theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_8

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 16140 on Nightclubs: Closures, what steps his Department plans to take to measure the effectiveness of the five point plan for high streets. \p Gareth Thomas: Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this government and thriving high streets are essential to supporting this.

We have launched a new package to tackle late payments, backing small businesses and the self-employed, alongside measures to tackle retail crime and address the disproportionate business rates burden faced by high street businesses.

The 100th banking hub has just been opened in Darwen, Lancashire, and High Street Rental Auctions, a new permissive power for local authorities to auction rental rights of commercial high street property that has been vacant for longer than 12 months in a 24-month period, came into effect on 2 December 2024. However, there is more to be done, and we are working across Whitehall to deliver a cross-government approach for revitalising high streets. We will set out more information in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Alex Baker:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) farmers and (b) food producers use sustainable farming methods in Aldershot constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government’s commitment to farmers and food producers remains steadfast. We will always champion British farming to boost rural economic growth, strengthen food security and improve the environment.

Defra has allocated £5 billion for the farming budget over two years. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing. This funding will deliver improvements to food security as well as the environment, in the Aldershot constituency and across the country.

Publicly funded research and innovation, including investments under the Farming Innovation Programme, an innovation programme which aims to drive up productivity and enhance environmental sustainability, is enabling us to adapt to climate change more effectively, while improving levels of food security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many alcohol industry representatives have Ministers in his Department met with since July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings he has had with the (a) National Farmers Union, (b) Country Land and Business Association, (c) Countryside Alliance and (d) Central Association for Agricultural Valuers since 30 October 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: We are listening to the sector to ensure their views are heard. We regularly meet with a range of farming stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), and will continue to meet with stakeholders.

As part of this effort, the Secretary of State Steve Reed and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner have met with NFU President Tom Bradshaw repeatedly to clarify changes in the Budget. Officials have also met with NFU, TFA and CLA representatives and recently attended the Eggs and Poultry Industry Conference as part of ongoing engagement with the sector.

The Secretary of State spoke at the CLA’s annual conference last month to hear from farmers directly. Unfortunately the Conservative Party did not decide to send a representative.

Minister Zeichner also recently attended and spoke at Northern Farming Conference, the Eggs and Poultry Industry Conference, the Agricultural Industries Confederation Conference, The Tenant Farmers Association Executive Committee and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s parliamentary reception.

We will continue to listen to farmers’ concerns to ensure their views are heard.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) take steps to review the operation of the landing obligation and (b) publish the number of enforcement actions taken against vessels that have failed to comply with the landing obligation in the last three years. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only

a) Defra has been reviewing the operation of the landing obligation as part of wider reforms to discards management in England. In 2025, these reforms will include trialling changes to how we account for catches and the establishment of a discard reduction scheme to encourage more selective fishing practices.

b) In the last 3 years, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has recorded 32 instances of non-compliance with the landing obligation. Following the MMO Compliance and Enforcement Strategy, 23 instances were addressed by verbal advice, 2 were addressed by advisory letters and 3 were addressed by official written warning to master and owner. The remaining 4 are under investigation with decision pending. No instances have resulted in court action during this period.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of single-use plastic. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics - a future where we keep our resources in use for longer; waste is reduced; we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs; our economy prospers; and nature thrives. This is why we have a number of restrictions on unnecessary single use plastic products, and why it is important that any alternatives to conventional plastics consider the waste hierarchy and support a circular economy for plastics.

The Government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with single-use plastic products. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Alex Baker:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help tackle illegal waste in Aldershot constituency. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to tackling waste crime, which is a blight on our local communities and the environment and damages legitimate businesses. My department is considering what further measures to pursue to tackle waste crime, including regulatory reform.

The Environment Agency assesses all reports of suspected waste crime. All information and any intelligence is recorded and used to target resources where the offending poses the greatest risk and harm to people and the environment. The Environment Agency do not currently have any active high risk illegal waste sites recorded in the Aldershot constituency. Due to concerns about ongoing criminal activity in the area, a number of vulnerable landowners in the constituency have been contacted proactively to reduce the risk of thousands of tonnes of waste being illegally deposited on their land. Waste crime is borderless, those carrying waste have been stopped on multi-agency days of action in Hampshire and neighbouring Surrey to ensure they are compliant with the law.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing core standards for animal welfare; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade about whether he plans to include such standards in his planned trade strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare.

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards.

The trade strategy will set out how we can achieve long-term sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through trade. It will reflect the Government’s commitment to uphold our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards, areas in which the UK is a world leader.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning risks among British tourists overseas. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We provide information and guidance in our Travel Advice on the issues most likely to be of relevance to British nationals visiting or living in each country/territory. In determining what we include in our Travel Advice we assess a range of factors, including drawing on local knowledge and monitoring trends in consular cases. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is currently covered in our Travel Advice pages for China and Nepal. In addition, two of our Travel Aware partners, RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and the Safer Tourism Foundation, run campaigns and continue to develop messaging to alert travellers to the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning around the world. We regularly review the work we do with all our Travel Aware partners ensuring that they are highlighting appropriate issues to British travellers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of it's recent military activity in Syria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are monitoring the situation closely and continue to call on Israel to uphold their obligations to peace, stability, and security under international law. The Israeli government has stated that their presence in the Golan Heights buffer zone is defensive, limited and temporary - and we expect them to adhere to this commitment It is longstanding UK policy that the Golan Heights are occupied territory, and we do not recognise Israel's annexation of them. We oppose the construction of illegal settlements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on funding for breakfast clubs for children of people on the lowest income. \p Stephen Morgan: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education met with Minister Givan on two occasions, most recently, at the UK Education Minister Council in Northern Ireland on 20 November 2024, but she has not had substantive discussions with him about breakfast clubs. I have also met with Minister Givan twice. As education is a devolved issue, whether to require breakfast clubs in Northern Ireland is matters for the executive. We will be happy to share our learnings from the Early Adopters programme following its launch in April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle barriers teenagers and young adults with cancer face in accessing clinical trials. \p Andrew Gwynne: To maximise our potential to be a world leader and develop a more competitive, efficient and accessible clinical research system, the Department is committed to implementing recommendations from the Lord O'Shaughnessy independent review of commercial clinical trials in full.

The Department funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research across the United Kingdom, through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). For children and young people with cancer, this infrastructure includes the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, co-funded by the NIHR, Cancer Research UK and the Little Princess Trust, which act as a UK-wide network, bringing together world-leading laboratory and clinical researchers to test new treatments for adults and children with cancer. This includes 12 paediatric phase I/II centres, which function as a single virtual centre to improve patient recruitment and expand geographical access to cancer treatments, tackling some of the barriers to teenagers and young adults accessing cancer clinical trials.

The Department is committed to ensuring clinical trials are people-centred and more accessible, including for teenagers and young adults with cancer. For example, the NIHR provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research' which promotes participation in health and care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies. Young adults aged 18 or over, can consent to be matched to and contacted about relevant studies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of(a) the utilisation of psilocybin-based treatments for mental health conditions and (b) commissioning further research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs. \p Andrew Gwynne: The Department recognises that the use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, such as psilocybin, to treat mental illness is gaining attention both within the medical and scientific communities, as well as across the public more broadly. However, there is no proven medical use for psilocybin in the United Kingdom, and no such substance has yet been licensed as safe and effective in the treatment of mental health conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is supporting psilocybin research via the NIHR King’s Clinical Research Facility, the NIHR Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility, and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, where researchers are developing and evaluating the efficacy and safety of psilocybin therapies.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) mandatory training and (b) policies on surgical fires within all NHS hospital settings. \p Andrew Gwynne: In 2023, the Centre for Perioperative Care published revised National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs2). The standards were designed to reduce misunderstandings or errors, and to improve team cohesion. The NatSSIPs2 include a requirement for providers to have a local fire safety policy, in order to minimise the risk of surgical fires, and a management plan in the event of one occurring.

The NatSSIPs2 should form the basis of improvement work, inspections, and curricula. The standards support National Health Service organisations in providing safer care, and to reduce the number of patient safety incidents related to invasive procedures in which surgical fires can occur.

At this time, the Department has no plans to make training mandatory or to introduce further policies in relation to surgical fires
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the average time taken for deaths to be reviewed under the national medical examiner system since 9 September 2024; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for deaths to be reviewed on the time taken to arrange funerals. \p Andrew Gwynne: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. The median time taken to register a death since the introduction of the statutory medical examiner system in England and Wales is eight days. This figure is for all deaths, as it includes those certified by a doctor and those investigated by a coroner. The median time taken to register a death varies depending on the type of certification. Deaths certified by a doctor, that comprise approximately 80% of deaths registered each week, had a median time to registration of seven days. The Department has not conducted a separate review of the time taken to arrange funerals, which can depend on a number of external factors.

The core purposes of the death certification reforms are to introduce scrutiny of the cause of death to detect and deter malpractice, to improve reporting, and crucially to put the bereaved at the centre of the process by offering a conversation with the medical examiner about the cause of death. The expectation on doctors and medical examiners is clear, that they should complete certification as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the Department is working with all stakeholders to make sure this is the case.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was provided by NHS England to the Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy project in the current financial year. \p Andrew Gwynne: NHS England does not recognise the title ‘Culturally Sensitive Genetic Literacy project’, we believe this was used in a job advert by an NHS trust involved in the Genetic Risk Equity project.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Dr Beccy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to expedite implementation of the recommendations from the Hughes report, published on 7 February 2024; and whether he plans to prioritise establishment of (a) interim payments and (b) a valporate specialist unit to support those affected. \p Andrew Gwynne: The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report. The report sets out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including proposals for a financial scheme and for the establishment of a valproate specialist unit. The Government will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report at the earliest opportunity.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase diagnosis levels for genetic haemochromatosis. \p Andrew Gwynne: Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) and delivered by seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Genomic testing for genetic haemochromatosis is available through the NHS GMS for all patients in England who show an unexplained iron overload, suggestive of hereditary haemochromatosis, to aid in the diagnosis of the disease. Any healthcare professional who suspects their patient may have haemochromatosis can refer their patient for testing via their local NHS Clinical Genomic Service. Individuals can discuss with their healthcare professional, for instance their general practitioner, whether genomic testing is appropriate for them.
wrans/answers2025-01-03 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-03)

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Bobby Dean:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to continue funding for the opt-out blood-borne virus testing programme at (a) St George's, Epsom and (b) St Helier Hospitals and Health Group beyond March 2025. \p Andrew Gwynne: On 28 November 2024, the Prime Minister announced a further £27 million of funding for the continuation of the HIV Emergency Department opt-out testing programme for 2025/26. As part of the extension, more than 90 sites will be offered funding to continue or begin the roll out of HIV opt out testing until March 2026, including St George's, Epsom, and St Helier hospitals.

NHS England will evaluate the costs and feasibility of further extending this programme regarding hepatitis B and C opt-out testing, once budgets for 2025/26 are confirmed, and expects to provide an update on their decision in the early new year.

There are currently no plans to extend opt-out HIV testing beyond emergency departments. However, the Department, together with the UK Health and Security Agency, and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan, which will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, and which we aim to publish in summer 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in each of the last five years by region. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information on Motability is not part of our routine statistical releases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that migration from Employment Support Allowance to Universal Credit does not adversely impact disabled claimants financially. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department is committed to ensuring that customers, including those with disabilities, are supported when moving from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit (UC). For those moved under managed migration, we provide transitional protection to their legacy benefit entitlement at the point of claiming UC.

In addition to transitional protection, customers receiving income-related ESA receive a two-week run-on of their legacy benefits to ensure the move to UC is as smooth as possible.

To support customers moving from ESA who require more support to claim the Department has developed the Enhanced Support Journey. The Enhanced Support Journey helps ESA claimants with potential barriers through proactive measures such as outbound calls, system checks, and home visits to ensure they are not left without support during migration. Key features include safeguards to prevent benefit termination before a UC claim, tailored adjustments like alternative communication channels, and national Complex Case Coaches for vulnerable claimants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of family members claiming Carer’s Allowance on the finances of the disabled people that they care for. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Carer’s Allowance, paid to a family member providing care, can affect a disabled person’s own means-tested benefit award. Family members and disabled people should carefully consider what benefit support best meets their specific circumstances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding her Department has provided for the provision of English for Speakers of Other Language courses in each of the last five years. \p Andrew Western: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average waiting time for people calling and (b) time people spent on hold to Jobcentres was in the last year. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We cannot provide the data requested for this Parliamentary Question. Jobcentres span multiple benefit streams and business functions and therefore we do not retain telephony data specifically relating to Jobcentres.
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to work with the (a) Department of Health and Social Care, (b) Department of Education, (c) Carers Trust and (d) other organisations to ensure young adult carers can receive support through the Youth Guarantee. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The government is determined to provide carers of all ages with the recognition and support they deserve. Ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the Department for Education (DfE) have convened twice this year to discuss support for unpaid carers and consider opportunities to provide further recognition and support. My Right Hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability has met with Carers Trust on several occasions, and the department will continue to work collaboratively with groups representing and supporting carers.

DWP and DfE are launching a Youth Guarantee to ensure young people aged 18-21 can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship, or help to find work. As part of the Youth Guarantee we are working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA) to deliver 8 Trailblazers in England which are testing different approaches to identifying, engaging, and supporting young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. MSAs have developed their approaches with consideration to young people in their locality who need more support. As we set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper our Youth Guarantee will meet the needs of those facing disadvantages, including disadvantages related to unpaid caregiving.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51603, if he will provide an update on when the Pathways to Work White Paper will be published. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We have already put in place the equivalent of over 1000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers across Britain to support disabled people into work.

We have also launched the Timms Review to ensure PIP is fair and fit for the future and are increasing the number of health assessments that are being conducted in person. We will be bringing forward other policy updates in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Douglas McAllister:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to meet with representatives of the WASPI campaign. \p Torsten Bell: There are no plans to meet with any campaign groups.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the freeze in temporary accommodation subsidy rates since 2011 on (a) local authority budgets and (b) the financial sustainability of homelessness services. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions pays local authorities a Housing Benefit subsidy for Temporary Accommodation cases. There are restrictions on the amount paid, including a subsidy cap which is the lowest of £500 per week in certain areas of London or £375 elsewhere, 90% of 2011 LHA rates, or the claimant’s Housing Benefit entitlement. This incentivises local authorities to ensure Temporary Accommodation is good value for money.

We recognise the financial pressures which local authorities are experiencing. This Government has invested £1bn in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year (2025/26), a £233m increase on the previous year.

We want to encourage better investment into Temporary Accommodation stock up-front to minimise costs to local authorities and £950m was announced in the latest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. This coupled with measures to strengthen local authorities’ financial position such as a new £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme and a 10-year rental settlement at Consumer Price Index + 1, will support local authorities in England to increase the supply of good quality Temporary Accommodation and drive down the use of costly bed and breakfasts and hotels.

We continue to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Inter Ministerial Group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) Wales and (b) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department is unable to provide data related to Northern Ireland, as Personal Independence Payment is administered by the Department for Communities in the Northern Ireland Executive. The figures for Wales are provided in the table below.

Table 1: Volume of PIP claimants with an active Motability contract

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Wales

33,500

35,700

37,300

42,400

48,900

50,400

Notes:

- Values have been rounded to the nearest 100.

- The figures have been provided in calendar years, containing data from January 2020 to July 2025.

- Figures include claims made under Normal Rules and Special Rules for End of Life

- Values in the table show any PIP claimant with an active Motability Scheme contract on the PIP caseload within that calendar year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the (a) application and (b) appeal processes for disability benefits are accessible to (i) blind and (ii) visually impaired people in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The (a) initial new claims application process for disability benefits is either paper or telephony based. A range of alternative formats are available for paper-based correspondence and is therefore accessible to blind and visually impaired customers. Customers can also progress their claims digitally, however, customers who are blind or visually impaired would need appropriate software to do so. If not, paper-based correspondence supported with alternative formats is available.

In respect of (b) His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to provide reasonable adjustments for users with specific accessibility needs and to give equal access to our information. Users may ask for HMCTS leaflets, blank forms, and any documents relating to their case in an alternative format. Everyone has individual needs which we would discuss to meet their requirements.

There are many different types of alternative formats. The more common types requested by users are:

• audio translation

• braille

• coloured paper

• documents sent by email in a specific format, to be viewed using assistive technology

• easy read

• font type

• large print / font size
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether careers in the armed forces will be included in the Youth Guarantee. \p Dame Diana Johnson: As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are developing a Youth Guarantee to ensure young people are either learning or earning. This includes access to high-quality training, apprenticeships, and personalised support to find work.

In PQ 38965 the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed its commitment to working closely alongside the Ministry of Defence to identify and support anyone in receipt of benefits with transferable skills to move into careers within the Armed Forces, with a particular focus on younger customers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_13

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme in (a) London, (b) the West Midlands Combined Authority, (c) Greater Manchester Combined Authority and (d) the Liverpool City Region in each of the last five years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Figures have been provided in the table below.

Table 1: Volume of PIP claimants in an active Motability contract

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

London

29,800

33,400

36,700

44,400

56,800

61,600

West Midlands Combined Authority

22,700

24,600

26,100

30,700

37,000

38,400

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

20,800

22,400

23,700

27,900

33,900

35,600

Liverpool City Region

16,700

17,900

19,000

22,000

26,400

27,400

Notes:

- Values have been rounded to the nearest 100.

- The figures have been provided in calendar years, containing data from January 2020 to July 2025.

- Figures include claims made under Normal Rules and Special Rules for End of Life

- Values in the table show any PIP claimant with an active Motability Scheme contract on the PIP caseload within that calendar year.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_14

Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of young people who had dropped out of further education were trying to find work or training on 20 October 2025. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The department does not hold data on the number of people who have dropped out of further education and are searching for work or training.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_15

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which chemical substances have received EU Harmonised Classification and GB Mandatory Classification since 1 January 2021 by (a) chemical name, (b) European Community number, (c) CAS Registry Number, (d) EU harmonised classification (i) hazard class and category code and (ii) hazard statement code and (e) GB Mandatory Classification (i) Hazard class and category code, (ii) Hazard statement code and (iii) date of entry into legal effect. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Since 1 January 2021, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the regulator, has acted as the Agency for the assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures as amended in Great Britain (or the GB CLP Regulation).

HSE is responsible for the GB mandatory classification and labelling system (GB MCL) and for updating the GB MCL List on the HSE website with new/revised or deleted entries in accordance with a timetable set out in UK law. The GB MCL List entries provide information on chemical substances that have GB MCLs including: a) chemical name, (b) European Community number, (c) CAS Registry Number, (e) GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling (i) Hazard class and category code, (ii) Hazard statement code and (iii) date of entry into legal effect.

The GB MCL List does not include information on the EU harmonised classification and labelling, hazard class and category code and hazard statement code for these chemical substances. This information is available on the European Chemicals Agency website in the unofficial ‘Table of harmonised entries containing all updates to the harmonised classification and labelling of hazardous substances, available in Table 3 of Annex VI to the EU CLP Regulation’.

The GB MCL List includes 4430 entries. Since 1 January 2021, 206 chemical substances have received GB MCLs, following a recommendation by HSE as the Agency and a Ministerial Decision made with the consent of Scottish and Welsh Ministers. The GB MCL entries for the 206 entries, including the requested information, are published in the GB MCL List on the HSE website – please see https://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/classification/mcl-list.htm.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_16

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84146 on Women against State Pension Inequality, whether he plans to meet with representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign within the next six months. \p Torsten Bell: There are no plans to meet with any campaign groups.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_17

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which active substances used in biocidal products are approved for use in the UK and not approved in the EU by (a) name of active substance, (b) product type (c) CAS Registry Number and (d) entity name. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The only active substance that is currently approved for use in biocidal products under the GB Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) in GB, and which is not approved in the EU under EU BPR, is sulfuryl fluoride, in product types 8 and 18, CAS 2699-79-8. The entity that supported the first approval of sulfuryl fluoride is Dow AgroSciences GmbH, and the company supporting the renewal of the approval in GB is Douglas BLG BVBA.

The EU BPR continues to apply in Northern Ireland.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_18

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had (a) an award with a mobility component, (b) a mobility component (i) removed and (ii) reduced following a (A) decision and (B) reassessment and (c) an active Motability agreement (1) terminated and (2) not renewed since January 2024. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The figures requested have been provided in the attached tables. Regarding part (b), PIP claimants do not undergo reassessments, but they do have award reviews. Therefore, figures have been provided for the most recent decision made during the award reviews of claims (after mandatory reconsiderations and appeals have been completed).

Notes:

- Values have been rounded to the nearest 10.

- Figures provided are for claimants under DWP Policy Ownership (England, Wales or Abroad).

- Figures include both Normal Rules and Special Rules for End of Life claimants.

- A claimant's most recent award decision post-reconsideration or appeal at an award review was used to determine whether their mobility award had been reduced/removed.

- Despite a contract with Motability having ended, a claimant may make a new contract in the future.

- A Motability contract is considered to have ended if it has reached the natural end of its term. A Motability contract is considered to have been terminated if it was ended early for another reason.

- Motability contracts are terminated for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, voluntary termination, claimant death, a change in entitlement, imprisonment, or moving abroad.

1 - PIP awards with a mobility component (xls, 56.5KB)

2 - Mobility awards reduced or removed (xls, 51.5KB)

3 - Motability agreement terminated or not renewed (xls, 40.0KB)
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_19

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing spending on Education, Gender and Equality on girls’ education. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September to Question 72441.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_20

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to increase the UK contribution to the Global Fund ahead of its replenishment round. \p Chris Elmore: We are proud to host the 17th Replenishment of the African Development Bank in London this December. The UK is actively engaged in replenishment negotiations, and our pledge will reflect the outcome of these. In November, with South Africa, we will co-host the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. As co-hosts, we are appealing to donors to make as strong as possible pledges to support the resilience of the Global Fund's partnership model. The UK's pledge to the 8th replenishment will be determined following the conclusion of the process to set multi-year Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding allocations.

The UK continues to support other vital partners. We have committed £1.25 billion to Gavi to help vaccinate up to 8 million children from 2026-30, and £1.98 billion to the International Development Association - the World Bank's fund for the poorest countries - over three years. We are working through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29, and further announcements will be made in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_21

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how she plans to meet international commitments on (a) antimicrobial resistance and (b) global health security following the closure of the Fleming Fund. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_22

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 69086 on Armed Conflict: Children, whether her Department has had discussions with stakeholders on the potentials merits of a children in conflict strategy. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for children in conflicts around the world. We continue to call on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children. We will also continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including civil society, the Untied Nations, international organisations and overseas partners to develop the most effective policy responses to the issues around children in conflict.
wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-03 conversation_23

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) protect persecuted Christians and (b) promote religious freedom. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is committed to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, and we recognise the issue of persecution of Christians globally on account of their faith, alongside other groups. We continue to seek opportunities to highlight these issues through the UN, G7 and as a member of the Article 18 Alliance, ensuring joint international action on FoRB, including in sub-Saharan Africa.