pavement can result in a FPN of £50.
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Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the use of stop and search to tackle knife crime in the West Midlands. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Halving knife crime over the next decade is a central objective of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission and we are taking decisive action to achieve it.

Stop and search is an important tool for tackling knife crime. Police officers have the power to stop and search individuals or vehicles for offensive weapons, provided they have reasonable grounds to suspect they will find the item.

In addition, where serious violence has occurred, or where intelligence suggests it may occur, a senior police officer may authorise police officers to stop and search any individual or vehicle for weapons, with or without reasonable suspicion. These authorisations are limited to a particular area for a specific period of time, usually no longer than 24 hours but may be extended to up to 48 hours in certain circumstances.

The operational use of stop and search is determined by individual police forces, based on local intelligence and priorities within local communities, and it must always be conducted fairly and appropriately.

Beyond the use of stop and search, the Government is taking decisive national action on knife crime. This includes banning zombie-style knives, introducing legislation to prohibit ninja swords, tackling knife-enabled robbery and establishing new Prevention Partnerships to support those who are most at risk and divert them away from knife crime.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The requested information is not held in a reportable format. To provide this information would require a manual review of contract records, which could only be done for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle pavement parking in Fylde constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Flyde constituency is a civil enforcement area and therefore pavement parking is a civil matter for Department for Transport (DfT) and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making misogyny a hate crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling misogyny, both online and offline, is central to our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade. We will address the drivers and root causes of VAWG as part of our upcoming cross-Government Strategy, due to be published in September.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the the potential impact of digital identity systems on (a) policing and (b) other forms of law enforcement. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA), within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is working to enable the use of secure and trusted digital verification services across the UK economy for those who want to use them.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who have arrived illegally using boats in the last six months. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes daily statistics on detected small boat arrivals to the UK in the Small boat activity in the English Channel - GOV.UK release.

More detailed published data on small boat arrivals to the UK are provided in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’, with the nationality, age grouping and sex of arrivals shown in table Irr_D01 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’, with the latest data up to the end of March 2025.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK are in receipt of (a) accommodation and (b) subsistence. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The latest data on the number of asylum seekers in receipt of asylum support can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders are living in the UK and have received deportation orders. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office routinely publishes the number of FNOs subject to deportation proceedings and living in the community within its Immigration Enforcement quarterly transparency release. The latest release can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, which shows up to the end of Q1 2025.

The Home Office works tirelessly to clear legal barriers, secure documentation or overcome other impediments to a return. Between 5 July 2024 and 18 May 2025, there were 4,436 enforced and voluntary returns of FNOs. This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior.

The Home Office also continues to work closely with HMPPS (HM Prisons and Probation Service) to focus on driving up the returns of FNOs direct from prison, delivering 2,274 early removal scheme (ERS) returns, which is an 11% increase compared with the 2,050 in the same period 12 months prior.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people with no right to be in the UK were removed between 4 July (a) 2024 and (b) 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home office published transparency data relating to the return of individuals without lawful status in the UK, on 14 July. This can be found on gov.uk at Returns from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 - GOV.UK

The next immigration system statistics quarterly release will be published on 21 August 2025, providing comprehensive statistics on the number of returns from the UK.
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Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been charged for immigration offences in each month since July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In general, charging decisions are made by the Crown Prosecution Service based on the circumstances of each case, and the likelihood of obtaining a conviction for the offence in question. In the twelve months from July 2024 to June 2025 446 individuals were charged with offences under the Immigration Act 1971, the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc Act) 2004.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 June 2025 from the hon. Member for North Antrim on a meeting arising from communal disorder in his constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I thank the Hon Member for his question. My officials have been in touch with his office on this matter.
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Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been charged for assisting unlawful immigration under s25 Immigration Act 1971 in each month since July 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In general, charging decisions are made by the Crown Prosecution Service based on the circumstances of each case, and the likelihood of obtaining a conviction for the offence in question. In the twelve months from July 2024 to June 2025 153 individuals were charged with Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) help tackle online harassment and (b) improve protection for people in public life. \p Dan Jarvis: As Chair of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, I want to be clear: the harassment or intimidation of elected representatives - whether online or in person - is never acceptable. The work we are taking forward includes working across Government with the police, parliamentary authorities, to actively review our levers to tackle the harassment and intimidation of elected representatives, candidates, and electoral staff. For example, the Online Safety Act 2023 now requires platforms to remove illegal content - including threats and abuse - with Ofcom enforcing compliance.

But we must go further. The threat is evolving, and so must our response. Under the Taskforce's renewed mandate, we are reviewing how to strengthen protections and close any gaps. Measures such as the new aggravating factor in the recently published Elections Strategy introduce clearer consequences for behaviour that crosses the line into abuse. I also welcome the important work of the Speaker's Conference and look forward to its final recommendations.
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Daniel Francis:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of increasing draft duty relief for (a) consumers (b pubs and (c breweries in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. \p James Murray: The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs.

Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in duty than their packaged equivalents – a 50% increase on the previous draught discount of 9.2%. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint.

Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in duty than their packaged equivalents – a 50% increase on the previous draught discount of 9.2%.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of taxation of the oil and gas sector on levels of future development in the North Sea. \p James Murray: The Government is taking a responsible and proportionate approach to managing the taxation of the North Sea which recognises the ongoing role of the oil and gas industry and workforce in our current energy mix while ensuring the sector contributes more towards our energy transition. The Government engages regularly with industry stakeholders and monitors independent analysis, to assess the effects of taxation on investment and development activity in the basin.

The Government’s Building the North Sea’s Energy Future consultation sought to gather responses on the long term future of the North Sea. Britain is well-placed to mobilise its natural advantage, using the skills and expertise of our offshore workforce and supply chain to support the energy transition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of inflation on household disposable income. \p Emma Reynolds: Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) per person includes all sources of household income, net of taxes and inflation.

In the year to Q1 2025 (2024/25) RHDI per capita was 2.9% higher than in the year prior (2023/24), the fastest pace of financial year growth since 2015/16.

HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy. Forecasts, including for real household disposable income per person, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). These forecasts are published by the OBR as part of their Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO).

According to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2025 forecast, RHDI per person was forecast to grow at an annual average of 0.5% over this parliament (Q3 2024 – Q2 2029).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_214

Matt Vickers:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with business groups on economic policy. \p Emma Reynolds: Government Ministers and Senior Officials regularly meet with businesses and business representation organisations. These meetings provide an opportunity for the Government to hear the views of the business community to aid in the formation of policy, including fiscal policy. These engagements are ongoing and will continue to be so.

Further information on previous meetings held by HM Treasury Ministers and can be found on the gov.uk website via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_215

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether transitional relief in the 2026 business rates revaluation will be funded by (a) the Exchequer, (b) higher multipliers, and (c) downward phasing. \p James Murray: The Government provides transitional relief to support ratepayers seeing large bill increases as a result of revaluations.

Only once we understand the complete 2026 revaluation picture will the Government be in a position to make final decisions, at Budget 2025, on the transitional relief scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_216

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of her Department's procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year. \p James Murray: Contracts are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, and most go to UK firms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_217

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with business groups on the impact of changes to Business Property Relief. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

Ministers and officials have had a number of meetings with organisations on this matter since Autumn Budget 2024. After listening, the Government believes the approach set out is an appropriate one.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_218

Steve Race:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recognising the provision of dementia care to individuals as a qualifying disability service for VAT exemption. \p James Murray: Supplies of welfare services, including the provision of care for people with dementia, are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities.

More generally, VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_219

Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has produced internal modelling on the potential fiscal impacts of artificial intelligence. \p Emma Reynolds: The OBR is the government's official forecaster and is responsible for assessing the UK’s economic and fiscal outlook.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_220

Satvir Kaur:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with cancer charities on the cost of travel insurance for people with cancer. \p Emma Reynolds: Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders, including other departments, representatives of the insurance industry and consumer groups, on a range of issues.

The government recognises the important role of insurance products, including travel insurance, in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. That is why the government is determined that everyone has access to suitable insurance products at the right price.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, including firms providing travel insurance.

Under FCA rules introduced in 2021, if a travel insurance customer is declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical condition, insurers are required to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers who may be better placed to provide cover

FCA rules also require insurers to offer products that provide fair value. This means that the price a consumer pays for a product or service must be reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive.

The FCA has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules, and the FCA actively monitors the insurance sector. For example, today it published a review of claims handling in home and travel insurance, highlighting examples of good practices and areas where improvements need to be made.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Transport Department on switching road tax to be on a per mile basis. \p James Murray: Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with other government departments on a range of matters.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) applies to vehicles used or kept on public roads, which does not vary by miles driven. However, fuel duty applies to the petrol or diesel used by motorists driving internal combustion engine vehicles; the greater the miles driven, the more fuel duty incurred.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_222

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing vehicle tax reductions for people in receipt of attendance allowance. \p James Murray: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) applies to vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

For individuals who develop a disability after the State Pension age, Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means-tested benefit which provides targeted help with the extra costs of disability and helps them maintain their independence. While the intention is for AA to cover the need for care or supervision an individual requires as a result of their disability, individuals may choose to use their AA to fund mobility aids.

However, AA does not have a specific mobility component, and therefore does not include an exemption from or reduction in VED. The government has no current plans to review or amend this longstanding policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Olly Glover:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the performance of the HM Revenue and Customs helpline. \p James Murray: HMRC publish monthly performance data, including information on their telephony service, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports.

Improving day-to-day performance is one of the Government’s key priorities for HMRC.

A key part of this plan is expanding HMRC’s digital services. This will reduce pressure on phone lines, freeing up HMRC advisors to help those who are digitally excluded, have complex tax affairs, or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances.

As of 2024-25, there were more than 5.9 million users of the HMRC app, which allows people to manage their tax affairs quickly and easily.

HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap sets out further steps to improve the customer experience for taxpayers, agents, and businesses. The Transformation Roadmap can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-transformation-roadmap
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_224

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with business groups on the impact of increases to employer's National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: Ministers and officials from multiple Government departments have had meetings with organisations which have covered this matter since Autumn Budget 2024.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from the changes to employer NICs by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-22 conversation_225

Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of financial guarantees provided by the National Wealth Fund to support social housing retrofit loans provided by (a) NatWest Group, (b) Barclays UK Corporate Bank, (c) Lloyds Banking Group and (d) The Housing Finance Corporation since October 2024. \p Emma Reynolds: The National Wealth Fund (NWF) has committed £1.3bn total guarantees for social housing retrofit to help mobilise private capital into the social housing sector at scale. As of July 2025, the NWF has committed to providing guarantees of up to: a. £400m for NatWest Group

2. £350m for Barclays UK Corporate Bank

3. £400m for Lloyds Banking Group

3. £150m for The Housing Finance Corporation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-22)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the International Monetary Fund on the borrowing rates being paid by the UK government. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Financial market movements including gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors. Demand for UK debt remains strong, and we continue to monitor developments.

As part of ongoing engagement with many different stakeholders relevant to the conduct of economic and fiscal policy, the Government engages regularly and constructively with the IMF, and values their independent advice.