theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for (a) parents and (b) schools in understanding the legal routes to raise concerns about people who pose a potential safeguarding risk. \p Stephen Morgan: This government believes that action must always be taken to protect children from any safeguarding risk. That is why we are taking forward system reforms in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and have published a government progress update to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The Keeping Children Safe mission board, chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of Education, will ensure that there continues to be a cross-government focus on safeguarding, including how parents can be best supported.

We have also provided robust statutory safeguarding guidance for all schools on the policies and procedures they must put in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. This guidance not only sets out the different types of abuse and harm but also supports all staff to know what signs to look out for, including how they must respond to any concerns about a child and when to make a referral to local safeguarding partners, the police and Prevent services.

Advice for parents is also clear that where there are child protection concerns, these should be reported to local authority children’s social care departments or to the police if a child is at immediate risk of harm.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 42805 on Private Education, if she will list the private schools she has visited since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Morgan: I refer the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth to the answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 46839.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has visited any private schools since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Morgan: I refer the hon. Member for Huntingdon to the answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 46839.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) applications and (b) approvals there were under the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund in each financial year since 2015; and what the realised spend was in each financial year. \p Janet Daby: The data requested can be found in the attached spreadsheet.

The similarity in the figures between applications and approvals is down to the work Mott MacDonald, the department’s delivery partner, does with the applicants. If an application is questionable, rather than being rejected, it is returned for amendments and dialogue with the relevant local authority or regional adoption agency (RAA) takes place to bring the application into criteria. On some occasions, applications are withdrawn by the local authority or RAA.

ASGSF Applications and Approvals (xlsx, 28.7KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what number and proportion of Level 7 apprenticeship (a) starts and (b) completions were for people aged (i) under 22 and (ii) 22 or over, in each year for which data is available. \p Janet Daby: The attached file shows level 7 apprenticeship starts and achievements for the 2015/16 to 2023/24 academic years broken down by learner age as requested.

Level 7 apprenticeship starts and achievements (xlsx, 22.4KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the amount of (a) Metropolitan Open Land and (b) Green Belt land in Greater London, broken down by (i) electoral ward and (ii) division. \p Matthew Pennycook: Metropolitan Open Land is a local designation used by the Mayor of London in his London Plan.

Policy relating to the designation, as well as the current extent of Metropolitan Open Land, is entirely a matter for the Mayor.

The Department does not hold data or produce maps on the amount of Metropolitan Open Land in London.

Figures for the amount of Green Belt in Greater London as at 31 March 2024 are published within the ‘Area by LA’ accompanying table here. The Department does not hold figures broken down by electoral ward or division.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing measures to support the redevelopment of vacant commercial properties into affordable housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including bringing back into residential use empty homes and the development of under-utilised land and buildings, to meet the need for homes, including social and affordable homes, and other uses.

Changes we made to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.

On 22 September 2024, we published a 'brownfield passport' policy paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed Ground 4A in the Renters’ Rights Bill on landlords who rent (a) one and (b) two-bedroom properties to students. \p Matthew Pennycook: The proposed new ground for possession (Ground 4A) in the Renters’ Rights Bill is intended to facilitate the maintenance of the annual cycle of student letting for most typical students, namely groups of full-time students living together in Houses in Multiple Occupancy.

Less typical students who may require greater security of tenure, for example postgraduate couples who have put down roots in their area, will be able to enjoy the benefits of the new tenancy system the Bill introduces.

The Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment looked across the package of reforms and received a ‘green’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee, meaning it is ‘fit for purpose’.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether interested parties will be able to submit written representations on the proposed Chinese Embassy to the Secretary of State after the planning inspector’s report has been finalised. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51399 on 19 May 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a copy of the Section 106 agreement that was submitted to the planning inquiry for the proposed Chinese Embassy in London. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 45663 on 29 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help improve the condition of social housing properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 6 February 2025 (HCWS423).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) abolish and (b) impose a (i) freeze and (ii) maximum cap on increases in service charges for freehold properties. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair charge

We will consult this year on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75m homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.

The government is also determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult next year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she intends to lay regulations to commence the substantive provisions in section 113 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 on Power to decline to determine applications in cases of earlier non-implementation etc. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 25 May, the government launched a technical consultation on implementing measures to improve the transparency of build rates from new residential development, which includes proposals to implement provisions in section 113 of the LURA on the power to decline to determine applications. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the government intends bring forward the regulations to implement these measures at the earliest practical opportunity with the new build out reporting framework coming into force from 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether housing associations can evict existing tenants in order to house illegal immigrants. \p Matthew Pennycook: A housing association can only end a tenancy following the relevant specific legal procedure. For example, if they have a legal reason to do so as set out in the grounds for possession in law, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the number of social housing tenants in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each local authority in England who were born outside the United Kingdom. \p Matthew Pennycook: People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds. The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.

Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy. For those who are eligible, housing needs will be considered on an equal basis in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.

According to the relevant 2021 Census extract, there were 796,000 households living in the social rented sector in England in March 2021 that were headed by someone who was not born in the UK. It is important to note that such households may contain UK nationals as well as non-UK national lead tenants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her plans for English devolution will give Mayors powers over waterborne transport networks. \p Jim McMahon: The government understands how important maritime transport is in the Solent region, and the role that waterborne transport networks play in the local transport strategy. Chapter 3 of the English Devolution White Paper sets out the responsibilities of strategic authorities and does not contain any specific powers over waterborne transport networks. However, other strategic authorities have used their wider transport powers to support local waterborne transport networks. The White Paper also sets out the floor of our ambition, not the ceiling, and we will regularly review and evaluate the powers available to strategic authorities in collaboration with them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of properties that undergo significant structural extensions but remain in their original council tax banding due to legislative restrictions on revaluation on local authority revenues. \p Jim McMahon: Improvements to properties, such as extensions, are not generally taken into account for council tax banding purposes until the property is sold. The government believes it is right that people are not deterred from improving their home by the prospect of their council tax increasing. When the property is sold, the council tax band may increase, but only if the alterations have added sufficient value to push the property into a higher band. The government does not have any plans to change this policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether proposed (a) combined authority and (b) county combined authority mayors will take on the roles and duties of Police and Crime Commissioners where the boundaries of those police forces align with those of the combined authority. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government’s ambition is that where mayoral geographies align with police force geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner functions. This will include where new Mayoral Combined Authorities are created.

We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities across two or more Police Force boundaries where boundaries align, as would be the case in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Legislation currently allows for an incumbent Police and Crime Commissioner to stand for Mayor where they do not hold Police and Crime functions, provided the elections do not run concurrently. We will issue guidance on future mayoral eligibility criteria in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Mrs Elsie Blundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to provide fiscal autonomy to the North West. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Paper sets out an enhanced Devolution Framework for both existing and new strategic authorities across England. It creates a consistent approach to providing Mayors with the power to decide what is right for their areas. It includes the ability for all Mayoral Strategic Authorities to use a Mayoral Precept on Council Tax on a full range of functions, and the ability to raise a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy to fund strategic infrastructure once a Spatial Development Strategy is in place. It also sets out a clear and transparent pathway for areas to be designated as Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities and therefore become eligible for an Integrated Settlement. These reforms will also give greater fiscal autonomy to Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including those in the North West, by removing the funding silos created by Whitehall.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will her Department use to determine whether scheduled elections in 2026 (a) will and (b) will not be postponed in the context of the ongoing two-tier local government restructuring. \p Jim McMahon: There are no plans to postpone council elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to announce further proposals for local government reorganisation in Leicestershire. \p Jim McMahon: On 5 February 2025, the government issued statutory invitations to two-tier authorities and small neighbouring unitary authorities to develop proposals for unitary local government. Accordingly, an invitation was sent to Blaby District Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Harborough District Council, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council, Melton Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council.

The invitation also asked areas to submit interim plans by 21 March 2025. We received interim plan responses from all areas and committed to providing feedback. Feedback will soon behas been provided to those all councils listed above to support them as they progress work on developing final proposals. Their final proposals are due by 28 November 2025. Once any final proposals are submitted it will be for the government to consult as required by statute before deciding which proposal, if any, to implement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the scheduled local council elections in Essex in 2026 will be (a) postponed and (b) cancelled. \p Jim McMahon: There are no plans to postpone local elections in 2026. The government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding was awarded to Knutsford Town Council via the Shared Prosperity Fund. \p Alex Norris: The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated to lead local authorities (LLAs). Details of full funding allocations for LLAs can be found here for 2022-25 and here for 2025-26.

Knutsford Town Council did not directly receive a UKSPF allocation for 2022-25 or 2025-26. However, Knutsford has benefited from UKSPF allocations made to Cheshire East Council who are the LLA for this area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's correspondence on the appointment of the Oxford Growth Commission Chair, published on 12 May 2025, whether the Chair is remunerated; and if she will require him to publish a declaration of (a) interests and (b) political activity. \p Alex Norris: I can confirm that the Chair of the newly formed Oxford Growth Commission (OGC) has been appointed as a direct ministerial appointment and will be remunerated.

Direct ministerial appointments such as the Chair of the OGC are not regulated public appointments and do not fall within the remit of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. However, the usual public law principles applicable to all ministerial decision-making still apply. The Department has carried out appropriate due diligence checks and is satisfied these principles are met.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the Community Cohesion strategy. \p Alex Norris: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address deep-seated issues.

This is a priority for the Deputy Prime Minister, who has stood up a cross-government ‘Communities & Recovery Steering Group’ to oversee this work. One of its first acts was to launch a new Community Recovery Fund, providing £15 million for places most impacted by last summer’s disorder.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51394, on Ministers Private Offices, on how many days she has used her office in 70 Whitehall since 4 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: The Deputy Prime Minister regularly works from 70 Whitehall, information on the precise number of days is not held by the department.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has met with the Night Time Industry Association since 4 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: Details of external ministerial meetings, including their date, attendees, and purpose, are declared and published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles. \p Alex Norris: The Department makes use of the Government Car service, which provides vehicles to a number of Government departments. MHCLG does not hold information on the number of electric vehicles utilised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to make a submission to the Women and Equalities Committee's inquiry on gendered Islamophobia. \p Alex Norris: We welcome the Committee's inquiry on this topic and ministers will take a keen interest in its findings.

The Government recognises that religious hatred is not specific to one place and can manifest in varying areas, such as online spaces and in public and educational settings. Certain characteristics, for example gender, sexuality and race, can often compound individual’s experiences of religious hatred.

British Muslim women are pivotal to our wider communities. They are often the driving force behind interfaith and community initiatives, yet they face specific challenges, with discrimination and intolerance often directed at them.

The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. This work will consider views from a cross-section of society, including those of Muslim women, to improve understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities, supporting wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime and foster cohesion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 48445 on Picketing, whether there is a statutory basis for the six person limit in the Code of Practice on Picketing, published in March 2024. \p Justin Madders: There is no statutory limit on the number of people attending a picket. The Code of Practice on Picketing, which is issued by the Secretary of State under section 203 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, recommends a 6 person limit as a way of enabling unions to ensure they can adhere to the legal requirement that the picket be peaceful and therefore does not intimidate others, including workers who may seek to cross it to go to work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) industry representatives on supporting the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain; and what steps he is taking to ensure Scottish businesses can gain from UK offshore wind deployment targets and associated manufacturing opportunities. \p Sarah Jones: The Department ensures Scotland benefits from our world-leading offshore wind deployment by supporting the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with the Contract for Difference’s Clean Industry Bonus, which awards developers who invest in sustainable supply chains. The Energy Secretary has already increased the bonus from an initial £200m to £544m to support clean energy growth, including in Scotland’s industrial heartlands and coastal communities. We are also supporting the delivery of Great British Energy’s £300m grant funding to secure investment in domestic supply chains, including in Scotland.

The Department regularly engages with Scottish Government and industry representatives. For example, UK and Scottish Governments participated in a roundtable in Edinburgh to discuss clean energy supply chains, including floating offshore wind.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224 on Pay: Publicity, which advertising channels were used to promote the Millions got a pay rise campaign. \p Justin Madders: The advertising channels used for the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign include radio, community radio, paid search, online video, paid social, programmatic digital display, digital influencer activity, and out-of-home advertising such as bus and train advertising panels, gym advertising panels and hospitality environments. Our channels are planned and carefully considered to ensure we can reach the right audiences, including using the learnings from previous campaigns.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224, on Pay: Publicity, what the total cost is for Millions get a pay rise campaign; whether it was approved under communications spending controls; and what the cost was for the beer mats. \p Justin Madders: The 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign is running until 31 May 2025 and is budgeted to cost up to £650,000. This was approved under Cabinet Office’s advertising, marketing and communications spending controls. The cost to advertise in pubs using beer mats was £35,580, which was approved at Official level.

The 2024 campaign saw an increase in reach to eligible workers. However, recognition remained low, reinforcing the need for bolder, more engaging formats for the 2025 campaign, which expected to deliver an estimated 3.2 million impressions.

It offered a unique opportunity to engage audiences in a social, high-dwell environment where financial conversations naturally occur. This setting encourages discussion and word-of-mouth sharing about rate changes and offers an effective nudge for audiences to "check their pay."
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224 on Pay: Publicity, if he will place a copy of the business case for the Millions got a pay rise campaign in the Library. \p Justin Madders: My department’s final stage impact assessment (IA) in respect of The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025, was laid in draft before Parliament on 4 February and is available on GOV.UK. It provides the high-level rationale for the campaign, which is to increase awareness and understanding of the changes to the rates that came into effect on 1 April 2025. The campaign supports the policy objectives by minimising compliance costs and ensuring that the benefits are realised, including a direct pay rise for over 3 million workers.

The Impact Assessment can be viewed here: The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025 - Impact Assessment
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224 on Pay: Publicity, how his Department distributed the 500,000 beer mats to pubs. \p Justin Madders: For the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage awareness campaign, 500,000 beer mats were distributed to 1,000 pubs across the country. Distribution targeted areas with high concentrations of minimum and living wage workers, identified through HMRC underpayment complaint data and ONS data on pay. Our distribution partners delivered directly to selected venues in these priority locations to maximise campaign effectiveness and reaching those directly eligible for the increase in the wage and those who could share this important information with friends and family members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate on employment levels in the UK automotive manufacturing sector. \p Sarah Jones: The government does not hold data on how the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate has affected automotive employment in the UK.

We speak regularly to all the major UK automotive stakeholders to understand the health of the sector and factors impacting competitiveness. Government is committed to ensuring the transition to zero emissions works for industry. That is why we introduced significant changes to the Mandate, allowing for greater flexibility in meeting ZEV targets and extending the sale of hybrid vehicles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_88

Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the social housing obligation from future iterations of the Energy Company Obligation scheme on the retrofit measures provided to fuel poor households. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: We are committed to meeting fuel poverty and Net Zero targets, and we are currently considering what policy mix will best achieve that, including what role energy company obligations should play post-2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_89

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_90

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that carbon capture and storage does not disproportionately impact energy bills for consumers. \p Sarah Jones: The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable for all energy consumers.

The CCUS programme will be funded through a mixture of levy and government funding. We have created several business models to fund CCUS projects based on the technology they are using, designed to support this nascent industry whilst ensuring value for money.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_91

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of the Energy Company Obligation scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency and heating upgrades in eligible homes, with costs recovered through consumer bills. Since 2013, 4.2 million measures have been installed in 2.5 million homes. ECO4’s final impact assessment projected a positive net present value of £0.8 billion, underscoring the strong social impact and economic value of ECO.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_92

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support vulnerable people with fluctuations in the cost of energy. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers, including vulnerable individuals, permanently. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

However, we recognise the need to support vulnerable households struggling with their bills as we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the £150 Warm Home Discount to around 3 million households last winter. In February, we published a consultation to expand the Warm Home Discount to bring an extra 2.7 million households into the scheme, which would push the total number of eligible households up to around 6 million households from next winter. The consultation has now closed, and the Department is evaluating responses.

I urge any vulnerable households struggling with their energy bills to contact their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice to see what support they can receive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_93

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how his Department is ensuring the (a) transparency and (b) accountability of carbon capture projects funded by public money. \p Sarah Jones: The Government has developed a series of models to incentivise behaviour in line with our objectives and deliver value for money for consumers and taxpayers. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority provides oversight of the Programme, as a Government’s Major Projects Portfolio, through Gateway Reviews and reporting, and the programme has been subject to National Audit Office reviews and Public Accounts Committee hearings. Partner organisations, such as OFGEM, Low Carbon Contracts Company, and Central Grants and Loans have a key role in providing accountability through monitoring the performance of the Transport & Storage Companies and emitters. The contracts set out regulations according to which support can be withdrawn where key milestones are not met. The Full Business Cases and associated assessments will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_94
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_94

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the long-term (a) safety and (b) environmental impact of carbon capture facilities. \p Sarah Jones: Carbon capture and the transport and storage of CO2 are safe technologies underpinned by strong regulatory frameworks to mitigate potential risks associated with those activities.

There are several regulators in the UK in place to protect human health and the environment, including: Environment Agency (EA) Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Natural Resources Wales and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)

Additionally, the storage permit, regulated by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), for a storage site will only be issued when the NSTA are confident that there will be no significant risk of leakage or of harm to the environment and human health from the CO2 storage.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_95
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_95

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timeline is for the carbon capture sites in Merseyside and Teesside. \p Sarah Jones: Having reached financial close with East Coast Cluster in December 2024, and with the HyNet Transport and Storage Company, operated by Liverpool Bay CCS, in April 2025, construction is already underway, and we expect the Transport & Storage Companies to be operational from 2028. We continue to negotiate with other Track-1 projects and hope to conclude these negotiations as soon as possible subject to several assessments, including value for money.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_96
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_96

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, what potential role the United Kingdom would play in the European Peace Facility; and what payments would be made (a) directly and (b) indirectly to the Facility. \p Luke Pollard: The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO.

This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism.

We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer.

I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_97
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_97

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the investigation into unauthorised social media use by a British Army regiment. \p Luke Pollard: The Army has investigated a number of social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation. Those posts have been removed and updated guidance has been issued to Regimental HQs on the appropriate use of regimental websites and social media pages. This work has been conducted as part of Army routine business, with no additional costs incurred.
wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_98
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_98

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made on the Government’s progress in implementing the recommendations of the House of Commons Defence Committee's report entitled Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life, published on 25 July 2021. \p Al Carns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 March 2025 to Question 34425 to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot (Martin Wrigley).

Regarding outstanding recommendations from the Report, the new Armed Forces Sexual Harassment Survey has been launched, and the Veterans’ Strategy, to be published later this year, will include a dedicated section on female veterans.

In March I briefed the House of Commons Defence Committee on additional commitments Defence has made: We are improving how the most serious Service Complaints are dealt with quickly, fairly and in a standardised way across the Armed Forces via the establishment of an independent tri-Service team, and we have begun work to develop a Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce to support the broader government agenda on this important subject.

Armed Forces: Women (docx, 16.6KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-28 conversation_99

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the assessment process for veterans for the unemployment supplement; and what steps he is planning to take to ensure veterans with service-related disabilities are not disadvantaged by the replacement of the work capability assessment. \p Al Carns: Unemployability Supplement is one of the supplementary allowances paid under the War Pension Scheme which is assessed and administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Where equivalent benefits provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are considered to overlap, in line with longstanding public policy, assessments ensure an individual would not be compensated twice for any single injury or condition.

The MOD and DWP continue to collaborate closely to ensure that any proposed changes to respective schemes and benefits are communicated and considered.