theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_143

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the cost of acquiring a waste exemption permit on future trends in the level of landfill. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) charges consultation (including proposals to charge for waste exemptions) is now closed. The EA expects businesses that register and comply with waste exemptions without the requirement for an environmental permit, will continue to do so and pay the associated waste exemption charges. The EA does not expect waste exemption charges to result in an increase in landfill, where specific wastes are banned and landfill tax applies. Further information on the charges consultation, the points raised by industry and our responses to them will be included in a forthcoming consultation response document to be published by the EA. The EA has carried out an affordability impact analysis of the charge proposals. Key findings are detailed in the public consultation and any changes will be noted when the consultation response is published.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_144

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Flood Re scheme to non-owner occupiers. \p Emma Hardy: The Flood Re scheme allows for insurers to offer discounted premiums to leasehold or landlord owned properties consisting of three or less units where the freeholder/landlord lives in the property. As larger blocks, of four or more units, are classified as a commercial business, the Flood Re scheme does not apply for buildings insurance. Tenants and leaseholders can obtain contents insurance supported by Flood Re, regardless of the size of the block.

There are currently no plans to extend the scope of the scheme, however Defra regularly reviews all policies, including eligibility for Flood Re.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) its arms length bodies have made of the potential impact of the Water Industry National Environment Programme on carbon emissions. \p Emma Hardy: Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December, which included a confirmed £104 billion of water company expenditure between 2025 and 2030. £24 billion will be invested to improve the environment and Ofwat have confirmed this will put the sector on track to meet net zero targets by 2050.

For the period between 2025-2030, Ofwat have provided percentage estimates of the emissions reductions water companies are expected to deliver. These can be found within Ofwat's publicly available PR24 company specific documents available on their website: Final determinations in the 2024 price review - Ofwat. Water companies will report on the emission reductions from schemes, using real time data to demonstrate the impact.

Ofwat have also introduced price control deliverables (PCDs) for PR24 – a financial incentive mechanism to incentivise companies to deliver projects on time, and if projects are not delivered, funding is returned to customers. This includes a PCD on climate change resilience to incentivise delivery by companies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_146

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the land use strategy will include policies on managing (a) farm pastures, (b) road verges, (c) urban parks and (d) other grasslands. \p Mary Creagh: The Government plans to publish work in this area in the first year of its time in power. A broad range of views will be under consideration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_147

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that planning reforms (a) take full account of environmental and animal welfare considerations and (b) empower local authorities to (i) reject and (ii) amend applications for new or expanding factory farms that may cause harm. \p Mary Creagh: The Department works closely with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to deliver planning reforms with regular discussions on how the impacts of development can be fully considered and planning can improve outcomes for nature whilst enabling farmers and rural businesses to build the infrastructure they need.

New or expanding farms permitted under the Town and Country Planning Act are subject to the National Planning Policy Framework which clearly sets out that if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided, adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused and that planning policies and decisions should prevent new and existing development from contributing to, being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability.

The animal welfare considerations for buildings and accommodation used for farmed animals are set out in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 with further guidance set out in the relevant species-specific welfare code of practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 is being implemented in full; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's drainage and gully systems to deal with increasingly volatile weather. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is strongly committed to requiring standardised SuDS in new developments. We believe that this can be achieved through either improving the current planning led approach using powers now available, or commencing Schedule 3 to the FWMA 2010. A final decision on the way forward will be made in the coming months.

The Government has updated the National Planning Policy Framework to encourage a more holistic approach so that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where they could have drainage impacts in a way which is proportionate to the nature and scale of the scheme.

This Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage and wastewater system both now and for future demand.

As part of the Environment Act 2021, water companies in England are required to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of broadening the scope of measures within the Environment Act 2021 to help tackle illegal deforestation. \p Mary Creagh: The approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains is being considered and we will provide an update in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 82 to 85 of the Fourth Report of Session 2023–24 of the Environmental Audit Committee, The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation, HC 405, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on human rights abuses in supply chains. \p Mary Creagh: We note the committee’s recommendations regarding the rights of indigenous people and local communities, and customary land tenure. We will set out our approach in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Environment Agency to prevent companies from importing waste carpet from the EU. \p Mary Creagh: Waste is a commodity, and there is a legitimate global market for secondary materials. The transfrontier shipment of waste, including waste carpet, is subject to strict controls that are set out in the UK’s legislation. All waste shipments from the EU to the UK must comply with these controls. The Environment Agency (EA) is England’s competent authority and conducts compliance activities on an intelligence led, risk-based approach to ensure that imports of waste to England are in compliance with the legislative controls. The EA welcome any information regarding possible illegal movements via their incident reporting system or via Crimestoppers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve facilities for men with (a) colostomy bags and (b) stomas. \p Mary Creagh: The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers. The provision of facilities for people with colostomy bags and stomas is however a matter for local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Peter Fortune:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation on Open access restriction at Stanbury Moor. \p Mary Creagh: We have a duty to publish a notice when we review statutory directions to restrict or exclude access. GOV.UK and Citizen space are the ways in which Governments chose to disseminate its information and publicise its consultations. Therefore, we use these existing Government websites for this purpose, posting a notification on GOV.UK that points to a Consultation Summary Report and any other associated documents (usually a map) on Defra’s Citizen Space website.

We can send hard copies of consultation documents and outcomes on request and can receive correspondence by post.

We are also required to consult the Local Access Forum and send a copy of the notice to the persons to be notified. These include: the access authority, British Association of Shooting and Conservation, British Mountaineering Council, NRW – (if the land adjoins land in Wales), Country Land and Business Association, National Farmers’ Union, Open Spaces Society and Ramblers’ Association. We do this by email.

We publish an Outcome Report online.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of compensation protocols for birds culled to control avian influenza. \p Daniel Zeichner: Compensation paid for birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat.

In response to the unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza in October 2022 Defra’s approach to compensation was updated to involve earlier assessment of the number of healthy birds and swifter calculation of compensation. This allows Defra to provide earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation; better reflects the impact of outbreaks on premises; and leads to swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures.

Defra’s approach to compensation was recently subject to a judicial review, and was found to be lawful on appeal. Compensation policy will continue to be kept under regular review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the environmental health of Hogsmill River. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) continues to support volunteers and Citizen Scientists in monitoring water quality across the Hogsmill, focussing on known pollution hotspots. Collaboration efforts have identified misconnecting sewage outfalls causing pollution, which Thames Water have rectified.

As part of the Water Company Price Review (PR19), Thames Water are committed to deliver a river restoration scheme at Kingsmeadow by 2027. There is also a partnership investigation to assess the impacts of groundwater abstraction on natural flows. The river restoration arising from these studies are scheduled for completion in March 2030.

Thames Water are required under PR24 to increase the size of the storm tanks at Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works to 4 times the current volume. This will reduce the number and duration of storm sewage spills.

River Restoration is supported by the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF). This year the funding has supported:

A recent Enforcement Undertaking (£150,000) for a pollution incident in 2020 required Thames Water to improve the Bonesgate.

The EA is committed to undertake a larger programme of wastewater asset inspections. It will have inspected 4,000 assets in England by the end of March 2025, up from 1389 the previous year, moving towards 11,500 a year by March 2027. This work will see significant improvements to water quality.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_156
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settlements for National Trails UK as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking legislative steps to introduce a land use framework. \p Mary Creagh: The Government plans to take action toward realising a Land Use Framework in the first year of its time in power.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_158

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the quantity of best and most versatile agricultural land. \p Mary Creagh: The current estimate of the quantity of best and most versatile agricultural land is 42% of agricultural land. Grades 1 and 2 together form about 21% of all farmland in England; Subgrade 3a also covers about 21%.

The last publicly available estimate of BMV land was published in a Natural England Technical Information Note in 2009. It can be foundavailable here:

The new Government recognises the importance of accurately identifying BMV land, and work is currently underway to develop a new strategic-scale map to replace the 1960s provisional Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) map. The updated map will align with current ALC guidelines and include the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, which is not reflected in the provisional map. This project is expected to be completed by spring 2025, providing a more accurate and up-to-date assessment of land quality to inform future land use decisions.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_159

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a single social tariff for water bills. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers including older people.

All water companies have measures in place for people who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, including measures such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. We expect all companies to make sure households are aware of the measures available to them and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable.

Government is also improving protections for customers, with new and increased compensation for water companies to pay to customers and businesses in the event of issues like water supply outages, sewer flooding or low water pressure.

Furthermore, we expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to deliver this.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_160

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with water companies on upgrading infrastructure to ensure the sewage system can accommodate heavy rainfall without overflowing sewage into waterways. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will strengthen regulation, including delivering new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bringing criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

For Price Review 2024, which runs from 2025 – 2030, water companies are investing almost £12 billion to improve 2,800 storm overflows across England and Wales. Where required outcomes are not met, companies must reimburse customers, thereby holding water companies to account to deliver the investment.

Going forward, the Secretary of State and I continue to meet regularly with water company leadership teams to hold them to account for and ensure they are delivering for customers and the environment.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_161

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to make Round 1 payments from the Water Restoration Fund. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regulators powers to impose penalties on the civil standard of proof, in addition to new automatic penalties. The regulators will also be able to recover costs for a much greater range of enforcement activities.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Defra is continuing to work with His Majesty’s Treasury regarding continued reinvestment of the water company fines and penalties on water environment improvement.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_163

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what plans her Department has to consult with the public on proposals for local government reforms. \p Jim McMahon: For local government reorganisation, it will be essential for councils to work with local partners, stakeholders, and MPs, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally, including with residents, in a meaningful and constructive way when developing their proposals.

We will consult a range of stakeholders in areas where we receive proposals for reorganisation, as required by statute. I will write to local authorities in further detail, inviting proposals for local government reorganisation and setting out the criteria to be used to assess proposals, in due course.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_164

Jacob Collier:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to gather accurate data on the number of people sofa surfing. \p Rushanara Ali: The English Housing Survey does not collect data on the number of sofa surfers, but does collect data on households who hosted someone in the previous 12 months who would have otherwise been homeless, and publishes these statistics annually.

The total number of households that hosted someone homeless in the past 12 months was 521,000 (2% of households).

By tenure, 3% of private renters (122,000 households) and 3% of social renters (120,000 households) hosted someone homeless in the past 12 months. This proportion was higher than for owner occupiers (2%, 279,000 households).

See The EHS 2022-23 rented sector report, Annex Table 3.21.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_165

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees, published on 9 December 2024, whether the requirements for delegation to planning officers would apply to planning applications for traveller sites. \p Matthew Pennycook: The working paper in question invites views on a number of proposals designed to support better decision making in the planning system, including proposals on a national scheme of delegation. We have made no decisions in relation to how a national scheme of delegation would work, including in relation to applications for traveller sites. Should we determine to take proposals for a national scheme of delegation forward they would be the subject of further detailed consultation in the normal way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_166

Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department provides guidance to chief executives of local authorities on attending meetings with Rt hon. and hon. Members. \p Jim McMahon: The department does not issue such guidance. Councils are independent, democratic bodies accountable to the communities they serve.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_167

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether the Government has plans to allow referendums to authorise local authority merges. \p Jim McMahon: It will be essential for councils to work with local partners, including MPs, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. It is for councils to decide how best to engage locally in a meaningful and constructive way when developing their proposals. We will consult a range of stakeholders in areas where we receive proposals for reorganisation, as required by statute. I will write to local authorities in further detail, inviting proposals for local government reorganisation and setting out the criteria to be used to assess proposals, in due course.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_168
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_168

Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of further limits on donations to political parties from billionaires. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL3289 on 20 December 2024.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the potential impact of local government reorganisation is on Police and Fire Commissioners who are coterminous with an existing combined authority. \p Jim McMahon: The English Devolution White Paper set out the Government’s ambitions for devolution and local government reorganisation. Government's aim is for empowered, simplified, resilient and sustainable structures for local government. It will be essential for councils to work with local partners to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. We intend to formally invite unitary proposals from all councils in two-tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries in January 2025. We will ask for interim plans in March and full proposals later in the year. The White Paper also set out that where geographies align with Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authorities, Mayors will, by default, be responsible for those services.
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Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to postpone local authority elections in Hertfordshire in 2025. \p Jim McMahon: My letter to local councils of 16 December 2024 (here) set out that the Government would only consider postponing elections for areas where the council concerned requested it and where it helps an area to deliver reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeline. Hertfordshire County Council has not requested the postponement of their May 2025 elections and therefore I can confirm that those elections will go ahead as planned.
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Liam Conlon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help leaseholders with (a) service charges and (b) managing agents in Beckenham and Penge constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to make renting easier for people with pets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill will give tenants the right to request a pet, which landlords must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) her Department has and (b) her Department's arms length bodies have spent on hospitality in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have a responsibility to carefully manage official hospitality costs and demonstrate good value for money.

Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to home efficiency regulations on house prices. \p Alex Norris: The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. It set out proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. An impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals was published concurrently and the consultation invited consultees to offer their views on this assessment.

We are carefully considering the feedback received. We intend to introduce new energy efficiency standards later this year and will publish an updated impact assessment at that time.
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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 02 December 2024, whether her Department intends to set a deadline for the completion of cladding remediation works on 11-18 metre buildings. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 18996 on 18 December 2024.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is to help ensure that the proposed 1.5 million new homes are carbon neutral. \p Alex Norris: The Government is committed to ensuring that the 1.5 million homes we will build over the course of this parliament will be high quality, well designed and sustainable.

Future standards, to be introduced this year, will set our new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and ensures they are fit for a net zero future. These homes will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. No further energy efficiency retrofit work will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon over time as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.

This commitment will help put the UK back on track to meeting its climate goals, all while cutting bills, boosting economic growth and delivering energy independence with clean power by 2030.
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Amanda Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many days significant wave heights in the English Channel were forecast to be less than 0.5 meters high in each calendar month between January 2021 and December 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is set out in the table below:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Total

2021

8

4

13

11

17

23

20

10

19

7

13

10

155

2022

12

3

18

11

20

19

22

21

19

13

7

4

169

2023

8

14

7

12

13

16

10

14

15

6

3

2

120

2024

5

5

9

8

21

20

18

16

13

19

12

10

156
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure health and care worker’s on Tier 2 visa’s are protected from exploitation by their employers. \p Seema Malhotra: The Government condemns the exploitation of international care workers by rogue employers in the adult social care sector and continues to take robust action against this unscrupulous behaviour.

If an individual is in danger or at risk of exploitation, we urge them to come forward so we can work with the police or other law enforcement bodies, including the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), to support them through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

The enforcement bodies are currently working together to investigate a range of allegations about the adult care sector. The evidence ranges from labour market offences such as charging for work finding fees and non-payment of National Minimum Wage to the higher level of exploitative abuses such as debt bondage and modern slavery.

We have recently implemented prohibitions on Skilled Worker sponsors recouping sponsorship costs from those they sponsor, and those doing so now risk losing their licence. We also intend to ban any employer who flouts employment laws from acting as a sponsor in the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22427 on Offences against Children, whether her Department holds information on how many deportations to Pakistan for convictions related to child grooming failed. \p Jess Phillips: The information requested by the Hon Member is not currently held by the Department but we are committed to improving the collection and publication of data in this area, as confirmed by the Home Secretary in her statements to Parliament on the 6th and 16th January. That important work is in train and further details will be confirmed in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve the sharing of real-time information about criminal investigations with overseas authorities. \p Dan Jarvis: His Majesty's Government has committed to resetting the UK’s relationship with the EU. As set out in the Government’s manifesto, this includes seeking a new security agreement with the EU on access to real-time intelligence sharing. Having left the Schengen Information System following the UK’s departure from the EU, the UK now uses INTERPOL to exchange real time alerts with EU countries, as well as the rest of the world.

We are rolling out the International Law Enforcement Alerts Platform (I-LEAP) to frontline UK law enforcement and border officers to provide real-time access to INTERPOL nominal data, stolen-lost travel documents and stolen motor vehicles; phase 2 of I-LEAP will strengthen alert-sharing capabilities with international partners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure Crown Dependencies introduce public registers of beneficial ownership. \p Dan Jarvis: Tackling illicit finance in the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, as well as the UK, is a priority for the UK Government. Publicly accessible beneficial ownership registers are a critical tool for tackling illicit finance. Access to accurate information on who ultimately controls a company is also vital for the enforcement of sanctions and for combating kleptocracy, tax evasion and corruption.

The Crown Dependencies are separate, self-governing jurisdictions responsible for their own domestic affairs, including financial services regulation. The Home Office continues to work closely with the Crown Dependencies on this agenda and welcomes their commitments for greater corporate transparency. The Crown Dependencies have committed to increase the transparency of their beneficial ownership registers and are working towards implementing access to those with legitimate interest, including media and civil society. I have written to the Crown Dependencies requesting that legitimate interest access should be delivered to a clear and reasonable timetable, with the maximum degree of access and transparency.

The UK Government is committed to tackling illicit finance and expects implementing legitimate interest access is an interim step to publicly accessible beneficial ownership registers and I look forward to meeting with the Crown Dependencies to discuss this agenda.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the Animals in Science Committee to conclude its work on future options for the regulation of the use of decapod crustaceans in scientific research. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office will be guided by decisions made under the Animal Welfare Act regarding any consideration as to whether decapod crustaceans are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procures) Act.

The Home Office does not require additional advice from the Animals in Science Committee at this stage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide additional support to police forces impacted by increased volumes of disclosure applications. \p Jess Phillips: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent from the Home Office and works directly with police forces to process disclosure applications.

Overall, police performance remains strong: the DBS sends approximately 3 million checks each year to the 52 police forces and law enforcement agencies commissioned to carry out checks on DBS's behalf. The DBS regularly published updates on performance for their enhanced checks. Thelatest data set can be found here: DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, the DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK

A small number of forces are currently experiencing delays in completing checks. The DBS supports police forces by funding additional staff to handle increases in volumes of checks where necessary, and funding overtime. Police forces with capacity are also helping other forces with outstanding cases, where shared IT platforms allow.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she hold discussions with the Rt hon. and hon. Members from (a) Yorkshire and (b) Greater Manchester about the potential merits of a national inquiry into grooming gangs. \p Jess Phillips: Since coming into office last July, the Government has been focused on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors impacted by these horrendous crimes. We have continued to engage with many stakeholders and stand ready to meet and have met with MPs who have an interest in these important issues.

We have been clear that local authorities, who are responsible for delivering local services, are best placed to commission local inquiries. And we stand ready to support as we can. That is why the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on the 6th and 16th January 2025 a range of measures, including stronger national backing for local inquiries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January to Question 23582 on Undocumented Migrants, what information her Department holds on the number of irregular migrants defined as absconders. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The requested data is not readily accessible from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at a disproportionate cost.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were exempted from the spouse visa financial requirements on account of receiving benefits which exempted them in the latest period for which data is available. \p Seema Malhotra: Where an individual is applying on the 5-year partner route, their partner must be in receipt of one or more of the specified disability related benefits in order to be subject to the ‘adequate maintenance test’ rather than the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).

Each application for permission under this route is considered on its merits and against the appropriate financial requirement. Data is not centrally held on the numbers of people who are required to meet the ‘adequate maintenance test’ rather than the MIR, and could only be collated for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the increased cost of electronic travel authorisations on the number of annual visitors to the United Kingdom. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office has published an impact assessment for the recently proposed increases in maximum fees for certain immigration and nationality functions, which includes modelling for numbers of electronic travel authorisation (ETA) applications.

ETAs are being introduced to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK. ETAs will deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provisions for registration of deaths to ensure that (a) bereaved people are able to meet the requirement to notify a death within five days of the statutory relevant date and (b) the burden on the recently bereaved is minimised as far as possible. \p Seema Malhotra: Since the implementation of the death certification reforms in September 2024, the 5-day statutory time period for an informant to register a death commences when the registrar receives a completed Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from a Medical Examiner, or notification from a Coroner.

Monitoring by the General Register Office for England and Wales confirms that current appointment availability for the bereaved with registrars in Local Authorities to be available to register deaths is adequate, but the Government is continuing to work towards the electronic registration of deaths to minimise the burden on bereaved family members at a difficult time, as set out by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse was of penalty payments to people who faced delays in the processing of their immigration case in each of the last five years. \p Seema Malhotra: Immigration Enforcement, UK Visas & Immigration and Border Force occasionally make ex-gratia payments to customers, beyond any legal or statutory requirements, as redress for maladministration. These payments are made at the discretion of the Home Office and depend on the individual circumstances of each complaint.

Details of these payments are not routinely published and could only be collated for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizenships were granted to refugees in each of the last ten years. \p Seema Malhotra: The publicly available immigration statistics for the last 10 years include statistics for naturalisation as a British citizen for all relevant routes of entry.

Migration transparency data - GOV.UK