theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of lowering the Oil Price Cap on Russia’s revenue generation through seaborne oil exports. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK is committed to maintaining the efficacy of the price cap and to adapting it as necessary and practicable, subject to thorough impact assessments and alongside our international partners, to further our objectives of constraining Russian oil revenues. This is why the UK has publicly called on partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap as part of our wider efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia.

In tandem, the UK continues to directly target shadow fleet vessels and entities that seek to undermine UK sanctions and facilitate the trade and transportation of Russian oil and oil products. Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has sanctioned 133 vessels and 28 entities and individuals linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide support to people affected by the inclusion of unused pension funds in Inheritance Tax calculations from April 2027. \p James Murray: As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes.

Estates will benefit from the normal nil-rate bands, reliefs, and exemptions available. For example, the nil-rate bands mean an estate can pass on up to £1 million with no inheritance tax liability, and the general rules mean any transfers to a spouse or civil partner are fully exempt from inheritance tax.

Comprehensive guidance will be published in the normal way ahead of the changes coming into effect, which will support individuals in understanding the rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Alison Taylor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will (a) reinstate VAT-free shopping for visitors and (b) allow VAT refunds on departure. \p James Murray: The Government has no plans to introduce a new tax-free shopping scheme in Great Britain.

According to the OBR, the withdrawal of the VAT Retail Export Scheme will save the Exchequer around £540 million per year by 2025-26.

Recent ONS data shows that UK tourism numbers and spending has recovered at a similar rate following the pandemic to other European economies.

The Government has considered analysis supporting the introduction of a new tax-free shopping scheme and found that there is insufficient evidence that a new scheme would have greater benefits to the UK than costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Paul Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to increase growth spending on (a) transport and (b) research and development outside of the South East of England. \p Darren Jones: Investment in our transport infrastructure is key to delivering the growth mission – with this government committing to a real terms increase in transport investment in 2025-26.

We have committed over £1 billion for the North and over £500m for the Midlands in 25/26 to improve local transport services people use every day. The Government is protecting record levels of R&D investment, with £20.4 billion allocated in 2025/2026; ensuring the benefits of R&D are felt across the country, including through Innovation Accelerators, which the government will extend into 2025-26 to continue to bolster high-potential innovation clusters in the Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37227 on Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Business Rates, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the new (a) lower and (b) higher multiplier for retail, hospitality and leisure above £500,000 Rateable Value from 2026-27 on the value of retail hospitality and leisure business rate relief in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26. \p James Murray: To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with Rateable Values below £500,000, from 2026-27.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with Rateable Values of £500,000 and above.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new, permanently lower tax rates are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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John McDonnell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations she received that helped inform the decision to support expansion at Heathrow. \p Darren Jones: HM Treasury has received and continues to receive representations from a wide range of stakeholders about Heathrow expansion. These informed the speech supporting expansion in January and continue to inform the Government’s position on Heathrow.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Official Statistics by HMRC entitled Measuring tax gaps 2024 edition: tax gap estimates for 2022 to 2023, updated on 20 June 2024, updated on 21 March 2025, what steps she is taking to collect the uncollected theoretical tax liabilities. \p James Murray: A key part of restoring economic stability and fiscal responsibility is closing the tax gap. Unpaid tax deprives UK public services of vital funding and puts businesses who pay the right tax at a competitive disadvantage.

At the Budget last autumn, the government introduced the most ambitious package ever to close the tax gap, ensuring more individuals and businesses pay the taxes they owe. At the Spring Statement, the government built on this and announced a package of measures to further close the tax gap and raise over £1 billion in additional gross tax revenue per year by 2029-30.

At the Spring Statement, the government announced it will fund the recruitment of a further 500 compliance officers, bringing the total compliance officer growth since July 2024 to 5,500 by 2029/30.

In addition, the government will fund the recruitment of an additional 600 staff into HMRC’s debt management teams to ensure those who can afford to pay their tax debts do so. It is also delivering on its commitments to prosecute more tax fraudsters, to introduce a new HMRC reward scheme for informants, to tackle ‘phoenixism’, and to overhaul HMRC’s approach to offshore tax non-compliance. The government has also set out its plans to go further in the future to make it easier for taxpayers to pay the right tax through a modern and digital tax system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what budget was allocated to (a) social media advertising, (b) paid-partnerships and (c) other digital communication of the measures in the Spring Statement. \p Darren Jones: No budget was allocated by HM Treasury for social media advertising, paid partnerships, or other digital communication of the measures in the Spring Statement beyond the budget for the core HMT communications team.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16606 on Arden Strategies, if she will list each of the businesses that (a) attended the roundabout on 17 September 2024 and (b) have not been listed as attending that event in the transparency returns for the (i) Permanent Secretary and (ii) Director General. \p James Murray: A meeting was organised by the Chancellor’s International Investment Summit (IIS) Adviser on 17 September to gather business views on the Summit. Arden Strategies was one of several firms to attend. The Government engaged with a number of different businesses and trade bodies in the run up to the International Investment Summit to help coordinate meetings with key investors as part of the usual course of business. It also has an ongoing business engagement programme run by officials.

The Chancellor’s IIS Adviser left HM Treasury on 30 October 2024. The government does not routinely provide commentary on attendees at individual meetings, except where required as part of each department’s quarterly transparency returns for meetings held by senior officials at Permanent Secretary and Director General levels, as published on gov.uk.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will consider including funding for homelessness services as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. \p Darren Jones: HMT will consider departmental budget requests as part of the Spending Review process and set out funding for future years at Phase 2 of the Spending Review. The government has already made steps to tackle homelessness through: funding at Autumn Budget 2024 where we announced an additional £233 million of resource funding for services in 2025/26; a commitment to the delivery of the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament and through protecting renters by abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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David Smith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the vulnerabilities of cryptocurrency to North Korean criminals. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is aware of reporting relating to the recent cyber activity linked to the DPRK, involving the cryptocurrency exchange ByBit. The UK works closely with our allies to deter all malign actors from conducting malicious cyber activity. This includes through targeted sanctions, public attributions and working closely with partners to encourage capacity building and cyber deterrence.

Under the Money Laundering Regulations, it is mandatory for banks and other financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence to all transactions linked to North Korea to ensure they do not involve the proceeds of crime. In addition, the UK’s DPRK sanctions regime imposes broad restrictions of a financial nature, including prohibitions on UK financial institutions establishing or maintaining financial relationships with DPRK financial institutions. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation works to support UK businesses, including financial institutions, to comply with sanctions on the DPRK. This includes publication of advisory notices such as the Advisory on North Korean IT Workers published in September 2024.

Cryptoassets, specifically cryptoasset exchange providers and custodian wallet providers, have been regulated under the Money Laundering Regulations since January 2020. UK cryptoasset firms must register with the Financial Conduct Authority which acts as a supervisory body to ensure firms have appropriate systems in place to prevent money laundering. The money laundering risk these cryptoasset firms are exposed to will be assessed in the updated National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, due to be published later this year.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the cost to (a) the public purse (b) businesses and (c) individual people from climate change. \p Emma Reynolds: Illustrative analysis in the Office for Budget Responsibility's 2024 Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report suggests that UK GDP could be around 3% lower by 2074 under a below 2°C warming scenario and around 5% lower under a below 3°C warming scenario. The publicly available report contains further analysis of the fiscal impact of climate change as well as impacts affecting businesses and individuals such as labour productivity and health.

This Government is committed to mitigating the negative impacts of climate change. The transition to net zero will support the creation of jobs across the UK, protect the economy from future price shocks and deliver a range of social and health benefits.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of providing support for the delivery of social homes in Wales through (a) increased capital funding and (b) expanded borrowing powers. \p Darren Jones: We remain committed to working in partnership with the Welsh Government to ensure the Fiscal Framework, which sets out their borrowing arrangements, continues to deliver value for money while upholding our shared commitment to fiscal responsibility. Discussions regarding the Welsh Government’s request to amend the budget management tools outlined in the Framework are ongoing.     As set out in the Welsh Government Fiscal Framework agreed in 2016, a full review is triggered if the Welsh Government’s relative funding falls below 115% of equivalent UK Government spending per head in the rest of the UK.

The Welsh Government is currently receiving at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. That translates into over £8.5 billion more in 2025-26.

It is for the Welsh Government to allocate its funding in devolved areas, including social housing, as it sees fit. It can therefore take its own decisions on managing and investing available resources, reflecting its own priorities and local circumstances, and it is accountable to the Senedd for these decisions.
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Patricia Ferguson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding the Scottish Government will receive through Barnett consequentials as a result of highway maintenance funding being provided to England and Wales. \p Darren Jones: At Phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review, the UK Government allocated an additional £500 million to the Department for Transport for local highways maintenance in 2025-26. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Transport’s Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget.

At Spending Reviews, the Barnett formula is applied to changes to each UK Government department’s overall DEL budget, not to individual programmes.

The Scottish Government is receiving over £47.7 billion in 2025-26 following Phase 1 of the Spending Review 2025. This is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution and ensures that the Scottish Government continue to receive at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. An update to Block Grant Transparency to include Autumn Budget 2024 changes will be published in due course:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on budgets for the devolved adult skills fund. \p Darren Jones: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chief Secretary of the Treasury meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Education.

At the Spending Review on 30 October, the Department for Education received a settlement providing total DEL funding of £99.7 billion in 2025-26. The Department is responsible for determining their budgets, including for the Adult Skills Fund, through their Business Planning process. Budgets beyond 2025-26 will be determined at phase 2 of the Spending Review on 11 June.

Achieving growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity are key priorities for this Government. The Adult Skills Fund is a crucial component of both missions helping to provide a foundation for individuals to improve earnings and employment opportunities, and open doors to further learning. This Government is committed to seeing local government empowered and strengthened including through the devolution of adult skills.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the new surcharge on hereditaments over £500,000 from April 2026, whether educational charities will be liable to pay the increase in business rates which is not covered by mandatory charitable rate relief. \p James Murray: We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As part of its reforms, the Government intends to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more.

Mandatory charitable rates relief will be available to eligible properties that are subject to the higher rate.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 40496 on Business confidence in rural communities, what criteria her Department uses to classify a constituency as rural; and whether Aldridge-Brownhills constituency meets the criteria for such a classification. \p James Murray: Aldridge-Brownhills is not considered a rural constituency based on ONS 2021 rural-urban census data.

The Government does not collect specific constituency level data on business confidence. Recent economy wide surveys from EY, PwC and Lloyds Bank show overall business and investor confidence is rising. This Government is going further and faster to deliver economic growth and support businesses by increasing capital spending, overhauling our regulatory system, and getting Britain building through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the Office of Budget Responsibility's publication entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in October 2024, if she will make an estimate of the macro economic cost of the change in overall trade intensity. \p Emma Reynolds: HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy and public finances, including assessments of potential impacts of policy changes. These are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) which confirmed its assessment of EU exit’s economic impacts in its March 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

HM Treasury continues to consider a range of data sources, including trade import and export figures, as part of the department’s ongoing monitoring of the UK economy.

The Government is working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, and as part of this we will welcome EU leaders to the UK for the first UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 19 May.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new (a) executive agencies, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) public corporations and (d) publicly-owned companies (i) have been established since 4 July 2024 and (ii) are due to be established. \p Georgia Gould: As said in my previous answer of 8 January 2025, the Cabinet Office maintains records and oversight of formally established arm’s-length bodies, including executive agencies, non-ministerial departments and non-departmental public bodies. No ALBs have been formally established since 4 July 2024. Records for public corporations and publicly-owned companies are held at departmental level.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps (a) his Department, (b) the Office for Equality and Opportunity and (c) diversity networks linked to his Department are taking to support (i) asexual and (ii) aromantic civil servants. \p Georgia Gould: There are no policies that exist in respect of asexual and/or aromantic staff specifically.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of Departmental premises for speeches by Ministers. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Any use of departmental premises by Ministers for speeches should be an appropriate use of government resources.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on whether third parties should declare their political interests when recording official videos for government departments. \p Georgia Gould: There is no standalone Cabinet Office policy or guidance that addresses the declaration of political interests of third parties when recording official videos.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Q45 of the oral evidence given by his Department's Permanent Secretary to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024, HC 463, if he will list the employers in the civil service. \p Georgia Gould: The UK civil service is made up of civil servants employed at over 100 Ministerial and Non-Ministerial Departments, Executive Agencies and Crown NDPBs. These are listed and published each quarter by Office for National Statistics at Table 9 of their quarterly public sector employment statistics available at the following web address:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to 10 Downing Street's press release entitled Downing Street opens doors to Adolescence creators for vital discussion on protecting our children, published on 31 March 2025, if he will publish the outcomes of the Prime Minister's meeting with (a) Adolescence creators, (b) charities and (c) young people. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Prime Minister met with Adolescence creators, charities and young people to discuss the issues raised in the series during a meeting focused on rethinking adolescent safety. The group met to discuss the challenges facing children and parents today, and how the Government can ensure young people have the right tools, support and environment to learn about healthy relationships.
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Seamus Logan:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Government devices are used to post from the Government's TikTok account; how many other communication applications are used on those devices; how many officials have used this account; and whether he plans to increase the number of Government TikTok accounts. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As per the guidance in the Mobile Device Management policy, we take a careful controlled approach to TikTok usage on government devices to safeguard all government activity. Access is strictly limited to essential purposes only. The existing policy regarding TikTok on government devices remains unchanged.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 5306 on Special Advisers, if he will set out the (a) Minister and (b) senior civil servant in (i) Downing Street and (ii) each department that determines whether a special adviser's appointment is confirmed after the probationary period. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: I refer the Hon. member to the answer to PQ 5306.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will include the policy areas that each Number 10 special adviser works on in the next published list of special advisers. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: In line with the approach under previous administrations, the Government does not publish specific responsibilities of individual special advisers in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43478 on Admiralty House, how many of the flats are occupied. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: There has been no change to the allocation of the flats in Admiralty House since my Noble Friend’s answer of 17 December 2024, Official Report, HL2901.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on establishing an ethics and integrity commission. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through issuing a new Ministerial Code which highlights the importance of the principles of public life, by strengthening the terms of reference for the Independent Adviser, and by introducing a new monthly Register of Gifts and Hospitality.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to review the adequacy of each Department's policies in relation to gender, in the context of the Supreme Court's ruling on For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Government will work closely with the EHRC as they develop definitive guidance. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost was of the Civil Service paybill, by (a) salary costs, (b) National Insurance Contributions, (c) employer Pension Contributions, (d) severance costs and (e) total pay costs in the most recent year for which figures are available. \p Georgia Gould: Salary data for the Civil Service is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics, an Accredited Official Statistics release. The most recent salary cost figures as at 31st March 2024 were provided in response to Peter Bedford MP’s question on 16th October 2024.

The latest estimates of the total paybill with and without estimated employer National Insurance contributions were provided in response to Richard Holden MP’s question on 8th April 2025.

Both Employer Pension contributions and severance costs are not published by the Cabinet Office.

For 2024/25, departmental pay awards have been made within the controls of the 2024/25 Pay Remit Guidance. Information on total paybill costs may be published by individual departments, but there is no routine publication of the overall Civil Service paybill figure.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to increase the amount of compensation provided to bereaved carers through the infected blood compensation scheme. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government recognises that every victim of infected blood will have their own unique circumstances, and experienced devastating losses. Carers of an eligible infected person who, without reward or remuneration, provided personal care or support greater than would otherwise reasonably have been expected are eligible for compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in their own right.

Additionally, an infected person can choose for some or all of their Care award to be paid directly to eligible affected people who provided the care. They can choose exactly how much of the overall award they want to give, and to how many people. An executor of a deceased infected person's estate will be responsible for administering the estate as per the wishes of the infected person.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to update the Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Service Commission and his Department. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Service Commission and the Cabinet Office has been replaced by a consolidated Framework Agreement for the Independent Offices (covering the Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Commissioner for Public Appointments). This was published on 18 February 2025.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many transactions have been statutorily notified to his Department under the terms of the National Security and Investment Act since 5 July 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The government publishes information on the operation of the National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) in the NSIA Annual Report. The most recent report, covering the 2023/24 reporting period, can be found on GOV.UK. The government received 753 mandatory notifications in that period.

Data on the number of mandatory notifications received between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, broken down by month, will be published in the next Annual Report later this year.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason agendas for National Security Council meetings are not available to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: It remains longstanding precedent that information relating to discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its sub-committees, including agendas, are not disclosed. This Government is committed to providing spaces for Ministers to debate freely and frankly in private. This convention applies to engagement with Parliament and Select Committees and the Government routinely rejects requests for this information from other Select Committees. Therefore, whilst this Government is actively pursuing greater transparency with Parliament, this principle of non-disclosure continues to cover this matter.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37428 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will ask the Government Digital Service to develop a website database allowing (a) cumulative and (b) cross-Government transparency data to be (i) searched and (ii) exported. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Government integrity data is already published in a format which can be exported. The government publishes this data in CSV files in an accessible open data format, as per the standard and best practice guidance from the Government Digital Service and Central Digital and Data Office. In addition, since January, data on ministers’ gifts and hospitality has been published in one central register.

The government does not have current plans to make any further changes to how this data is published.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_161

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who sits on the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether the list of members has been published. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_162

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with his Schengen Area counterparts on exempting UK citizens from the restrictions on visiting Schengen Area countries. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens short-term visa-free travel for up to six months. Meanwhile, the EU allows for travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third countries travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. This may require a visa and/or permit. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_163

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in (a) the EU or (b) individual EU member nations on permitting UK citizens reciprocal rights to visit the (i) EU or (ii) any EU member nation for periods of up to 180 days. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: HMG officials and Ministers regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK and the EU allow for visa-free short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals. The UK allows EU citizens visa-free travel for up to six months; the EU allows for visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period; this is standard for third country nationals. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_164

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when applications for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will open; and what estimate he has made of (a) what the average waiting time will be for a claim to be processed and (b) when successful applicants will receive payment. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: As the Minister responsible, I stand ready to provide all the support I can to speed up payments. I am restless for that speed to increase, while also respecting the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s (IBCA) operational independence going forward. In terms of the speed of processing and paying claimants, each case is different and some progress quicker than others, but so far IBCA have invited 275 people to start a claim, with 69 people having accepted their offer and received payment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_165

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether supplementary financial loss claims under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be open to estates of deceased victims. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Yes. The supplementary route for financial loss will be open to all infected people, including those who have very sadly passed away.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_166

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to introduce an individual assessment route for the infected blood compensation claims. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government recognises that every victim of infected blood will have their own unique circumstances, and experienced devastating losses. To avoid a lengthy, complex and burdensome evidence gathering process, the Government has accepted the Inquiry’s recommendations to take a tariff-based approach to compensation. The principles of a tariff based scheme seek to minimise the amount of information that people applying to the scheme are required to provide and help to ensure that compensation can be awarded more quickly than would otherwise be possible if all applications had to be individually assessed.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_167

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how infected blood compensation claims involving co-infection with HIV and hepatitis viruses will account for the earlier date of hepatitis infection when calculating compensation. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: For people co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, compensation will be calculated from the date of the first infection. If it is not possible to establish when someone was first infected, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will use the earliest year the infection could have been contracted unless there is evidence that it must have occurred later.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_168

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Infected Blood Compensation Authority will determine the date of first infection in cases where no clear medical record exists. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024, eligibility for the Scheme will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will provide assistance to those who believe their medical records have been lost or destroyed. If it is not possible to establish the year in which the infection was contracted, the year in which the first blood product was received will be taken as the infection year unless there is evidence an infection must have occurred later. The regulations set out that, in such cases, the earliest possible year an infection could have been contracted will be accepted.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_169

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the burden of proof in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme is placed on victims. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Given the long-running nature of the infected blood scandal, not all medical records will still be available and, as set out in the regulations, eligibility for compensation will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) has said that when an individual is invited to make their claim, it will aim to gather some of the information, including medical records and information about an applicant’s condition and severity, from organisations who already have it. This should mean those claiming will be asked for the least amount of information possible. Additionally, IBCA will make a caseworker available for each of these cases, and when I visited IBCA I saw the sympathetic, enabling approach that staff are taking when asking what types of evidence might be helpful and where it could be obtained from.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_170

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to provide publicly funded legal advice and advocacy services to claimants of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme has been designed so that the process to make a claim is as easy as possible, without the advice of a solicitor. However, the Government recognises that people may wish to seek legal advice. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s approach is that everyone claiming compensation should be able to access free legal and financial support, up to an agreed amount, to help with certain parts of their claim. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is providing independent legal support to the people making the first claims, with around half of those who have submitted a claim so far having taken up the offer of legal support.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_171

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39687 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether Ministers’ travel on helicopters will be (a) published in quarterly travel returns and (b) listed in each Department’s spending data (i) in aggregate and (ii) individually. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As was the case under the previous administration, data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis which includes defining the mode of transport used. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications#2024
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_172

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that Environmental Information Regulation requests are treated equally to Freedom of Information requests. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: All access to information requests are answered on a case by case basis and in adherence with the relevant legal framework.

Guidance on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_173

Valerie Vaz:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to begin negotiations for a new trade agreement with the EU. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I am responding as the Minister responsible for EU relations. This government is committed to improving the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU to tackle unnecessary barriers to trade, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We are working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, and as part of this we will welcome EU leaders to the UK for the first UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 19 May.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_174

Adam Jogee:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps he has taken to reduce Government bureaucracy. \p Georgia Gould: This Government is committed to creating a productive and agile state. This means reducing bureaucracy through adoption of digital technology and AI tools; stripping back duplication and inefficiency in arms-length bodies; streamlining approval processes; and improving accountability for Civil Service performance. The Cabinet Office will continue to drive and track delivery of this important programme of work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_175

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2024 to Question HL1472 on Government Department: Directors, whether the (a) No10 Appointments Unit and (b) Cabinet Office Appointments Team hold information on the number of (i) non-executive and (ii) other public appointment posts that have become available before the expiry of their set term since 4 July 2024. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information.