theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of biomass generation at Drax Power Station on the environment. \p Michael Shanks: The Government published an impact assessment in early 2024 as part of the consultation on proposed support options for large scale biomass generators, including Drax.

This assessment was consistent with the views of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which recognise that bioenergy can play a significant role in decarbonising economies, provided that policies are in place to mitigate the use of unsustainable biomass.

The Government only provides support for biomass sourced from sustainably managed forests, and biomass generators must comply with local air quality requirements as part of their environmental permits.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the proportion of imported uranium that originates from Russia. \p Michael Shanks: The procurement of nuclear fuel is a commercial matter for reactor operators. The Government works closely with operators and the nuclear industry to ensure there is a secure, resilient supply for the UK fleet, but the requested information on the operators’ source of imported uranium is a commercial matter. Disclosure of this information is at the discretion of the responsible commercial entities.

The Government has already committed to removing any Russian fuel and uranium supply to the UK by 2030.

All reactor operators must comply with UK domestic and international legal obligations, including any sanctions or trade measures in place against Russian-origin uranium.
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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update, published on 7 February 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government’s recent consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector closed on 2nd May and we are currently analysing responses. A Government response will be published in due course.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an estimate of the amount of non-residential building roof space that is (a) available and (b) suitable for the installation of solar panels. \p Michael Shanks: No such estimate has been made.

However, deploying rooftop solar remains a key part of the Government’s clean power mission, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. Solar is also an important part of the Government’s strategy for increasing energy performance of buildings, and the Future Standards this year will ensure our new buildings are fit for a Net Zero future. The Warm Homes plan will set out pathways for decarbonisation of all buildings, including non-domestic ones. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out soon.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of dependence on imported energy on national security; and what steps he is taking to mitigate that impact. \p Michael Shanks: In an unstable and uncertain world, there can be no national security without energy security.

Delivering clean power by 2030 will boost energy security and protect consumers by reducing dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets and transitioning to a diverse energy system based on renewables and nuclear.

During the transition, we will ensure the UK benefits from a secure and diverse energy system. We will continue to work across Government and with energy owners, operators, and regulators to ensure energy security is protected against hazards and threats.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, ref LS06955. \p Alex Norris: The department provided a response on 29 August 2025.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with fire and rescue services on recruitment and retention. \p Alex Norris: Responsibility for the recruitment and retention of firefighters rests with individual fire and rescue authorities.

Since the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for all fire functions from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 1 April 2025, MHCLG has continued to engage with the fire and rescue sector through a number of forums, including the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform, to discuss a range of issues affecting services.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent progress her Department has made with developers to ensure unsafe buildings in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire are remediated quickly. \p Alex Norris: 54 developers have signed the developer remediation contract with government. MHCLG publishes quarterly updates on progress that developers are making.

As at 30 June 2025, those developers had identified 1,892 buildings with life-critical fire safety defects that they are obligated directly to remediate. Developers had started or completed work on 47% of those buildings.

On 2 December 2024, MHCLG published a joint plan with developers to accelerate developer-led remediation and improve resident experience. 39 developers (accounting for over 95% of buildings to be remediated by developers) have signed up to the joint plan. In doing so, those developers committed to ambitious stretch targets to finish assessing all their buildings by July 2025, and to start or complete remedial works on 80% of relevant buildings by July 2026 and on all relevant buildings by July 2027.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what public consultation her Department has undertaken in relation to the proposed prohibition of upward-only rent reviews for commercial leases in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. \p Alex Norris: No formal public consultation was undertaken prior to the announcement of the policy. However, upwards only rent reviews are an issue of a longstanding concern that artificially inflated rents make it harder for businesses to access commercial property. The government conducted extensive research and expert engagement before deciding to proceed with the ban, which will encourage the market to operate more efficiently, ensuring rents respond to market conditions, and promote less adversarial relations between landlords and tenants.
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Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent the proliferation of Adult Gaming Centres on high streets. \p Alex Norris: This government is considering how to best ensure that local authorities have the right tools and powers to manage the location and density of gambling outlets in their areas. In line with the commitments made in the Gambling White Paper, we will introduce Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, when Parliamentary time allows. This will allow local authorities to take data-driven decisions on premises licences, particularly in areas that have been identified as being vulnerable to gambling-related harm. This will give local authorities greater control over the number of gambling outlets in their areas, helping to ensure a healthy mix of premises on their high streets.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of revising the system for remaining off the electoral register on the grounds of safety from a former abusive partner, so that applications do not need to be renewed annually with supporting evidence from a (a) doctor and (b) judge. \p Alex Norris: The government committed in its manifesto to improving voter registration. This commitment applies to every eligible elector. The current system requires individuals registered as anonymous electors to reapply annually to maintain their status. The government acknowledges that this requirement imposes an unnecessary burden on those electors.

In its published strategy, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, the government committed to amending the legislation to extend the duration of anonymity period. This reform will mean that anonymous electors will no longer need to reapply each year, thereby streamlining the process and reducing barriers to participation.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using smaller geographic units in assessing deprivation at local levels. \p Alex Norris: The indices of deprivation provide an assessment of deprivation at the lowest possible spatial level for which data is available, this is the lower super output level. These are aggregated up into functional spatial outputs for users of the Indices to use. The Indices provide the most granular assessment of local area deprivation across all the domain indicators included for which data exists. The methodology for the Indices of Deprivation has been consulted upon, as it is a national statistic, and reflects the best fit to respond to the range of different needs from users.

Further details of the methodology behind the Indices of deprivation are found on gov.uk here.
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David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to improve the Building Safety Regulator's processes to ensure the statutory eight-week timeframe for work to existing buildings is consistently met for all unsafe high-rise buildings in the remediation programme. \p Alex Norris: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has a prominent role in supporting delivery of the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP), from monitoring through to enforcement, and accelerating the pace of remediation. The department published a further update to the RAP on 17 July.

On 30 June, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced significant changes marking a new phase of operations for the BSR, including governance changes, new leadership and a new operating model which aims to speed up the processing of both new build and remediation applications. In addition to the new model, the BSR is setting up a standalone enforcement unit for remediation cases which is expected to be operational in autumn.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in what way compliance with accessibility regulations for new build homes is monitored. \p Alex Norris: In the initial stages, a building control application is required for new build homes. This is reviewed by building control bodies to ensure compliance with building regulations, including Part M – Access to and use of buildings.

During the build process, progress on site may be checked and monitored, using a number of methods, including on site visits, where the inspector may ask the builders on site to open up parts of the build in order to check compliance, and give advice if needed.

At the end of the build process, if a building complies with relevant regulations, a completion certificate will be issued.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question HL9888 on Elections: Political Parties, which smaller political parties or third parties have been restricted from dual registering as both a political party and a third party. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 69631 on 3 September 2025.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local authorities selling statutory allotment sites on (a) rural and (b) smaller communities; and what steps she is taking to ensure those communities retain adequate access to allotment provision. \p Alex Norris: There are strict criteria in place to protect statutory allotments – these are sites covered by the Allotment Act 1925. A local authority cannot sell or dispose of statutory allotment land without the consent of the Secretary of State, who will only grant it if they are satisfied that either adequate alternative provision is made for displaced plot holders, or that such provision is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable.

The rules on sales of assets have also been in place since 2016 and they have not changed. In fact, ministerial approval for sales of allotments were lower in 2024/25 than the average for previous years.

The information regarding the number of people on waiting lists for an allotment is held by individual Local Authorities, not MHCLG, as they have the responsibility for the running, management and organisation of allotments.

Government has made no formal assessment on the merits of selling statutory allotment sites in rural or smaller communities. The protections under the Allotment Act 1925, and the requirements under the Small Holdings and Allotment Act 1908 for local authorities to provide allotments where there is demand, provides the framework to ensure allotments are available to all communities.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government’s Elections Strategy, published on 17 July 2025, whether prepaid cards will be permitted as voter identification. \p Alex Norris: Prepaid cards will be accepted as voter ID if they are issued by a UK bank and display the elector’s name.

We will be bringing forward the relevant legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of properties currently being let in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire without a valid EPC. \p Alex Norris: The government published a consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime via gov.uk here, which included an impact assessment containing assessment of EPC compliance. ONS analysis suggests around 60-80% of PRS dwellings in England and Wales are covered by an EPC since records began. Further details can be found here.

The enforcement of the EPC regulations is the responsibility of local weights and measures authorities. The government does not keep records on the levels of compliance with the EPC regulations in the private rented sector.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of responses to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation by local authority area. \p Jim McMahon: The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with combined authority mayors on provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on restrictions on being Members of Parliament. \p Jim McMahon: My department has engaged with Mayors and the local government sector ahead of publication of the English Devolution White Paper, where this policy was introduced.

The post of mayor is a significant role at the forefront of delivering change and demands the full attention of any post holder. That is why the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will prohibit individuals from holding the office of Member of Parliament (or being a member of the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and mayor simultaneously. This is already the case for Mayors who hold Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62882 on Elections: Essex, for what reason Castle Point district council is listed as having elections in May 2026. \p Jim McMahon: Since responding to Question UIN 62882 on 30 June 2025, it has been drawn to our attention that Castle Point Borough Council has resolved to change from electing by thirds to holding whole council elections every four years and is not therefore due to hold elections in May 2026. There is no duty on councils to inform government when they change their scheme of elections and I am grateful for the opportunity to correct the record.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local billing authorities have set a second homes premium on council tax in 2025-26. \p Jim McMahon: The Department will publish data on the number of second homes liable for a council tax premium in November as part of the annual council taxbase statistics.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will set out a timetable for a council tax revaluation to replace the system based on 1991 property values. \p Jim McMahon: The government has no current plans to conduct a council tax revaluation in England. The government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to commission research to assess the consequences of the second homes council tax premium on the housing market in England. \p Jim McMahon: It is for individual councils to decide whether to apply a premium in their area, taking into account local circumstances. The government does not currently make housing market assessments based on the use of premiums.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of requiring billing authorities to offer up to 100% Council Tax Reduction for the lowest-income households. \p Jim McMahon: The centrally prescribed Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme for pension-age households offers up to 100% reduction for those on the lowest incomes. The scheme is updated each year in line with pension-age benefits. Councils are also required to provide LCTS for low-income, working-age households. Support for working age households is designed by councils in consultation with their residents, taking into account the needs and circumstances of their local communities. Each year, councils must consider whether to revise or replace their scheme.
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Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is planning to take to ensure that local residents are (a) informed and (b) consulted during the Holocaust Memorial Learning Centre (Victoria Tower Gardens) planning approval process. \p Jim McMahon: Decisions on the redetermination procedure for this application, and any necessary consultation and engagement with local residents, have not yet been taken.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding is provided to councils with high numbers of people granted refugee status; and whether the Fair Funding 2.0 proposals would affect this level of funding. \p Jim McMahon: The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other stakeholder bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation.

No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention is to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a funding floor.

We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether councils will receive compensatory payments for increases in employer National Insurance contributions in (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28. \p Jim McMahon: The government provided an additional £515 million for local government in 2025-26 to manage the impact of changes to employer National Insurance Contributions. The recent Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement within financial years 2026-27 to 2028-29.

The government will bring forward its proposals for 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 through the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what information they hold on the number of workdays that were completed remotely in their Department in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date. \p Jo Stevens: Following a search of our paper and electronic records, we have established that information on the number of workdays completed remotely in 2024 and 2025 is not held by the Wales Office.
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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in her Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours. \p Jo Stevens: My Department operates a hybrid working policy, which is available to all staff and enables them to work in a flexible way based on the needs of the Wales Office. No staff currently work compressed hours on a contractual basis.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in Wales in reducing surface water flooding since 2019. \p Dame Nia Griffith: This is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government undertook a review in 2023, the results of which can be found here:

https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-07/sustainable-drainage-systems-suds-schedule-3-post-implementation-review.pdf
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on tackling social media interventions by foreign actors spreading misinformation on Scotland's constitutional position. \p Ian Murray: As you will be aware, I speak regularly with the Deputy First Minister, and my officials frequently engage with their Scottish Government counterparts. National security is the responsibility of the UK Government and protecting our democracy is one of our highest priorities. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The Home Office’s taskforce to protect the democratic integrity, called the Defending Democracy Taskforce, was set up to tackle threats facing our democracy.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss social media intervention by foreign actors seeking to spread misinformation on Scotland's constitutional position. \p Ian Murray: I have not recently met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss these matters. However, the Home Office’s taskforce to protect the democratic integrity, called the Defending Democracy Taskforce, was set up to tackle threats facing our entire democracy - including, but not limited to, election security. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to help tackle social media intervention by foreign states seeking to influence the debate on Scotland's constitutional status. \p Ian Murray: Protecting our democracy is one of the Government’s highest priorities. The Defending Democracy Taskforce was set up to tackle threats including, but not limited to, election security. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme on (a) supporting water resilience in Scotland and (b) posing risks to the internal market. \p Ian Murray: The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme is administered by the Scottish Government which could provide a more accurate assessment. However, I support any measures that protect our natural environment in Scotland.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on mitigating potential risks to (a) food production and (b) the internal market posed by water scarcity in North East Scotland. \p Ian Murray: As you will be aware, I speak regularly with the Deputy First Minister, and my officials frequently engage with their Scottish Government counterparts.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are keeping the weather situation under close review, including through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), which was set up by DEFRA and the Devolved Governments to monitor the UK market situation across all key agricultural commodities.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with representatives of the (a) food, (b) drink and (c) retail sectors on potential measures to help secure supply chains in the context of summer water scarcity in North East Scotland. \p Ian Murray: I regularly engage with stakeholders across the food, drink and retail sectors.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are keeping the weather situation under close review, including through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), which was set up by DEFRA and the Devolved Governments to monitor the UK market situation across all key agricultural commodities.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has spent money on promotion through social media influencers since July 2024. \p Ian Murray: The Scotland Office has not incurred any costs in relation to promotion through social media influencers since July 2024.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the application of General Product Safety Regulation requirements on the cost of new vehicles in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to help reduce the cost of vehicles in Northern Ireland, when compared to other parts of the UK. \p Hilary Benn: The Government is committed to reducing barriers to trade between the UK and the EU, and to protecting the UK internal market. To that end, the Government has recently written to vehicle manufacturers to confirm that we intend to align requirements and ensure consistency between the type approval regimes that apply in Great Britain and the EU in order to reduce potential administrative burdens. On the specific point about the General Product Safety Regulation, we do not consider this will impact the cost of new vehicles in Northern Ireland.

In relation to Northern Ireland, the Government meets regularly with individual manufacturers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and has met the National Franchise Dealers Association to understand their concerns. To that end, I draw attention to the recent statement by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in relation to measures being taken on Benefit-in-Kind taxation matters in relation to Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, which will mitigate the increase in tax from higher CO2 emission standards that will apply in Northern Ireland next year and the Government will shortly consult on introducing these standards in Great Britain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_1

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the mental health of (a) victims and (b) survivors of crime. \p Stephen Kinnock: Too many people with mental health issues, including victims and survivors of crime, are not getting the support or care they need. This is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.

We are committed to improving mental health care for people with a range of mental health conditions, and to shifting the focus from treatment to prevention as we make the National Health Service fit for the future.

This Government is recruiting 8,500 mental health workers to help ease pressure on busy mental health services. More than 6,700 extra mental health workers have been recruited since July, latest data shows. The latest recruitment milestone means the government is more than halfway towards its target of hiring an extra 8,500 mental health staff by the end of this Parliament, helping get people the care they need so they can get back to work, school and doing what they love.

We are transforming mental health services into 24 hour a day, seven day a week neighbourhood mental health centres, improving assertive outreach, and increasing access to evidence based digital interventions. People will get better access to mental health support and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week directly through the NHS App, including through self-referral for Talking Therapies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_2

Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the average cost of healthcare was for (a) male prisoners and (b) female prisoners in HMP Downview in the last 12 months. \p Stephen Kinnock: HMP Downview is a women’s prison. The average cost of healthcare per female prisoner at HMP Downview for 2024/25 was £11,765.
wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_3

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are currently being treated in hospital for (a) anorexia and (b) other eating disorders. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is not possible to identify the number of people currently in receipt of hospital treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia, as hospital episode statistics data is collected several weeks in arrears.
wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-08-28 conversation_4

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Daniel Zeichner: Exact costs are not available for the amount the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s spent on dedicated home office equipment although they are low for this three-year period.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_1

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to expand the emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing programme to (a) King’s Mill Hospital, (b) Lincoln County Hospital, (c) Pilgrim Hospital and (d) other sites in the East Midlands. \p Ashley Dalton: The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.

None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_2

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is is taking to help tackle delays in the transfer of care. \p Stephen Kinnock: It is a priority for the Department to tackle delays in the transfer of care, and to ensure that people receive the care that they need.

On 30 January 2025, the Government published a revised policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund. The new BCF Policy Framework for the 2025-2026 financial year supports local areas to use pooled funding in way that delivers greater impact for those receiving integrated health and social care.

Under the new framework, local authorities and National Health Service integrated care boards are accountable for providing timely and joined-up support for people with more complex health and care needs, and for achieving more timely and effective discharge from acute, community, and mental health hospital settings.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_3

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 14 May 2025, Official Report, column 336, whether he plans to provide additional funding to local authorities for social care to enable care providers to increase wages. \p Stephen Kinnock: To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government has made available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

The Government is also introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector, so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector.

Decisions on local authority funding for future years will be made as part of the 2025 multi-year Spending Review and local government finance settlement processes.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_4

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase the use of new technology in the delivery of optometry services. \p Stephen Kinnock: Integrated care boards commission services in the National Health Service from high street optical practices, which are private businesses. Contractors will be expected to demonstrate they have the necessary equipment to be able to provide any contracted eye care services.

In delivering sight testing services, an ophthalmic practitioner is required to undertake any clinically necessary tests to determine if a patient has any signs of injury, disease or abnormality and to refer for any necessary further investigations. We do not stipulate the equipment or technology that should be used to make that determination.

As part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from analogue to digital, we are reviewing how the NHS should focus its resources to ensure it maximises the impact of data and technology. This includes how we can make life easier and more productive for those who work in the NHS, and how we can use data more effectively to plan, manage and deliver services.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_5

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Seasonal Worker visa scheme to support labour availability for longer crop cycles. \p Seema Malhotra: The Seasonal Worker route is already available to growers throughout the full year but there are no plans to extend the maximum visa grant beyond the existing six months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_6

Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to (a) amend, (b) repeal and (c) replace the Public Order Act 2023. \p Dame Diana Johnson: There are currently no plans to amend, repeal or replace the Public Order Act 2023. Post legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 will be carried out this year, beginning in May.

A memorandum will be submitted to the relevant departmental select committees in accordance with normal parliamentary practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_7

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the causes of retail crime. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and retail crime and its causes, as a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. Key to this is our plan to transform neighbourhood policing through our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. We will deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police by the end of the Parliament, whilst also ensuring each community has a named, contactable officer to turn to.

To help tackle retail crime, we will provide £5 million over the next three years to continue to fund a specialist analysis team within Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime.

We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime.

Further, the National Police Chiefs' Council will receive funding to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics. The training will aim to empower retailers to develop and implement tactics to prevent retail crime.

Finally, the Home Office is providing funding through the Hotspot Action Fund programme to all 43 Police Force Areas in England and Wales in 2025/26, of £66.3 million. This funding is to implement additional, high visibility patrolling and problem-solving policing in serious violence and anti-social behaviour hotspots.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_8

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of online fundraising platforms' use of tipping sliders. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS has not made an assessment at this time on the potential impact of online fundraising platforms' use of tipping sliders. DCMS will continue working with the Fundraising Regulator, charities, and online giving platforms to support best practice across all forms of charitable fundraising.

Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Fundraising Regulator’s new Code of Fundraising Practice, which will come into force on 1 November 2025, includes requirements for fundraising platforms to include information for donors about how fees, including any voluntary tips, are calculated. The information must be easy to find, and include details on how voluntary tips can be amended or removed altogether in a straightforward way.
wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-30 conversation_9

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with Ofcom on the adequacy of levels of news bulletins in the BBC’s proposals for new DAB radio stations targeted at younger audiences. \p Stephanie Peacock: The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the government. It is for Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, to hold the BBC to account in meeting its obligations to provide duly accurate and impartial news to audiences across its services.

Ofcom is also responsible for assessing changes to BBC services that may have a significant impact on fair and effective competition. Ofcom is currently considering the BBC’s proposals for the new DAB+ stations and published their provisional findings on their website in April this year. Their final decision on the BBC’s proposal is expected to be issued by 4 July 2025.