theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of building (a) charging infrastructure and (b) on-road services for electric vehicles in each year between 2014 and 2024. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). We will work closely with stakeholders to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints, and to ensure the benefits of the transition are felt across all of society.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) has awarded £83 million in grant funding to 219 LAs since 2017 and will see more than 21,300 chargepoints installed.

Between 2017 and 2024, over £14m was spent by National Highways to advance the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, including £4.5 million through a project to install chargepoints and £9.5m through the Energy Storage Systems project to support ultra rapid chargepoints at motorway service areas. In addition, Ofgem has run a £300m Green Recovery Scheme to accelerate network investment, including to support charging at motorway service areas.

The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. The funding backed by substantial private investment, will support the installation of at least 100,000 on-street chargepoints, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers in every part of the country.

In addition, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it wants to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles plans to publish guidance on the options for the charging of electric vehicles. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government regularly publishes guidance for local authorities, industry and other key stakeholders on different aspects of electric vehicle (EV) charging, including the recent guidance on ‘cross-pavement solutions for charging electric vehicles’ and an online EV infrastructure ‘Knowledge Repository’ containing expert advice on all aspects of chargepoint delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what purposes the Office of Rail and Road has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Mike Kane: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is exploring how best it can use AI in a way that improves efficiency and effectiveness without compromising quality, confidentiality or security. The organisation is also exploring how AI might be used in the rail and road sectors, and any implications for its regulatory work.

ORR staff are able to use generative AI services with data that is already in the public domain such as enhanced search and summarisation, and initial thinking on documents/emails/presentations in accordance with the guidance to civil servants on their use.

For uses that involve non-public information, staff require authorisation. Authorised uses over the last 12 months have been:

· Communications work using the Government Communication Service specific generative AI tool.

· A pilot exploring the use of a specialist app to produce videos using AI generated avatars and copy

· A pilot exploring whether an AI tool can support the creation of formal minutes, and which tool is most effective

· A pilot using machine learning techniques to analyse underlying causes of performance issues on the railway

· Pilots exploring using AI to search internal documentation for specific purposes.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of passenger flights in the UK using sustainable aviation fuel in 2023-24. \p Mike Kane: The Department does not require, and has no plans to require, data from commercial operators on the number of passenger flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It has set ambitious but realistic targets for SAF supply through a SAF mandate scheme introduced on 1 January 2025 and against which progress is being measured.

The uptake of SAF was previously supported through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. In 2023 97 million litres of SAF was supplied under the RTFO, the equivalent of 0.7% of all jet fuel supplied in the UK that year. Progress towards targets set through the SAF mandate will similarly be reported in the Department’s renewable fuels statistics.
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John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to publish the call for evidence on implementing a ban on unpaid internships. \p Justin Madders: The Make Work Pay plan is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities. It aims to tackle low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security.

The government is committed to banning unpaid internships except when they are part of an educational or training course. A call for evidence on this will be published in due course.
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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to support the development of pan-national economies that cut across the borders of the nations of the UK in (a) South Wales and Western England and (b) other areas. \p Gareth Thomas: This government is committed to an agenda of national growth and the UK’s new Industrial Strategy, a 10-year plan for growth due to be published in Spring, will be designed and implemented in lockstep with local and regional leaders.

In addition, HMG has announced the Council of Nations and Regions, supporting cross-border collaboration bringing together the PM and the DPM with the heads of the devolved governments and the mayors of combined authorities, to consider shared opportunities across the UK.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Public and Commercial Services trade union on the proposed industrial action by workers in his Department. \p Justin Madders: The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union members involved in industrial action are employees of G4S and ISS.

The Government Property Agency (an executive agency of the Cabinet Office) is the contracting authority for the facilities management services delivered through these contracts. No discussions have taken place between Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the PCS on this issue.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on the future of the (a) workforce and (b) production lines at Spirit AeroSystems in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to help (i) protect jobs and (ii) support the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland. \p Sarah Jones: Government recognises the importance of Spirit Aerosystems’ operations, skills, capabilities and experience to the Northern Ireland economy, the wider UK aerospace sector and its future potential in the global market. My department has been a supporter of Spirit AeroSystems’s via Repayable Launch Investment (RLI) and Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funding, and we retain a strong interest in seeing its operations prosper after the sale process has concluded. Ministers and officials are in conversation with the interested parties, including the Northern Ireland Executive, to ensure the best outcome whereby the new owners commit to invest and grow the businesses, thereby sustaining jobs and safeguarding the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland.
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Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to help support high street businesses to compete with online retailers in South Derbyshire constituency. \p Gareth Thomas: We intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with a Rateable Value of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but include the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

Ahead of these changes being made, we have prevented RHL relief from ending in April 2025 by extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business and frozen the small business multiplier.

We are also working with businesses to understand their barriers to growth and High Streets will be a key pillar of our forthcoming Small Business Strategy.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what has been the cost of the UK Trade Envoy programme since its inception; and what was the cost of the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme in each of the last 5 years in which it operated. \p Gareth Thomas: As the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoys have just been appointed minimal costs have occurred. Costs of the Prime Minister Trade Envoy programme for the past five years is in the table below.

2020/2021

2021/2022

2022/2023

2023/2024

2024/2025

£12,106

£106,659

£203,642

£228,583

£27,809
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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will take steps to ensure that HMRC case workers dealing with (a) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Enterprise Investment Scheme applications process them in a (i) timely and (ii) effective manner. \p James Murray: The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme are administered by a dedicated specialist team in HMRC.

This team works to HMRC's overall customer service targets, aiming to reply to 80% of EIS compliance statements and advance assurance applications within 15 working days and 95% within 40 working days. They are currently exceeding this target.

The majority of applications receive approval without the need for further action. A small minority of applications may take longer to process where there has been insufficient information provided to reach a decision or where the company fails to meet the qualifying requirements of the schemes.

Companies authorised by HMRC raised £2,114 million investment in 22/23 under these 2 schemes.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2024 to Question 18292 on Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands, what estimate she has made of additional tax revenue raised by freezing the (a) standard and (b) higher rate income tax thresholds (i) for each financial year and (ii) in total to 2029-30. \p James Murray: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) routinely publish this information in their Economic and Fiscal Outlooks (EFO).

The table below is extracted from the OBR’s most recent EFO, from October 2024 (Table 3.9, available here: https://obr.uk/economic-and-fiscal-outlooks/). This shows the per annum reduction in government borrowing arising from the freeze in both the Personal Allowance and the Higher Rate Threshold up to 2027-28. From 2023-24 to 2029-30, these measures raise a total of £207.9bn.

£ billion

Forecast

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

2026-27

2027-28

2028-29

2029-30

PA and HRT freezes

-13.2

-23.3

-27.6

-31.8

-36.0

-37.5

-38.6

The current Government is committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds. As a result, they will rise with inflation from April 2028, meaning working people will keep more of their earnings.
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Mike Martin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) increasing employers' National Insurance contributions, (b) increasing minimum wage and (c) cutting the business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and leisure on the hospitality sector. \p James Murray: An assessment of the changes to Employers’ National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including civil society organisations, alongside details on monitoring and evaluation.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates are set based on recommendations by the independent and expert Low Pay Commission (LPC). The government has asked the LPC to monitor the effects of the NLW and has given them a clear mandate to recommend a change of course where necessary.

On business rates, for 2025-26, the government will provide a 40 per cent discount to Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties up to a cash cap of £110,0000 per business and has frozen the small business multiplier. This will save the average pub, with a rateable value (RV) of £16,800, over £3,300 in 2025.

From 2026-27, the government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties with an RV below £500,000. To sustainably fund this tax cut, the government intends to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026-27 - those with an RV of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic (a) costs and (b) benefits of an expansion of Heathrow Airport. \p Darren Jones: According to the most recent study from Frontier Economics, a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% in by 2050 and could create over 100,000 jobs. Over half – 60% - of that GDP boost would go to areas outside London and South-East.

The exact cost of the runway is a matter for Heathrow, the Civil Aviation Authority and the airport’s customer airlines, and the Government has been clear that the scheme will be privately financed without Government support.

Our clear expectation is that any associated surface transport costs will be financed from private funding.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will increase the funding available to British Patient Capital's Future Fund: Breakthrough. \p Darren Jones: At Autumn Budget 2024 the government announced that it will increase funding for the £425m Future Fund: Breakthrough programme to co-invest in high-growth, innovative firms.

The programme, delivered by the Bank’s commercial subsidiary, British Patient Capital, makes equity co-investments with private sector investors in growth stage R&D-intensive UK companies operating in breakthrough technology sectors.

Future Fund: Breakthrough supports the growth of the UK’s most innovative companies and will help to provide an investment pipeline to pension fund investment through the work to develop the British Growth Partnership.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of civil service pensions for the next 50 years. \p Darren Jones: The Treasury’s central affordability measure for public service pensions is the projected pension benefit payments as a percentage of estimated GDP. This reflects the fact that most public service pension schemes are unfunded and financed through taxation, and tax revenues are closely related to GDP.

The OBR forecast in September 2024 that spending on public service pensions will fall from 1.9 per cent of GDP at present to 1.4 per cent over the long term (50 years).
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what purposes HM Revenue and Customs has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p James Murray: As a department, over the last 12 months, HMRC has made use of more ‘traditional’ AI techniques to improve operations and drive productivity.

HMRC’s current applications of the technology can be divided broadly into supporting compliance, customer service and wider operations:
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish an updated impact assessment of changes to Business Property Relief; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those changes on family-owned businesses in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. \p James Murray: I refer the Honourable Member to the answers provided in response to her previous questions on this topic: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-25/15987/ and https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-25/15989/.

The Chancellor also recently wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief, which may be of interest: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what sectoral impact assessments her Department has conducted on changes to Business Property Relief since the Autumn Budget 2024; and whether she has made an estimate of the number of businesses at risk of closure following the introduction of those changes. \p James Murray: I refer the Honourable Member to the answers provided in response to her previous questions on this topic: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-25/15987/ and https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-25/15989/.

The Chancellor also recently wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee about the reforms to Agricultural and Business Property Relief, which may be of interest: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the finding of the Adam Smith Institute millionaire tracker. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible, while ensuring the UK tax system remains internationally competitive.

As part of this, the Government is increasing the main rates of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 18 and 24 per cent. The Government also confirmed its plans to remove the outdated concept of domicile status from the tax system and to replace it with a new residence-based regime from 6 April 2025. This will ensure that everyone who makes their home in the UK pays their taxes here.

These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.
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John Lamont:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) letters, (b) emails and (c) other correspondence her Department has received supporting proposed changes to (i) Agricultural Property Relief and (ii) Business Property Relief for Inheritance Tax. \p James Murray: The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

The Government takes into account all representations, and HM Treasury officials and Ministers meet with stakeholders on a regular basis.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the total value of tax relief claimed under the furnished holiday let tax regime in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in the 2023-24 financial year. \p James Murray: HMRC does not hold data on the number of furnished holiday let properties registered for tax purposes. Landlords are not required to register individual properties, or to declare the number of properties that they let.

Furnished holiday lettings currently have access to several tax reliefs that non-FHL property businesses do not, such as Business Asset Disposal relief. They also currently receive more generous treatment on finance cost expenses, as they are not subject to the finance cost restriction, and are able to claim capital allowances. However, they also have restrictions on losses which can only be used against profits from the same FHL business and not other property profits, which in some cases will mean they pay more tax as a result of the regime.

The most recent estimate on the overall amount of tax relieved as a result of the regime in 2023-24 was calculated at Autumn Budget 2024, and estimated the total tax relief in that year to be £165m, rounded to the nearest £5m.

This figure is for the whole of the UK. It is not possible to identify FHL properties located in Scotland separately to the rest of the UK.

This estimate was based on tax returns for 2022-23, and takes into account the various impacts of the regime mentioned above.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the total amount of (a) income tax and (b) employee national insurance paid by a full time minimum wage worker in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26. \p James Murray: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxpayers with and without indexation of the thresholds and the impact of the thresholds being frozen. This information is updated in the EFO in each fiscal event. An excerpt from Table 3.18 from the October 2024 EFO:

3.18 Effect of threshold freezes on additional taxpayers

Million

Forecast

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

Number of taxpayers

With indexation

34.1

34.3

35.1

Without indexation

36.2

37.6

38.6

…brought into income tax

2.2

3.3

3.5

Number of higher-rate taxpayers

With indexation

4.7

4.4

4.5

Without indexation

6.1

6.6

7.0

…brought into higher-rate band

1.4

2.2

2.5

Number of additional-rate taxpayers

Previous £150,000 threshold

0.7

0.7

0.8

Aligned to the end of PA taper

0.9

1.1

1.2

…brought into additional-rate band

0.3

0.4

0.4

…brought into higher and additional rates

1.6

2.6

2.9

As shown in the table, 3.5 million more individuals are expected to pay income tax in 2025-26 as a result of the threshold freezes.

The number of Higher rate taxpayers is expected to increase from 6.6 million in 2024-25 to 7.0 million in 2025-26 (a rise of 0.4 million), and additional rate taxpayer numbers are expected to increase from 1.1 million to 1.2 million (a rise of 0.1 million).

The full table is available as Table 3.18 in the detailed forecast of receipts: October 2024 Economic and fiscal outlook – detailed forecast tables: receipts (obr.uk)

The latest ONS estimate for median earnings for 2023-24 is £31,602, and this can be projected using OBR’s average earnings growth forecasts, which gives an estimate of median earnings for 2024-25 of £33,035 and 2025-26 of £34,011. An individual with solely income from these earnings would expect to have total Income Tax and Employee National Insurance liabilities of £5,730 in 2024-25 and £6,003 in 2025-26.

Individuals aged 21 and over earning minimum wage and working 35 hours per week would be expected to earn £20,821 and £22,222 in tax years 2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively. These would result in Income Tax and Employee National Insurance liabilities of:

£1,650 and £660 in 2024-25,

£1,930 and £772 in 2025-26.

Further information on the ONS data for median earnings can be found in their annual publication: 2024 provisional earnings and hours worked, all employees (ons.gov.uk)

Earnings growth forecasts are published in the OBR’s forecast tables: October 2024 Detailed forecast tables: Economy (obr.uk)
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Joe Morris:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to publish the Financial Inclusiveness Strategy. \p Emma Reynolds: On 5 December, the Government announced work on a Financial Inclusion Strategy which will be developed alongside a supporting committee, chaired by me. The Financial Inclusion Committee’s mission is to tackle barriers to individual and households’ ability to access affordable and appropriate financial products and services.

The strategy will be published later this year.
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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a similar scheme to the Small Business Investment Company in the USA. \p Emma Reynolds: The government is committed to supporting small businesses, recognising their vital role in driving economic growth and innovation. The government continually reviews its support for small businesses to ensure it remains effective and responsive to their needs.

The government will publish its Small Business Strategy in 2025 after the Phase 2 Spending Review. This will set out the government’s vision for supporting small businesses, from boosting scale-ups to growing the co-operative economy and across key policy areas.

The government already has schemes in place that deliver outcomes similar to the US’s SBIC scheme: providing finance to small businesses.

Currently, the UK offers a range of support mechanisms for small businesses, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme which provide tax reliefs to investors who make new equity investments in high risk, early stage Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), in order to help them grow and develop.

Additionally, the British Business Bank plays a crucial role in improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through various programmes, helping them to grow and succeed. These include programmes which provide funding to professional equity and debt fund managers, as well as guarantees to enable high street lenders provide additional finance to SMEs.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Bank of England on creating a regulatory framework for stablecoins. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury has ongoing engagement with the financial regulators, including the Bank of England, on the regulatory treatment of cryptoassets. The Government plans to publish draft legislation for the creation of a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets as early as possible this year. This regime will include creating a new regulated activity for stablecoin issuance.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of decreasing corporation tax to the lowest level in Europe. \p James Murray: At the Budget the Government published a roadmap setting out its corporate tax policy for the parliament, providing the stability needed for businesses to make long term investments and support our growth mission.

The roadmap confirmed that the main rate will be capped at 25% – the lowest in the G7 - for the duration of the parliament. This headline rate is supplemented by some of the most generous business investment tax reliefs and allowances in the OECD. The roadmap also commits to monitoring international developments with a view to ensuring that the UK remains competitive.

The Office for Budget Responsibility regularly updates its forecast Corporation Tax revenues. The most recent is here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility. These forecasts assess announced policy, but HMRC also publishes “ready reckoners” showing the impact of illustrative tax changes, including to Corporation Tax: Direct effects of illustrative tax changes bulletin (January 2025) - GOV.UK.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC case workers dealing with (a) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Enterprise Investment Scheme applications are incentivised to help companies. \p James Murray: The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme are administered by a dedicated team in HMRC.

This team ensures the generous reliefs available under these schemes are claimed by those who are eligible, balancing compliance efforts with ensuring legitimate companies can access them to facilitate their growth.

An advance assurance service is provided by HMRC to support companies seeking investment under the schemes. HMRC provide their view whether the company meets the qualifying requirements of the schemes before seeking investment. This helps provide both the company and potential investors certainty over the tax treatment of the proposed investment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_86

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what purposes the National Infrastructure Commission has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p James Murray: The National Infrastructure Commission have used AI as a tool to improve the efficiency of their analysis and modelling, which has reduced the need for external contractors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_87

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle unlawful gambling on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority. \p Stephanie Peacock: Localised incidents of unlawful gambling such as those on Westminster Bridge are the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority and police force. In the case of Westminster Bridge, this is Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. The Gambling Commission also provides guidance for licensing authorities about illegal gambling on its website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_88

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what Freedom of Information disclosures her Department have made on Government Art Collection artwork in 10 Downing Street in the last five years. \p Chris Bryant: In the last 5 years DCMS has disclosed information about the Government Art Collection artworks held at 10 Downing Street 20 times. Each request is looked at and handled on a case-by-case basis and where there is a non-disclosure or exemption applied, the reasons and rationale are clearly explained in the response.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_89

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress she has made on delivering a mandatory short term let registration scheme. \p Chris Bryant: The Government is keen to introduce the registration scheme for short-term lets in England as soon as possible; the initial phase of digital development is now complete, and public testing is planned to start in the next 12 months. During the next phase of work, we will test the user interface of the scheme with a small number of users to ensure our systems and processes are robust and effective, before publicly launching a voluntary pilot of the service. The registration scheme will enable us to reap the benefits of a thriving tourist economy whilst protecting the spirit and fabric of communities, including by giving local authorities valuable data on short-term lets in their area to help address housing impacts.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_90
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_90

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims from Afghans were refused in 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions on asylum claims by nationality is published in table Asy_D02 the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.

The latest data relates to the year ending September 2024. Data for October to December 2024 will be published on 27 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_91

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a restriction on irregular migrants housed in (a) hotels and (b) other government-funded accommodation within walking distance of schools during the (i) drop off to and (ii) pick up from school of children. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November to Question UIN 13616.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_92

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Department for Borders and Deportation. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office is the department for border security, including overseeing the establishment of Border Security Command and delivering more than 16,400 deportations of people who have no right to be here since July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_93
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_93

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking through the immigration system to support the ambition of 50 million inbound tourism visitors by 2030. \p Seema Malhotra: The UK continues to welcome tourists from across the globe, who make an important contribution to the UK economy and enrich British culture. The UK Standard Visitor route offers individuals the ability to visit the UK for a temporary period, (usually for up to a maximum period of 6 months), for purposes such as tourism and visiting friends or family. Visitors may enter multiple times and regular travellers to the UK have the option of applying for longer term validity visas of 2-, 5- and 10-years duration.

As part of our border transformation programme, we are creating a streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through each year and will enhance the security of the UK. This will include a digital approach to applying for permission to travel, proving identity and immigration status, crossing the border, and demonstrating entitlements in the UK. eVisas are a key part of this, enhancing applicants’ experience, delivering excellent value, and increasing security and efficiency.

We are also introducing our Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme which applies to those passengers visiting the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays and do not have a valid UK immigration status prior to travelling. People providing their information in advance of travel paves the way for increased automation at the border, with security at the forefront.

The ETA scheme currently applies to all eligible non-European non-visa nations. From 5 March, it will be extended to all eligible Europeans and will be a requirement for travel for this cohort from 2 April.

Alongside British and Irish citizens, nationals of an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA, who are over the age of 10 are normally eligible to use eGates to enter the UK. Frequent travellers who are members of the Registered Traveller service are also eligible to use eGates. We encourage all eligible passengers to make use of our e Gates where possible as they provide a safe, secure and efficient way of crossing the UK border.

We continue to keep our borders and immigration system under review to ensure that it works in the national interest.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_94

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to allow objections to the decision to house asylum seekers at Wates House, Fareham. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain. We took immediate action to resolve that chaos by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here.

Since the General Election, there has been a net increase of six hotels in use across the UK; however, ten are scheduled for closure by the end of March 2025. It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with 16,400 people removed in the first six months this government was in charge.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).

The safety and wellbeing of the local communities in which asylum accommodation is located is of paramount importance. When an individual claims asylum, the Home Office will conduct mandatory identity, criminality and security checks. Biographic and biometric data are checked against relevant Home Office systems and police criminality databases including domestic and international data. The Home Office works in collaboration with local authorities and key stakeholders to ensure that accommodation sites are successfully managed and the impact upon the local community is minimised.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers. Should a decision be made to use a site then the local MP will be notified in writing.

Data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and by local authority can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_95

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department considers Afghanistan to be a safe country for asylum returns. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Our assessment of the general situation in Afghanistan is set out in the relevant country policy and information notes, which are available on the GOV.UK website.

All asylum and human rights claims from Afghan nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_96

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of access to digital gates at Border Control for British National (Overseas) passport holders; and what steps she is taking to ensure equitable treatment for those passport holders. \p Seema Malhotra: e-Passport Gates (eGates) continue to provide a safe, secure and efficient way for millions of British and Irish citizens, and nationals of the EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA to enter the UK each year.

We keep eGate eligibility under regular review to ensure we are maintaining border security and effectively managing passenger flow through the UK border. The Government is committed to improving our border security and the passenger experience by continuing to look at options to increase the usage of eGates by those currently eligible and explore innovative technologies to increase the use of automation at the UK border.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_97

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications were in the appeal system as of 28 January 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: Data on appeals receipts and open caseload is published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service on a quarterly basis. The latest publication can be found at Tribunals statistics quarterly: July to September 2024 - GOV.UK. Table FIA_1 and FIA_4 of the Main Tables section shows First-tier Tribunal appeal receipts and caseload volumes to 30 September 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_98

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to deliver humanitarian aid to support the Syrian people. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: In response to recent events, humanitarian aid agencies have rapidly scaled up the ongoing international aid effort to support Syrians inside Syria and across the region. The UK announced an additional £61 million to support this. We have strict measures in place to ensure UK aid reaches those most in need. We conduct rigorous and robust checks to ensure aid goes to the people that need it, delivers value for money and protects against aid diversion.

The UK is working with the UN and other partners to ensure the aid response meets needs most effectively. To this end, we continue to advocate for flexible humanitarian funding, strengthened co-ordination, an updated needs assessment, and unimpeded access.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_99

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the planned frequency of meetings of the Soft Power Council is. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Council aims to meet in plenary on a roughly quarterly basis. Smaller working groups and roundtables with the Council's members will form to examine specific geographies, themes and issues, with frequency of meetings calibrated according to need.