theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to revert the voting system for (a) mayoral and (b) Police and Crime Commissioner elections to the supplementary vote system. \p Rushanara Ali: With regards to Mayoral elections, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.

The Government also has no plans at this time to change the voting system for Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to implement the provisions on design codes of Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6867 on 15 October 2024 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 November 2024 (HCWS209).
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of exempting alms-houses from Selective Licensing charges. \p Matthew Pennycook: Registered providers of social housing are exempt from selective licensing. Almshouses are able to register as providers of social housing, and this exemption will apply for those that do.

Local authorities are responsible for selective licensing schemes in their area and have discretion to discount or waive selective licensing fees for almshouses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help older residents in rural areas to downsize. \p Matthew Pennycook: The updated National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including older people, and reflect this in planning policies.

As the needs of older people can range from accessible and adaptable general needs housing to specialist housing with a high level of care and support, it is up to each local authority to decide how to prioritise particular types or tenures of new housing in order to meet needs.

The Framework is also clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas.

The government have committed to considering further how policy can promote rural affordable housing, and to the recommendations set out in the report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, published on 26 November 2024.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take legislative steps to allow local authorities to reject planning applications for (a) new and (b) expanding factory farms. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment. National planning policy in this area needs to be taken into account when determining applications relating to factory farms.

The planning system is concerned with whether proposed development is an acceptable use of land, rather than the control of processes or emissions subject to separate pollution control regimes. The Environmental Permitting Regulations apply to the largest intensive pig (2000+ pigs) and poultry (40,000+ birds) farms and require such farms to hold an environmental permit to operate, and to adopt Best Available Techniques to reduce pollution to air, land and water. This is regulated by the Environment Agency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to local government for planning enforcement in (a) Devon and (b) Somerset. \p Matthew Pennycook: In the answer to Question UIN 16501 on 5 December 2024 I set out the government’s investment to support capacity and capability in local authorities. This will be further underpinned by increases in planning fees that will help improve the resourcing of planning application services, so that local planning authorities can fund the skills they need.

It is for local planning authorities to ensure they have the resources in place to carry out their planning enforcement function.

The government have no plans to undertake an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available for such enforcement in Devon and Somerset.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Remediation Acceleration Plan, published on 2 December 2024, what her planned timetable is to have discussions with insurers on support to reduce fire related liabilities for leaseholders during remediation programmes. \p Alex Norris: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 19763 from 19 December 2024.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant of the Answer of 24 October 2024 to Question 9472, what progress her Department has made on supporting leaseholders at Horizon Place in Borehamwood affected by cladding remediation issues. \p Alex Norris: The Ministry continues to work with developers to ensure that buildings are remediated, at no cost to leaseholders, under the developer remediation contract. On 2 December, we published a joint plan to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resident experience, as part of our wider published plan to accelerate remediation of all buildings. To date, 38 developers, including Vistry Group, have signed up to the joint plan and thereby committed to make every effort to start or complete remedial work on 80% of their buildings by July 2026 and on all of their buildings by July 2027.

Regarding buildings insurance, my officials continue to engage with industry on Horizon Place and understand that leaseholders should have seen a significant reduction in premiums from the most recent policy renewal. I understand that premiums remain unacceptably high for many leaseholders in buildings with fire safety issues, who have been paying too much for too long. My officials are therefore working with the insurance industry, as we announced in the Remediation Acceleration Plan, to consider whether, for the duration of remediation programme government might support industry to reduce fire-related liabilities, in order to reduce insurance bills.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Remediation Acceleration Plan, published on 2 December 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing support to volunteer directors of (a) Resident Management Companies and (b) Right to Manage Companies in the event of enforcement action being taken. \p Alex Norris: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 20026 on the 23 December 2024.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to encourage investment in high streets in (a) Gloucester and (b) Gloucestershire. \p Alex Norris: The Government is committed to rejuvenating high streets, supporting businesses and communities that drive town centre success. High Street Rental Auctions, effective December 2024, give local authorities in England powers to auction rental rights for vacant commercial properties, addressing long-term vacancies.

To further revitalise high streets, the Government is tackling anti-social behaviour, late payments, and crime, empowering communities to utilise vacant properties. Initiatives include, expanding banking hubs, strengthening the Post Office network, and reforming business rates. A Small Business Strategy Paper will be introduced this year to support small businesses.

Gloucester City Council received £1.468 million from UKSPF over three years to enhance community spaces, and support local businesses, including on the high street. Gloucester was awarded £11 million to transform the Greyfriars Quarter around Eastgate Shopping Centre. These aim to create vibrant, sustainable high streets for residents and visitors. Gloucestershire has received an additional £2.308 million from UKSPF which could also be invested in high streets.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 August 2024 to Question xx-xxxx-xxxx on Planning, what progress her Department has made on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Matthew Pennycook: Drafting of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill continues apace. We plan to introduce the Bill in Parliament in the coming months.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what checks her Department undertakes before providing funding to community organisations for Hong Kongers in the UK. \p Alex Norris: The Government takes the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously and my department works closely with the Home Office and the FCDO, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders.

The department assesses the appropriateness and suitability of all potential grant funding recipients, and their ability to deliver the support required as part of HMG’s BN(O) Welcome Programme. This Programme reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

In deciding whether to make a grant award to any organisation through the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, checks are conducted on all organisations to be satisfied insofar as is possible with the information available, that the organisation is suitable to receive Government funding.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to prohibit landlords from requiring more than one month's rent in advance. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill already makes such provision. I refer the hon. Member to the Report Stage proceedings on 14 January 2025.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to housing and planning regulations on (a) the Regulator of Social Housing and (b) the regulation of the social housing sector. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We are also taking action to ensure that all social homes are safe, warm, and decent, and that tenants are treated with the respect they deserve.

This year, we will bring forward Awaab’s Law, consult on a new Decent Homes Standard, and ensure social housing staff have the right skills and experience to deliver quality homes and services.

The Regulator of Social Housing has expanded in recent years to reflect changes in the regulatory landscape that affects the social housing sector, including the introduction of a proactive consumer regulation regime in April 2024 following the passage of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act.

The government remains committed to ensuring it has the resources to deliver on its fundamental objectives. We will continue to engage closely with the Regulator of Social Housing as government continues to deliver on its commitments.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the conversion of a single property into a house of multiple occupancy increases the overall number of properties within the Government's housing stock figures. \p Matthew Pennycook: The conversion of an existing residential property into a house of multiple occupancy would not normally count as a net additional dwelling in the official statistics on housing supply or dwelling stock estimates.

Data for the housing supply release is collected from local authorities and the Greater London Authority (for London Boroughs). The official guidance for the data return is that a House in Multiple Occupation, cannot be counted as a net additional dwelling, as the house would have been counted as a net additional dwelling in a previous year.

However, if a House in Multiple Occupation is created by change of use from a non-residential building, then it can be counted as one net additional dwelling.

The official guidance can be found on gov.uk here.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the homelessness strategy. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.

The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

We expect to publish the strategy following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral answer of 15 January 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, Col. 1123, on Political Parties: Funding, what steps her Department is taking to obtain views and evidence from stakeholders. \p Rushanara Ali: As set out in our manifesto, the Government intends to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. The work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we are engaging with key stakeholders, such as the Electoral Commission. We are reviewing all relevant evidence from stakeholders.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the correspondence entitled Local government reorganisation: letter to two-tier areas, published on 15 January 2025, if she will publish the correspondence from each council that responded to the letter. \p Jim McMahon: The department has no plans to publish the correspondence from each council that responded to the letter published on the 15 January. A decision on the requests made by councils to postpone local elections will be made in due course, recognising the need to give confirmation as soon as practically possible. As set out in my letter of 16 December, these requests will only be considered where it is clear that postponement will help the area to deliver reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the London Borough of Newham's proposals to set a 10% council tax referendum threshold for financial year 2025-26. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 24234 on 22 January 2024.
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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the requirement to present voter ID at polling stations. \p Rushanara Ali: As our manifesto made clear, the government will address the inconsistencies in the voter identification policy so that all legitimate electors have the opportunity to vote. We are continuing to assess and review the policy and if any further changes are found to be necessary or appropriate, we will bring forward proposals for them in due course.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support survivors of domestic violence in South Cotswolds constituency. \p Rushanara Ali: This government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and supporting victims of domestic abuse, with a number of steps being taken across government.

On 28 November, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced a £30 million increase to the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant, raising total funding for 2025/26 to £160 million. This will help local authorities in England to invest in essential services for victims of domestic abuse. On 18 December, MHCLG published funding allocations for local authorities, available here Core Spending Power table: provisional local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK. Funding is all located at a local authority level. For 2024/25, Gloucestershire County Council, received £1,152,238 through the Safe Accommodation Grant, and in 2025/26, they have been allocated £1,435,985. It is for Gloucestershire County Council to allocate this funding based on local need, including in South Cotswolds. Future funding beyond April 2026 will be decided as part of Spending Review.

On 24 September 2024, my department announced that domestic abuse survivors are to be exempt from local connection requirements for social housing.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is also providing funding to the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to assist survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, including those in the South Cotswolds constituency. In 2024/25, the Gloucestershire PCC received £1,343,073 to support victims.

The MOJ, through Sections 13-14 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, will require local commissioners in England to collaborate when commissioning support services for domestic abuse victims. They must assess the needs of victims in their area and determine if those needs are being met by existing services. These assessments will inform a joint commissioning strategy. This duty aims to remove barriers to accessing support and ensure a more strategic approach to local commissioning.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she expects the Planning Inspectorate to publish the written representations received to planning application APP/E5900/V/24/3353754 on its website. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspectorate does not publish written representations received on its website as I explained in the answer to written Question UIN 19351 on 20 December 2024.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people have received funding from the disabled facilities grant in (a) Gloucester and (b) Gloucestershire in the last five years. \p Rushanara Ali: The Disabled Facilities Grant allocation to Gloucester and Gloucestershire for the last five years has been as follows:

Financial year

Gloucester

Gloucestershire

2020/21

£1,276,921

£6,842,353

2021/22

£1,276,921

£6,842,353

2022/23

£1,276,921

£6,842,353

2023/24

£1,388,345

£7,439,417

2024/25

£1,584,452

£8,490,250

This information is also available through the website of Foundations, the National Body for Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Improvement Agencies here: Disabled Facilities Grant Annual Allocations.

It is for local authorities to decide how to spend their allocation and deliver adaptations to eligible disabled and older people. Government does not hold data on how many people have received Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding.

Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling older and disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why on 3 January 2025 government announced an immediate £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG, taking the funding total to £711 million for 2024-25. This will allow 7,800 more eligible people to make vital improvements to their home allowing them to live more independent lives and reducing hospitalisations.

Furthermore, government announced an £86 million additional investment in the DFG for the 2025-26 financial year at the Autumn Budget (bringing total funding for 2025-26 to £711 million).
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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to remove the requirement to renew postal vote applications every three years. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 21147 on 9 January 2025.

The Government has no plans to remove either requirement.
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Melanie Ward:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the cost of procuring (a) audio and (b) tactile voting solutions at every polling station to guarantee blind and partially sighted people a secret and independent vote. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government is committed to ensuring eligible disabled electors are supported in being able to register and vote in elections.

The current law requires Returning Officers to take account of what electors want in terms of support and the Electoral Commission gives guidance on how to do this. The Tactile Voting Device, introduced in 2001, has proven effective for some voters with sight loss but we are aware that other options, such as magnifiers, digital reading applications and lighting aids, are also used to support individual elector’s preferences. The aim of the legislation is to support individuals and there is no one-size-fits all solution to achieve that.

To support the changes brought in by the Elections Act 2022, money was made available to local authorities through new burdens funding and to Returning Officers where polls are funded directly by central government.
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Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support small businesses impacted by flooding in Gloucester. \p Alex Norris: My thoughts remain with householders and business owners impacted by flooding after the recent heavy rainfall, flooding is a devastating experience for all those affected.

Government support in the aftermath of flooding is only provided in exceptional circumstances. At present, overall, the scale of impacts is not sufficiently significant for the Flood Recovery Framework to be activated in any area. However, officials continue to review impacts data and stand ready to support as appropriate.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken with relevant authorities to support armed forces veterans with (a) housing and (b) financial support in Romford constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: On 18 December 2024, the government brought into force regulations to exempt all former members of the regular armed forces from local connection and residency tests to facilitate their access to social housing. The regulations removed the five-year limit and will ensure that no veterans of the regular armed forces will need to meet a local connection test for social housing regardless of when they last served.

As announced at the Budget, £633.2 million will be provided to councils in England in the financial year 2025 to 2026 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant, to support them to deliver services to tackle and prevent homelessness. This includes an uplift of £192.9 million compared to 2024 to 2025. This funding can be used to tackle veteran homelessness. London Borough of Havering is receiving a total of £4,556,948 over 2025-26. All Homelessness Prevention Grant allocations for 2025-26 can be found here.

On 8 November 2024 the government also committed a further £3.5 million to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme from March 2025, including Op FORTITUDE, the homelessness pathway for homeless veterans, including those rough sleeping. This is in addition to £8.55 million of funding made available to support veterans into housing over 2023-25.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an (a) Equality Impact Assessment and (b) Environmental Principles assessment was undertaken on the decision to call-in the planning application for the Chinese Embassy. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.

Equality Impact Assessment or Environmental Principles Assessments are not undertaken on decisions to call-in planning applications.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to help (a) first-time buyers and (b) low-income families secure housing in Ashfield constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes, including the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme which will support first-time buyers in Ashfield and across the country who are struggling to save for a large deposit.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 19 December 2023 on The Next Stage in Our Long Term Plan for Housing Update, HCWS161, if she will publish (a) the review into the wider statutory consultee system and (b) her response to that review. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Written Ministerial Statement in question was published by the previous government. This government recognises the importance of ensuring the system of statutory consultees delivers effectively. Any announcements regarding the statutory consultee system will be made in the usual way.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the section entitled timelines and next steps of her Department’s letter to local councils of 16 December 2024 on the devolution white paper, what the methodological difference is between (a) areas that need reorganisation to unlock devolution and (b) areas that are minded-to join the Devolution Priority programme. \p Jim McMahon: Reorganisation should not delay devolution. We will shortly set out which areas will be included in our Devolution Priority Programme, aimed at places ready to come together under the sensible geography criteria set out in the White Paper and wishing to progress to an accelerated timescale. This is with a view to inaugural mayoral elections in May 2026. However, places will be in different stages of their devolution journey.   While some will already have an existing strategic authority, others may be in the process of establishing one, and in other places reorganisation may be necessary to unlock devolution or open up new devolution options. Government is now reviewing responses to the 16 December letter and decisions will be made in due course.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the building of social housing in Devon. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.
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Jacob Collier:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help build more affordable accommodation for young people living in supported housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to primary health services. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The changes to the National Planning Policy Framework announced on 12 December will support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure, including health infrastructure.

The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that there is adequate provision for affordable social housing for elderly. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_62

Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Feryal Clark: All dismissals are handled in line with current legislation and appropriate Codes of Practice. Where an employee feels they may have been unfairly dismissed, appropriate internal appeal routes may be instigated.

Where an employee is unable to solve a problem internally they may be able to go to an employment tribunal to claim unfair dismissal, as set out in legislation.

This position will be reviewed when unfair dismissal rights are updated in line with the Employment Rights Bill 2024 when this comes into effect.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_63

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Feryal Clark: To be eligible for 3 weeks paid paternity leave in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, an employee must have worked continuously for the Civil Service for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due, or for at least 26 weeks up to the week their spouse, civil partner or partner was matched with a child for adoption. Employees who have already completed continuous service in another Civil Service organisation at the point of joining the Department could qualify for paternity leave on their first day of service.

In addition to paternity leave, fathers, civil partners or partners have a statutory right to time off to attend up to two ante-natal or pre-adoption appointments from their first day of employment.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_64

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2024 to Question 23744 on UK Research and Innovation: Staff, how many business growth advisors operate in each region. \p Feryal Clark: The funding for IUK Business Growth core advisory activities for 2024-25 is £41.8m, servicing approximately 10,000 innovative businesses a year with light touch Growth, or more intensive High Growth/Scaling support, this data is published as part of Innovate UK’s “Transparency data”.

The Business Growth advisors (Full Time Equivalent) per region is as per the table below, the group marked national work cross-regionally:

Region

Approx. FTE

% split

National

44

9%

Wales

22

5%

Scotland

16

3%

Northern Ireland

6

1%

North

73

16%

Midlands

44

9%

East

88

19%

South West

53

11%

South East

48

10%

London

71

15%

Total

464
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_65

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding the Government provided for research into idiopathic pulmonary hypertension in the 2023-24 financial year; and which public bodies provided that funding. \p Feryal Clark: The Department of Health and Social Care funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR did not commit any specific funding for idiopathic pulmonary hypertension research in the 2023-24 financial year.

UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) plays a key role in funding both disease specific and underpinning research which may not be attributable to a specific condition but will benefit medical research more generally. UKRI delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects which includes work on blood vessel function/dysfunction and on fibrosis which is relevant to this condition. The total commitment across UKRI in 2023-24 for idiopathic pulmonary hypertension research was £1,360,310 for 1 award (MRC funded).
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_66

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 20215 on Animal Experiments, what her planned timetable is for publishing the plan. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. We are currently engaging with partners from sectors with interests in animal science as to how we will take this commitment forward, including the publishing of a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. We expect to publish this strategy later this year
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_67

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Regulatory Innovation Office on the AI Opportunities Action Plan since July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has contributed to the development of the AI Opportunities Action Plan and will continue to collaborate on delivering its commitments. As set out in the Action Plan, the UK’s proportionate, flexible regulatory approach is a crucial enabler for realising the government’s ambitions on artificial intelligence. Through advancing regulatory innovation, the RIO will play a key role in bringing new technologies across a range of sectors to the public faster and safely.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_68

Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Feryal Clark: To be eligible for shared parental leave in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, each parent must have at least 26 weeks continuous employment with their respective employer by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth or adoption matching date. They must also still be working for the same respective employer (for Civil Servants continuous service applies to other Civil Service employers) when they intend to take the leave.

Some employees could qualify for shared parental leave on their first day of service where they have built up qualifying service in another Civil Service organisation.

As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_69

John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to take legal advice on whether introducing an exception to copyright for text and data mining with an opt-out is consistent with the UK’s international obligations under the Berne Convention. \p Feryal Clark: The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.

This consultation seeks views on proposals for a new regulatory model for text and data mining. These proposals are presented for feedback and discussion, and no decision has yet been taken on the final policy.

As set out in the consultation “any proposals that we take forward will be implemented in line with our existing legal obligations, domestic and international. Relevant international treaties include the Berne Convention, Rome Convention, WCT, WPPT and TRIPS”.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_70

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many (a) internal policy reviews, (b) independent reviews, (c) external reviews, (d) taskforces, (e) public consultations, (f) investigations and (g) other reviews their Department launched between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025; what the titles were of those reviews; and how many of those reviews have been (i) completed and (ii) published. \p Feryal Clark: This Government has outlined its ambitions through the Plan for Change, which sets out an ambitious set of milestones - across the missions - for this Parliament.

As the House would expect, Government continually reviews its work to ensure that it is delivering the best outcomes for the people of the United Kingdom, and that its policies continue to represent the best value for the taxpayer.

Public reviews will be available on Gov.uk as they are published.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_71

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a review of sentences for people serving a custodial sentence for posting offensive remarks on social media. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. There are a range of communication related offences, both summary-only and triable either way, across different pieces of legislation with varying maximum penalties. For example, section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 which criminalises the sending of a communication that is either grossly offensive, or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. This offence carries a maximum 6 months’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine.

The Government has launched an Independent Review of Sentencing chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review will examine options following three core principles: sentences must punish offenders and protect the public; sentences should encourage prisoners to turn their backs on a life of crime and we must expand and make greater use of punishment outside of prison.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_72

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government has taken to block mobile phone signals for contraband mobile phones held by prisoners across the prison estate. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is committed to tackling the threat posed by illicit mobile telephones. It has a wide-ranging programme in place to prevent them from entering prisons, to detect and disrupt their use, and to investigate cases where a prisoner may have committed an offence.

HMPPS uses powers under the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012 to enable prisons to use technology to suppress the use of wireless telegraphy such as mobile phones.

As part of their local security strategies, prisons are able to deploy a range of measures, but owing to security and operational sensitivities, it would not be appropriate to provide detailed information about the countermeasures that are in place.
wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-29 conversation_73

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people with a home address in Wales before entering custody were held in prison aged (a) 15-17, (b) 18-20, (c) 21-24, (d) 25-29, (e) 30-39, (f) 40-49, (g) 50-59, (h) 60 and over and (i) not recorded or not known in (i) March 2024, (ii) June 2024, (iii) September 2024 and (iv) December 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The requested information has been provided as an Excel file alongside this response. The dataset for December 2024 is a subset of data scheduled to be published as part of the Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK release and cannot be provided in advance of that publication.

Around 99% of prisoners have an origin location - i.e. addresses that are recorded in our central IT system. If no address is given, an offender’s committal court address is used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident.

This information is included in the data provided in the tables attached. No address has been recorded and no court information is available for around 1% of all offenders; these figures are excluded from the tables attached.

Table_attachment (xlsx, 25.4KB)