theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help prevent homelessness among people that receive Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is there to help people, now and into the future, with the extra costs of living with a disability.

PIP is not intended to cover housing costs, which are paid through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, but my department is committed to identifying and preventing homelessness amongst all customers.

Tailored support is available to those at risk of and experiencing homelessness. This includes easements for those with work-related requirements, to give the space to resolve housing issues; referrals to local authority housing teams under ‘duty to refer’ legislation; and signposting to money advice services.

We are continuing funding this year for local authorities to provide additional financial support for people struggling with housing and other essential living costs through the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. Through the Spending Review, we announced £1bn a year including Barnett consequentials from 2026 to reform crisis support in England.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper announced a broad package of plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. Our reforms will ensure the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, so they can live with dignity and security, while supporting those who can work to do so. As we develop detailed proposals for change, we will continue to consider the potential impacts of reforms.

Ending all forms of homelessness is a priority for this Government. £1 billion has been invested in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year. DWP is fully committed to playing its part in homelessness prevention and supporting MHCLG to develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to people who suffer with disabilities after retirement. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Attendance Allowance (AA) is a weekly benefit for those over State Pension age who require care or supervision as a result of a physical or mental disability. AA is paid at two rates. A higher rate of £110.40 a week for claimants who need help or supervision for both day and night or who are terminally ill. And a lower rate of £73.90 for claimants who need frequent help or supervision during the day or night.

AA provides financial support towards the extra costs faced by those with a severe disability. It is neither means-tested, nor based on National Insurance contributions paid and recipients can choose how they wish to spend it. Receipt of AA can provide a passport to additional amounts in means-tested benefits (notably Pension Credit and Housing Benefit) for those on low incomes and to Carer’s Allowance for the person providing care for them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of (a) single parent lead carers and (b) all lead carers are self-employed. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In March 2025, 8% of single parent lead carers on Universal Credit (UC) were self-employed, compared to 8% of all lead carers on UC. This includes both claimants who are classified as gainfully self-employed and non-gainfully self-employed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the processes for businesses to advertise vacancies through Jobcentre Plus. \p Alison McGovern: The Department for Work and Pensions has recently reviewed and continues to enhance the processes through which businesses advertise vacancies via Jobcentre Plus. Employers currently benefit from a range of flexible engagement routes:

Feedback from employer summits and innovation workshops has directly informed ongoing improvements. Employers have highlighted the importance of making Jobcentre Plus environments more welcoming and accessible. In response, best practice sharing is underway to improve the employer experience. Additionally, policy teams are reviewing the use of Jobcentre Plus premises for interviewing candidates who are not DWP customers. A new system has also been introduced to monitor employer engagement and campaign outcomes more effectively.

As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers. As part of this, we will transform DWP’s employer offer and the way in which we engage with employers, using a test and learn approach to ensure the new service works hand in hand with them to help recruit the staff they need. The new service will support a broader range of employers, including those requiring skilled and specialist talent, to find the candidates they need. We will also work with employers to understand how to overcome the impact of recruitment practices which can act as a barrier for applicants, ensuring that a wide range of candidates can access employers’ vacancies regardless of these barriers.

DWP has not only assessed but is actively evolving its vacancy advertising processes through Jobcentre Plus. The combination of employer feedback, strategic planning, and digital innovation ensures that the service is becoming more responsive, inclusive, and effective for businesses of all sizes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing businesses to contact their local Jobcentre Plus directly to advertise vacancies. \p Alison McGovern: The Department can confirm that such an assessment has been made and that direct engagement is not only permitted but actively encouraged.

Employers are already able to contact their local Jobcentre Plus directly through several well-established routes. The Employer Services Line xx-xxxx-xxxx) and an online enquiry form connect businesses with local Employer Advisers who provide tailored recruitment support. This includes help with writing job descriptions, promoting vacancies through local jobcentres and social media, arranging use of Jobcentre Plus premises for interviews, and facilitating participation in recruitment events such as job fairs.

For businesses with more complex or large-scale recruitment needs, the Strategic Relationship Team offers bespoke support at a national level. This includes tailored recruitment solutions, vacancy tracking, and coordination with local JobCentre Plus's to ensure effective delivery.

The Department continues to explore ways to improve employer engagement, including making JobCentre Plus premises more welcoming and accessible, and reviewing policies around the use of JobCentre Plus offices for interviews with non-DWP customers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of single parent lead carers with work requirements meet their Administrative Earnings Threshold. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number of single parent lead carers on Universal Credit (UC) with work requirements who earn at or above the individual Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) was 289,000 in March 2025. This is equal to 47% of the UC lead carer caseload who have work requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that the reintroduction of face-to-face benefit assessments does not negatively impact veterans with (a) PTSD and (b) mobility impairments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We already undertake a number of face-to-face benefit assessments. However, as announced in Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, we intend to do more while preserving alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require a different channel, for example as a reasonable adjustment.   In all cases, the Healthcare Professional (HCP) aims to complete the assessment using the customer’s health questionnaire and any supporting medical evidence provided. Should this not be possible the customer is invited to a consultation. Before sending an invitation to a consultation, the HCP considers whether a specific assessment channel is needed due to the customer’s health or circumstances. Otherwise, customers are offered the next available appointment, which can be changed if they inform us that a reasonable adjustment is appropriate in their circumstances.

We are committed to ensuring equal access to our services, in line with the Equality Act 2010. Customers are encouraged to inform us of any reasonable adjustments at any stage. If notified, the assessment provider will consider an alternative assessment method.

On 25 June, I attended an online event with veterans, as one of the series of consultation events on the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the (a) length in number of applicants and (b) duration of time of the backlog in Personal Independence Payment awards for appeals where a decision was previously made. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As of April 2025, a total of 8,900 appeals are currently in progress. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 100.

DWP is not solely responsible for  appeals wait time. Appeals are lodged by claimants with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), which the claimant may take up to 13 months to do. DWP then have 28 days to respond to the appeal when notified by HMCTS. DWP will either lapse the appeal and overturn the initial decision if new evidence allows or uphold the original decision and provide a written response as to why the decision cannot be revised. After this the time taken to list the appeal is dependent on HMCTS, who run tribunal hearings.

For clearances made in the Financial Year 23-24, the median time between an appeal being lodged and DWP’s response was 5 weeks. For those cases who had a tribunal hearing, the median time between an appeal being lodged and tribunal hearing was 34 weeks.

Data for Financial Year 23-24 was used to ensure reasonable time has passed for an accurate assessment of the time between an appeal lodgement and clearance within DWP.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Spending Review 2025 on the number of Metropolitan Police officers. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Paragraph 5.35 of the Spending Review document, published on 11 June, sets out the overall financial allocation for policing in England in Wales.

As usual, more detail on force funding allocations will be set out in the police settlement later this year.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to allocate rural crime teams in each police force. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This financial year the Home Office will be providing the first funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). The funding boost of over £800,000 will help the units tackle those crimes that predominantly affect our rural communities.

The Government is committed to strong neighbourhood policing for everyone in England and Wales, wherever they live – including those in our rural communities. The Neighbourhood Policing Programme has been given £200m for 2025/2026. Individual forces will decide how best to spend their allocation of this funding to recruit a workforce mix tailored to suit their local context and operational needs, informed by a force-level understanding of these priorities and objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much funding has been allocated to her Department for police station (a) maintenance and (b) repairs. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Paragraph 5.35 of the Spending Review document, published on 11 June, sets out the overall financial allocation for policing in England in Wales.

It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing and estates, including police stations. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent vandalism on war memorials. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is committed to protecting war memorials from vandalism and disrespect. Causing criminal damage to such memorials is a serious offence, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The Crime and Policing Bill introduces an additional new offence of climbing on specified memorials without a lawful excuse, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, reinforcing our efforts to safeguard these important sites.

It is a matter of deep regret that His Majesty’s Official Opposition chose to vote against these measures at the Third Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill on 18 June.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken with his German counterparts to facilitate more bi-lateral school visits since July 4 2024. \p Seema Malhotra: During the Prime Minister's successful visit to Berlin on 28 August 2024, Chancellor Scholz and he agreed to work on a once-in-a-generation bilateral treaty between our countries, rooted in our shared values and common goals. Within the context of wider and strengthened migration cooperation, we agreed to develop arrangements with Germany similar to those we already have with France on school group travel. Significant progress has been made at working level on both the wider agreement and school group arrangements. The Government will provide updates on the rules regarding school groups travel in advance of any change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Blair McDougall:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of extending the settlement qualifying period from five to ten years on the community integration of British National (Overseas) visa holders. \p Seema Malhotra: The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route was launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s passing of the National Security Law. The route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.

Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a pathway for British citizens by descent to upgrade citizenship status after a defined period of continuous UK residency. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under review. However, British nationality law is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981, which came into force on 1 January 1983. There is no power in law to grant British citizenship outside of the statutory provisions of that Act 1981.

Further details of all the measures announced in the White Paper will be set out in due course, and where necessary, subject to consultation.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has considered developing a national integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees similar to those established in Scotland and Wales. \p Seema Malhotra: The Immigration White Paper, published on Monday 12 May, announced proposals by a wide range of reforms, including on the issue of integration and community cohesion, further details of which will be published in due course.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed balanced youth experience scheme on young people in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. \p Seema Malhotra: The details of any scheme will be subject to negotiation. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped and time-limited, and have been clear that it will need to be in line with our existing youth mobility schemes. Any scheme will need to be in the UK’s national interests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to include policies on tackling the backlog of (a) maintenance and (b) repairs to policing infrastructure in the forthcoming White Paper on policing. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office plans to publish a Police Reform White Paper later this year. It will set out a comprehensive package of reforms to policing in England and Wales that will drive quality, consistency and efficiency and ensure that all police forces are equipped to deliver the Government’s Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change.

We have been working closely with policing in the development of these important reforms. The new Joint Home Office and Policing Reform Team, which includes secondees from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and other policing organisations, have been closely involved in helping to shape the police reform proposals and development of the White Paper.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward secondary legislation to mandate (a) GPS and (b) ATV security measures on farm equipment under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which aims to prevent the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.

The Act will help prevent equipment being stolen, make it harder for criminals to sell on stolen quad bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and assist the police with identifying owners of stolen equipment. I know that thefts of removable GPS units are increasing, and these systems are vital for farming, which is why there is scope for these devices to be included in this legislation.

The Act requires secondary legislation before it can come into effect. I am carefully considering the views of those who may be affected by the legislation and its regulations, to understand the potential implications and determine the scope of the legislation. The Government response to the Call for Evidence on the scope of the legislation will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 59951 on British National (Overseas): Visas, tabled on 12 June 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: The response to PQ 59951 was answered on 23 June 2025.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Windrush Commissioner is expected to make recommendations to government on future policy relating to affected communities. \p Seema Malhotra: On 18 June we announced Rev Clive Foster MBE as the new Windrush Commissioner. Rev Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham with deep personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated from Jamaica in 1959, so brings both lived experience and professional expertise to this crucial role.

Once the Commissioner formally starts his role, we will work with him as he establishes his office, sets his priorities, agrees the mechanisms by which he will interact with both the Home Office and wider government.

It is expected that the Commissioner’s reporting arrangements will mirror those already in place for existing Home Office appointed Commissioners.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Windrush Commissioner’s role includes oversight of cultural change initiatives within her Department. \p Seema Malhotra: On 18 June we announced Rev Clive Foster MBE as the new Windrush Commissioner. Rev Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham with deep personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated from Jamaica in 1959, so brings both lived experience and professional expertise to this crucial role.

Once the Commissioner formally starts his role, we will work with him as he establishes his office, sets his priorities, agrees the mechanisms by which he will interact with both the Home Office and wider government.

It is expected that the Commissioner’s reporting arrangements will mirror those already in place for existing Home Office appointed Commissioners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the reporting arrangements are between the Windrush Commissioner and ministers. \p Seema Malhotra: On 18 June we announced Rev Clive Foster MBE as the new Windrush Commissioner. Rev Foster is a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham with deep personal connections to the Windrush generations through his parents who migrated from Jamaica in 1959, so brings both lived experience and professional expertise to this crucial role.

Once the Commissioner formally starts his role, we will work with him as he establishes his office, sets his priorities, agrees the mechanisms by which he will interact with both the Home Office and wider government.

It is expected that the Commissioner’s reporting arrangements will mirror those already in place for existing Home Office appointed Commissioners.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29448 on Police: Workplace Pensions, what progress has been made on discussions with the Chief Constables in each of the devolved regions on the McCloud Judgement. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office has engaged with the National Police Chiefs’ Council in working to resolve issues related to the McCloud remedy in relation to England and Wales.

As policing is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the policy and legislative responsibility for the police pension scheme in those regions lies with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive respectively.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether she plans to allocate more funding to police forces to help them reduce the time taken to allocate police officers to investigate reported crimes. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Chief Constables are responsible for determining the allocation of resources for operational policing and managing their response times, in line with the priorities set out by their Police and Crime Commissioner.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services regularly reports on the effectiveness of forces’ investigations as a part of its Police Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy inspections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

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Blair McDougall:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 6(a) of the UK-USA Economic and Prosperity Deal, published on 8 May 2025, whether she plans to direct Border Force to search direct cargo flights from Xinjiang to the UK to ensure they are not carrying goods made with forced labour. \p Seema Malhotra: Border Force does not routinely assess whether goods on freight entering the UK may have been made using forced labour, but we work closely with law enforcement partners to share intelligence to ensure all goods abide by customs and excise rules.

The Government encourages businesses to monitor their global supply chains with rigour, uncover and remedy any instances of modern slavery they may find. Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial businesses who operate in the UK and have a turnover of £36 million or more must report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains by publishing an annual modern slavery statement.

The Home Office has recently published updated Transparency in Supply Chains statutory guidance. This new guidance is more comprehensive, practical and ambitious – calling on businesses to go further and faster. This will support businesses to produce high quality statements, which are underpinned by effective measures to prevent and effectively respond to modern slavery.

The Government will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of new policy tools that are emerging to ensure we can best tackle environmental harms and human rights abuses, including forced labour, in supply chains. The Government regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders and its international partner governments on these issues. The Government will consult thoroughly with interested stakeholders as it considers any further action.
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Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the accessibility of (a) the Life in the UK Test and (b) naturalisation application costs for older spouses of British citizens on the route to settlement and citizenship; and what steps she is taking to ensure such applicants are not disadvantaged due to (i) age, (ii) language ability and (iii) financial circumstances. \p Seema Malhotra: All applicants currently applying for citizenship are required to demonstrate Knowledge of Language and Life (KoLL) in the UK unless they are either aged under 18, aged 65 or over, or have a medical condition that prevents them from doing so.

Where someone cannot reasonably be expected to prepare for or pass the Life in the UK test on medical grounds, the requirement can be waived.

If a candidate needs assistance to access the test or needs special adjustments at a test centre, candidates can contact the provider of the tests to make arrangements, at no extra cost.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children from Gaza have been granted visas to the UK for medical treatment since the scheme began. \p Seema Malhotra: The requested information is not currently available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The UK has supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. On 1 May, the Minister for the Middle East announced that two children have arrived in the UK to begin treatment. The Government also announced a £7.5m package of support to bolster vital medical care in Gaza and the region, which includes additional funding for UK-Med, WHO Egypt and the OCHA OPTs Humanitarian Fund.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that questions asked during asylum interviews are (a) appropriate, (b) relevant and (c) not misapplied from other (i) religious and (ii) cultural contexts. \p Dame Angela Eagle: All asylum claims made in the UK are carefully considered on their individual merits, and the guidance provided to decision makers when undertaking interviews is published online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conducting-the-asylum-interview-process.
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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to review the (a) accuracy, (b) ethics and (c) fairness of (i) scientific methods and (ii) artificial intelligence tools used to assess the age of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; and what child-centred safeguards are in place to protect their welfare. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Assessing the age of unaccompanied children is an incredibly complex and difficult task, and the Home Office is currently assessing which scientific methods and artificial intelligence can best improve age assessment methods. The Government will inform Parliament of any decisions on this policy area in due course.

All policy development is carried out with regard to section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the best interests of the child.
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Jess Asato:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to publish (a) the number of people claiming to be children who have been assessed as adults on first arrival and (b) the number later found to be children following further assessment. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Available data on the number of raised and resolved age disputes is published in table Asy_D05 of the asylum detailed tables. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58350 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, with reference to the Policy paper published on 23 March 2023 entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, what progress she has made in developing a retention centre to (a) increase the number of returns and (b) prevent the recurrence of crossing attempts. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the Hon Member to the answer | gave him on 17 June to Question 58350. Further updates will be announced in the normal way in due course.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question HL7763 on Asylum: Housing, whether such hotel figures include housing in former communal accommodation. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The definition of each type of category can be found in the notes section of the published statistics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_186

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people holding a Frontier Worker Permit have retained worker status. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_187

Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that the (a) quality and (b) accessibility of support services to victims of (i) sexual and (ii) domestic abuse are not adversely impacted by the Spending Review 2025. \p Jess Phillips: The Home Office has increased victims’ funding from 24/25 to 25/26, including providing support for specialist services. In May 2025, the Home Office announced an additional £19.9m investment in the 2025/2026 financial year to provide vital support to victims of VAWG as well as other projects across the country that help prevent these crimes.

This includes over £6 million for national helplines supporting victims of domestic abuse, 'honour'-based abuse, revenge porn and stalking. This is in addition to £2.5m on prevention and early intervention to help stop VAWG happening in the first place, to identify what works to prevent VAWG and improve multi-agency working.

The upcoming VAWG Strategy will be published later this year and will set out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on the Government’s VAWG ambition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_188

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will have discussions with representatives of the PXN Group on supporting private sector venture funding opportunities in Northern Ireland. \p Gareth Thomas: Ministers have regular discussions with private sector partners who can help deliver the Government's priority of economic growth across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. Private sector venture funding opportunities would not normally form part of such discussions as they are commercially sensitive and an investor's ability to identify such opportunities is part of their competitive advantage. Any investment partnerships with government are based on fair and open procurement by the British Business Bank, undertaken independently of ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_189

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much and what proportion of the funding provided to the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland has been allocated to businesses in Northern Ireland. \p Gareth Thomas: The £70 million Investment Fund for Northern Ireland offers loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Northern Ireland, including rural, coastal and urban areas. 100% of the fund is allocated to businesses in Northern Ireland. Of the £70 million total, around £18 million has been deployed to 35 businesses to date, leveraging around £12 million of additional private capital.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_190

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of public complaint records from the Hong Kong Ombudsman Office’s online archive on UK businesses operating in that country. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: I am aware of the removal of the historical complaint records from the Hong Kong Ombudsman Office's website. While we recognise the importance of transparency and access to public information for businesses operating overseas, no formal assessment has been conducted on the specific impact of this change on UK businesses in Hong Kong. We continue to monitor developments in Hong Kong closely and maintain regular engagement with UK businesses to understand emerging concerns.

We are also working closely with colleagues across Whitehall, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to ensure a coordinated approach to developments in Hong Kong that may affect UK commercial interests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_191

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many (a) military items and (b) munitions have been exported to Israel since the suspension of 30 arms export licences in September 2024. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: DBT publishes data on export licences issued for military and dual-use equipment. Enquiries related to data on the final exports of specific products should be referred to HMRC.

The most recent publication on export licences covers the quarter up to December 2024: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has also on an exceptional basis published further information on the current status of export licences to Israel: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024.

This data shows that licences for the export of all military equipment that might be used in current military operations in Gaza have been suspended, subject to the special measures put in place for exports to the global F-35 programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_192

Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on the transportation of F-35 parts from London Stansted Airport to Israel. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: DBT publishes data on the licences granted for the export of controlled goods. Enquiries related to data on the final exports of specific products should be referred to HMRC.

In September, we suspended direct exports of F-35 components from the UK to Israel, where these are for use by Israel (and not for re-export from Israeli suppliers to the global F-35 programme).

Military exports transiting the UK do not require a licence if they comply with certain handling conditions, do not include specific goods and are not bound for specific destinations, as set out in Article 17 of the Export Control Order 2008.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_193

Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is negotiating a free trade agreement with Greenland. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: This government’s top priority is economic growth. We are working with officials to review these negotiations to date, and their alignment with the Government’s wider international and domestic priorities.

We have already concluded trade agreements with the US and India, and restarted talks with a number of others including the Gulf, Switzerland and South Korea.

Greenland is an important trading partner to the UK and the Government will continue to work closely with Greenland to improve and strengthen our bilateral relationship.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_194

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on designating nine new National River walks; and if he will make an assessment of the merits of establishing a new chalk stream river walk in the Chiltern National Landscape. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. We are currently considering possible locations for the River Walks as well as several delivery options and will provide more information once we are in a position to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_195

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Local Nature Recovery Strategy mapping on future (a) funding opportunities, (b) land development and (c) land use planning for farmers. \p Mary Creagh: Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are designed to support more strategic decision-making and investment in nature recovery. They do this by agreeing priorities for nature recovery and mapping where habitat creation or improvement could contribute most towards those.

Farmers and land managers are encouraged to deliver the actions proposed on their land but are not required to do so. Developers are incentivised to deliver actions proposed in LNRSs through an uplift in the biodiversity net gain calculation. LNRSs will also provide information that can help farmers and land managers make stronger bids for funding through schemes such as Landscape Recovery, and to help them make choices about how they manage their land. Government is continuing to explore how delivery of LNRS actions might be further incentivised so that environmental targets can be met more cost effectively.

LNRSs are also supporting nature recovery to be better reflected in the planning system and in development. Planning practice guidance was published in February 2025 which explains the role of LNRSs in helping planning authorities to conserve and enhance the natural environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_196

Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many agricultural shows (a) he and (b) his ministerial team have attended since 4 July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: Ministers are attending a range of agriculture shows across the UK. Most recently, Ministers have attended the Royal Cornwall Show and the Royal Highland Show.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_197

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that dogs being cared for by (a) charity and (b) rescue centres are (i) spayed, (ii) neutered and (iii) microchipped. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra engages regularly with a range of stakeholders across the animal welfare and charity sectors, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices.

Under the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, it is a requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-26 conversation_198

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of Surfers Against Sewage's publication entitled Water Quality Report 2025, published in April 2025. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is taking significant steps to improve water quality and reform the sector.

The Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, closed its public call for evidence in April with over 50,000 responses. An interim report is due in May and will focus on strategic direction, regulation, ownership, and infrastructure. The final report will follow in June.

In parallel, the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which gained Royal Assent in February, introduces stronger regulatory powers and improved financial transparency for water companies. Implementation is underway and has been widely welcomed.

Additionally, the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan outlines clear targets to reduce pollution. By 2035, all overflows near bathing waters must be improved, and by 2050, storm overflows should operate only during unusually heavy rainfall, without harming ecosystems.

Together, these measures aim to restore public confidence through investment, tighter regulation, and better environmental outcomes.