theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of changes to employer National Insurance Contributions on pubs in South Suffolk. \p Dan Tomlinson: The government published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) which set out the impact of the changes, including for businesses, to employer NICs alongside the introduction of the Bill.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.  Businesses will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices.

At Budget 2025, the government asked licensing authorities in England and Wales to explicitly consider the need to promote growth and deliver economic benefits in their decisions and set this out in the first National Licensing Policy Framework.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take to ensure that future changes to vehicle taxation do not discourage the take-up of electric vehicles or disproportionately impact workers who rely on long-distance commuting. \p Dan Tomlinson: From April 2025, zero emission and hybrid cars, vans and motorcycles started to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in a similar way to petrol and diesel vehicles; the standard annual rate is £195.

As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs (electric vehicles) contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

While it is fair for EV drivers to contribute for their car usage, the government is also committed to ensuring that driving an EV is an attractive choice for consumers. Therefore, the rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers. When eVED takes effect in April 2028, an average EV driver will pay around £240 per year or £20 per month.

The Government is taking a proportionate approach to ensuring electric car drivers pay an appropriate share whilst remaining firmly committed to supporting the transitions to EVs. That is why 80% of eVED revenue from the first three years is being reinvested to extend support for EVs and the auto manufacturing industry. This builds on existing generous support, including Company Car Tax incentives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Budget 2025, which tax reliefs for Motability and other qualifying schemes she plans to (a) withdraw and (b) amend; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of those changes on scheme affordability and access to transport for disabled people, particularly in rural areas. \p Dan Tomlinson: At Budget 2025 the government announced tax changes to the Motability scheme which will save over £1 billion over the next five years.

The VAT relief for top-up payments made to lease more expensive vehicles will be removed for new leases from July 2026, and Insurance Premium Tax will apply at the standard rate to insurance contracts on the Scheme. The tax changes will not apply to vehicles designed, or substantially and permanently adapted, for wheelchair or stretcher users.

These tax changes ensure Motability can continue to deliver for its customers, for example through the continued provision of a broad range of vehicle models available without any top-up payments. Further detail on the impacts of tax changes can be found in the Tax Impact and Information Note on GOV.UK Motability Scheme: reforming tax reliefs - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to announce how her Department will move to a) 3.0% of GDP and b) 3.5% of GDP on defence spending. \p James Murray: We are set to spend 2.6 percent of GDP on defence spending in 2027, with an ambition to spend 3 percent of GDP on defence next Parliament when economic and fiscal conditions allow.

The Government is also committed to hitting a headline ambition of 5 percent of GDP on national security spending by the Parliament after next. This is currently split into 1.5% on security and resilience-related spend, and 3.5% core defence spending.

This new NATO target is a decade away. We remain committed to plans announced at the Spending Review. In 2029, when NATO review capability requirements and this pledge, the UK and Allies will review the trajectory and the balance of spending between defence and wider national resilience.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 92918 on Business Rates, how many business premises (a) have been brought into paying business rates for the first time and (b) will pay more per year in business rates as a result of the revaluation since the Autumn Budget 2025. \p Dan Tomlinson: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. RVs are re-assessed every three years. The most recent revaluation took effect from 1 April 2023 and was based on values as of 1 April 2021. The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2026 based on values of 1 April 2024.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties, including those in the hospitality sector as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.

More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto.

The Government is doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with oil and gas companies, industry representatives, supply chains and the energy sector on the impact of the Energy Profits Levy on the availability of investment and skilled workforce to deliver clean power projects. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Chancellor and her Ministerial team have regular discussions with the oil and gas sector on a range of policy matters, including the Energy Profits Levy (EPL).

The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced in 2022 by the previous government.

The government remains committed to managing the North Sea in a way that ensures a fair, orderly and prosperous transition, while recognising that domestic oil and gas will continue to play a role in the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We recognise the vital economic contribution of the sector in Noth-East Scotland, supporting over 150,000 jobs nationwide and underpinning the UK’s energy security. That is why the North Sea Future Plan, published at Autumn Budget 2025, announced a new Jobs Brokerage Service offering end-to-end career transition support for oil and gas workers. Earlier in October the government also published the Clean Energy Jobs Plan which sets out cross-cutting actions to deliver the skilled workforce needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower, including delivering Clean Power 2030.

Additionally, Autumn Budget 2025 set a clear path for the EPL to end by 2030 at the latest, or earlier if the EPL’s price floor, the Energy Security Investment Mechanism, is triggered. We have also given the oil and gas sector long-term certainty by confirming details of the future fiscal and regulatory regime, giving investors the long-term certainty and predictability they need to keep investing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the exemption for basic or new state pension to not have to pay small amounts of tax through simple assessment from April 2027 will apply to recipients of the State Earning Related Pension Scheme. \p Torsten Bell: The State Pension is taxable income along with other pension income. As the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) is extra money on top of the basic State Pension, it is also taxable.

The Budget has confirmed that the basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% in 2026-27, in line with our commitment to the Triple Lock. This means pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not pay income tax in 2026-27.

The Budget also announced that the Government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28. The Government will set out more detail next year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Budget reference 4.167 on State Pension and Simple Assessment, whether the Government conducted an impact assessment of delivering the measure on an opt-in basis rather than through universal provision. \p Torsten Bell: The State Pension is taxable income along with other pension income. The Budget confirmed that the basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% in 2026-27, in line with our commitment to the Triple Lock. This means pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not pay income tax in 2026-27.

The Budget announced that the Government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28.

The Government will set out more detail next year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the difference in annual net income during 2027 for people whose total gross income is £13,000 composed of (a) only the new State Pension, and (b) a basic State Pension plus a personal pension. \p Torsten Bell: As the Chancellor has said, over this Parliament those whose only income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments will not have to pay income tax.

As announced at the Budget, the government will ease the administrative burden for pensioners whose sole income is the basic or new State Pension without any increments so that they do not have to pay small amounts of tax via Simple Assessment from 2027-28.

The government will set out more detail next year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the potential revenue effect to the public purse of increasing the Small Business Rates Relief threshold from £12,000 to £17,000 in 2026. \p Dan Tomlinson: Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set RV. Eligible property under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means around a third of properties in England pay no business rates at all. There is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the HMT guidance entitled High Value Council Tax Surcharge published on 26 November 2025, for what reason social housing is exempt from the new council tax surcharge. \p Dan Tomlinson: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) applies to the highest-value properties to make taxation fairer. It affects less than 1% of homes in England and ensures those with the broadest shoulders contribute their fair share towards funding local government services. The tax will only be paid by owners of homes worth over £2m.

Social housing is provided to support low-income and vulnerable groups, and therefore social landlords will be exempt.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the pay per mile charge for electric vehicles on sales of new i) battery electric cars and ii) plug-in hybrid cars. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government intends to create a fair motoring tax system while supporting the automotive industry and ensuring EVs remain an attractive choice for consumers.

As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.

While it is fair for EV drivers to contribute for their car usage, the government is also committed to ensuring that driving an electric vehicle is an attractive choice for consumers. Therefore, the rate of eVED paid by electric vehicle drivers will be half the fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers.

The Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs. This support will be introduced before the tax takes effect to support continued momentum in EV take-up.

The Government has set out the expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Shaun Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish a breakdown of a) the number of claims and b) the total value of statutory paternity pay and shared parental pay between the public and private sectors for each of the last three years. \p Dan Tomlinson: HMRC collects data on statutory paternity and shared parental pay. HMRC also holds data on the legal status of organisations and their Pay As You Earn schemes, which does include whether the organisation is a private sector or public sector organisation.

However, to match the two together would be a significant analytical task and so 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 (2025-12-04)

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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she last (a) visited (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire and (b) met an oil and gas company in (A) Aberdeen and (B) Aberdeenshire in relation to oil and gas activities. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Chancellor engages with different stakeholders on a range of policy issues. Her last trip to Aberdeen was in August 2025 where she visited the St Fergus gas plant near Peterhead. Additionally, in March 2025, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury hosted a roundtable in Aberdeen with stakeholders from the oil and gas sector.

Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published regularly online. The most recent publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68d50fe09ce370a7e0a0fca0/HMT_ministerial_meeting_Apr_to_Jun_25.csv
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Seamus Logan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the UK Government anticipates it will obtain from the Sprits Excise Duty on Scotch Whisky, Energy Profits Levy and Agricultural Property Relief from Scotland by the end of this Parliament. \p Dan Tomlinson: The ONS publish “Country and regional public sector finances revenue tables” which includes estimated breakdowns of revenue raised in Scotland from alcohol duty and Energy Profits Levy.

HMRC also publishes Inheritance Tax Liabilities statistics. Tables 12.8 and 12.9 break down the estimated number of taxpaying estates and tax paid by UK nation and region, as well as UK Parliamentary Constituency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households currently subject to the Household Benefit Cap are living in (a) council housing and (b) housing association accommodation. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90803 on Transport: Apprentices and Training, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the aviation sector on the removal of Level 7 apprenticeships for those over 22. \p Andrew Western: The government's decision on defunding Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and over, including a summary of the evidence that informed that decision, is published here: Written Statements - Hansard - UK Parliament.

Ahead of this decision, Skills England engaged with over 700 stakeholders from various sectors, including those relating to aviation such as advanced manufacturing and defence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the expected number of young people who will receive an offer of (a) education, (b) training, (c) an apprenticeship, or (d) guaranteed paid work through the Youth Guarantee in its first year. \p Andrew Western: The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been rising for too long, which is why we are tackling this crisis of opportunity with new energy and determination.

At Budget the government announced that £820 million has been committed to the Youth Guarantee over the next three years to support all young people aged 16 to 24 to earn or learn. This includes the previously announced Jobs Guarantee, which is guaranteeing six-months of paid work for every eligible 18-21 year old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. Under the Jobs Guarantee we will fund 100% of the wages for the six months (up to 25hrs/week at the relevant minimum wage), as well as the additional employment costs and a budget for wrap around support. Further details on the Youth Guarantee will be announced shortly.

More broadly this government is supporting employers to offer apprenticeships to young people. In August we introduced new foundation apprenticeships for young people in targeted sectors which are underpinned by an employer incentive payment of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. In addition, as the Chancellor announced at the Budget, this government will now fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible people aged 16-24, to boost small business starts and prioritise funding to young people, starting from the next academic year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he will use to assess the success of the Youth Guarantee in reducing youth unemployment over the next five years. \p Andrew Western: The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has been rising for too long, which is why we are tackling this crisis of opportunity with new energy and determination.

At Budget the government announced that £820 million has been committed to the Youth Guarantee over the next three years to support all young people aged 16 to 24 to earn or learn. This includes the previously announced Jobs Guarantee, which is guaranteeing six-months of paid work for every eligible 18-21 year old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. Further details on the Youth Guarantee will be announced shortly.

We are also working with eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers across England which are testing innovative approaches to identify and deliver localised support to young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. We will use the learning from these Trailblazers to inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee as it rolls out across the rest of Great Britain. The Department will be commissioning an evaluation, starting in December 2025, which is expected to build evidence on the effectiveness of the programme at achieving employment outcomes, reducing levels of economic inactivity, increasing participation in education and training, and effectiveness of systems integration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there have been changes in the levels of (a) fraud and (b) error in the benefits system since July 2024. \p Andrew Western: Since Autumn Budget 2024, including the new announcements at Autumn Budget 2025, the Government have committed to gross savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31 from fraud, error and debt activity in the welfare state in Great Britain.

The Department publishes yearly estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system. The latest of which is available here: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK, and relates to benefit claims sampled between September 2023 and October 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to contributory ESA on recipients with long-term health conditions unable to return to work after the one-year limit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In the Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we would be establishing a new, simple and clear Unemployment Insurance benefit through the reform of contributory working age benefits. Following recent consultation, officials are considering the responses and developing the policy for this new benefit, including the duration of entitlement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claims were terminated in the last 12 months as a result of fraud investigations; and what the estimated value of those claims was. \p Andrew Western: Since Autumn Budget 2024, including the new announcements at Autumn Budget 2025, the Government have committed to gross savings of £14.6bn up to the end of 2030/31 from fraud, error and debt activity in the welfare state in Great Britain.

Information on the outcomes of our fraud investigations was published this year and can be found using the below link (pg 114-115): DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to Motability on access to cars with (a) reversing cameras, (b) driver assist technologies and (c) other safety features. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Scheme will continue to offer a choice of vehicles, including models with reversing cameras, driver assist technologies and other safety features, to meet a range of accessibility needs. The changes announced at the budget will not apply to current leases or wheelchair adapted vehicles, and the Scheme will continue to offer vehicles which require no advance payment, meaning that people will be able to access a suitable vehicle using only their qualifying disability benefit.

Motability Operations, an independent commercial company which delivers the Scheme, will continue to prioritise customer needs, ensuring vehicles remain affordable and that support for specialist adaptations remain at the heart of the Scheme.

Motability Foundation, the independent charity with responsibility for overseeing the Scheme, will continue to offer means-tested grants to support eligible people who would otherwise struggle to afford specialist adaptations for a vehicle leased through the Scheme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of each exemption from the Household Benefit Cap on (a) the number of households subject to the cap and (b) overall welfare expenditure. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional households that would become subject to the Household Benefit Cap following the removal of the two-child limit on the Universal Credit Child Element. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide a breakdown of the value of vehicles provided under the Motability Scheme, with the number of vehicles in each of the following price ranges a) from £10,000 to £20,000, b) from £20,000 to £30,000, c) from £30,000 to £40,000, d) from £40,000 to £50,000, e) from £50,000 to £60,000, f) from £60,000 to £70,000, g) from £70,000 to £80,000, h) from £80,000 to £90,000, i) from £90,000 to £100,000 and j) above £100,000. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Foundation is independent of government and regulated by the Charity Commission to help disabled people with their mobility and transport needs. They own and have oversight of the Motability Scheme which is delivered by an independent commercial company Motability Operations. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for the main benefits that provide a gateway to the Scheme. Data about the brands or values of vehicles leased under the Scheme is held by Motability Operations.

Vehicles leased to eligible disabled people as part of the Motability Scheme are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty, including the expensive car supplement, if applicable.

We are protecting the taxpayer through changes to the Motability scheme, ensuring it supports disabled people whilst delivering efficient use of taxpayers’ money. This includes the removal of some luxury vehicles from the leasing scheme while maintaining a range of vehicles to support disabled people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with (a) Fibromyalgia and (b) other complex and lifelong conditions are not asked to complete a number of reassessments for Personal Independence Payments following an award. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself. Individuals can be affected in different ways by the same condition and so the outcome of a PIP claim depends very much on individual circumstances.

Award reviews are an important feature of PIP to ensure people receive the correct level of benefit, both for those whose needs will increase and those whose needs may decrease.

Award durations are based on an individual’s circumstances and advice received from the independent health professional who carries out the assessment. Awards can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review at the ten-year point for those with needs which are unlikely to change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation entitled Guarantee our Essentials: reforming Universal Credit to ensure we can all afford the essentials in hard time, published on 4 March 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an essentials guarantee for welfare recipients. \p Sir Stephen Timms: A Universal Credit award is made up of a standard allowance rate to provide towards basic living costs, paid according to age and household unit. Additional amounts are added to provide for individual needs such as housing, disability, and childcare costs.

We’ve taken important steps to support people with their living costs. The Universal Credit Act legislates to rebalance Universal Credit by bringing in, for the first time ever, a sustained above inflation increase to the standard allowance for all claimants. This will benefit around 4 million households and is estimated to be worth around £760 annually in cash terms by 2029/30 for a single household aged 25 or over (£250 above inflation) or over £1195 (£400 above inflation) for a couple where one is aged 25 or over with children by 2029/30.

We will also be uprating most working age benefits, across Great Britain in 2026/27, subject to parliamentary approval, in line with the Consumer Prices Index for the year to September 2025 – an increase of 3.8%.

The Government is also taking action to reduce child poverty through the removal of the two child limit. Removing the two child limit is the fastest and most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty over this Parliament and estimated to alone lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_56

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households with total benefit entitlement above the level of the Household Benefit Cap have entitlement above (a) £30,000, (b) £40,000 and (c) £50,000 per year, or the equivalent weekly and monthly amounts. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_57

Ian Sollom:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for decisions on Access to Work claims. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We recognise the importance of clearing the backlog, which is why last year we increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practices. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioritise Access to Work applications where the customer is due to start a job within four weeks, or cases that are up for renewal.

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are considering all aspects of the scheme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_58

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to improve the Access to Work scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are reviewing all aspects of Access to Work as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_59

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025 to question 92688, what progress he has made on reducing regulation by 25% by 2029. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working within the framework set out in the ‘New Approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ (also known as the Regulators Action Plan – RAP) to identify potential administrative burden reductions. As part of the RAP, HSE committed to look at three areas: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR); Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) and Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and reforms to aspects of chemicals regulation for which HSE holds the policy lead. These three areas are in the process of consultation and/or call for evidence. The analysis of the responses will be used to inform the next steps in supporting the 25% administrative burden reduction target.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_60

Shaun Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children were in poverty in Telford constituency for each year that data is available. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Statistics on the number of children living in absolute and relative poverty by parliamentary constituency are published annually in the “Children in low income families: local area statistics” publication.

These are available at: Children in low income families: local area statistics - GOV.UK

Statistics are available from FYE 2015 to FYE 2024.

The latest available data can also be found on Stat-Xplore: Stat-Xplore - Home

The Child Poverty Strategy, which will be published shortly, sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to change the course we’re on and create long-term change.

The removal of the two child limit, announced at Autumn Budget, will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures announced this year, such as the expansion of free school meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.

The removal of the two child limit could benefit around 4,800 children in Telford living in households affected by this policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_61

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason. \p Andrew Western: Information on sickness absence, including mental ill-health, is available in the Civil Service Sickness Absence Reports, which provide statistics by organisation and sickness reason. These reports can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The Cabinet Office collates Sickness Absence data from DWP on a quarterly basis. On an annual basis this management information is published.

The next release of these statistics is expected to be around 18 December.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_62

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changing the vehicles eligible for Motability on people with Multiple Sclerosis. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Motability Scheme is a lifeline for disabled people in the UK, leasing cars, wheelchair accessible vehicles, scooters and powered wheelchairs in exchange for part or all of their qualifying mobility allowance. The Scheme will continue to offer a choice of vehicles to meet a range of accessibility needs and the Motability Foundation will continue to offer means-tested grants to support eligible people who would otherwise struggle to afford the advance payment or adaptations for a vehicle, or a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) through the Scheme. The changes announced at Budget about VAT relief do not apply to wheelchair adapted vehicles.

Motability Operations, an independent commercial company which delivers the Scheme, will continue to prioritise customer needs, ensuring vehicles remain affordable and that support for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) and specialist adaptations remain at the heart of the Scheme.

Eligibility for enhanced mobility Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which provides the main gateway to the Scheme, assesses the mobility needs arising from a health condition or disability rather than the disability or health condition itself.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_63

Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that fee levels for family legal aid are sufficient to maintain a (a) sustainable and (b) geographically accessible network of providers. \p Sarah Sackman: It is vital that those who need legal aid – including some of the most vulnerable people in society - can access it wherever they live.

Between January 2023 and March 2025, the Ministry of Justice undertook a comprehensive Review of Civil Legal Aid (RoCLA) to identify issues facing the system and improve its sustainability. The review has concluded, and all reports are available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/civil-legal-aid-review, this includes a deep dive on legal aid in family law cases.

According to the RoCLA Provider Survey, a higher proportion of family legal aid providers reported being profitable compared to providers in all other categories of law. Family legal aid providers were also significantly less likely to report that they would leave the sector in the next five years. On the other hand, the evidence from the review also indicated that the housing and debt, and immigration and asylum sectors face particularly more acute challenges with service provision and high demand. Therefore, following a consultation, we announced uplifts to housing and debt, and immigration and asylum legal aid fees, which will inject £20 million into the sector each year once fully implemented. This investment will help the Government to reduce the asylum backlog, end hotel use, increase returns and ensure the most vulnerable can access justice. The evidence gathered by RoCLA informed this consultation and the review will continue to shape future policy direction.

The Ministry of Justice is looking at other potential changes that could support providers and aid recruitment and retention. This includes, (civil) contractual requirements regarding provider offices and limits to the provision of remote legal aid that providers say are burdensome. Any changes would aim to give providers more autonomy in meeting client need, while maintaining effective in-person provision for clients who need this. We are committed to supporting the recruitment and retention of legal aid practitioners and have provided up to £1.4 million in 2024 and up to a further £1.7 million in 2025 to meet the costs of accrediting and reaccrediting caseworkers to conduct immigration and asylum legal aid work, and we have provided £1.5 million in grant funding for the recruitment of trainee housing solicitors.

The Legal Aid Agency regularly reviews available supply to make sure there is adequate provision for legal aid, in all categories of law, and works with the Ministry of Justice to take operational action where it can respond to market pressures that may arise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_64

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal prosecutions in England and Wales collapsed due to (a) lost (b) missing and (c) damaged evidence for each year from 2015 to date. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on criminal court prosecutions that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice cannot provide data on cases that are not progressed due to lost, missing or damaged of evidence. This information would only be held in the individual court records and examination of these records would be of disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_65

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of the time taken for court hearings. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice published data concerning the average length of hearings in complete cases at the Crown Court as part of the Criminal Court Statistics series which is available at the following link: Criminal court statistics - GOV.UK  The average hearing time for cases completed at the Crown Court in England and Wales has fallen 14% compared to the previous year.  The Ministry of Justice does not collate hearing time information for the magistrates’ court or other jurisdictions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_66

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that tenants and leaseholders have access to legal remedies if housing management companies fail to act on antisocial behaviour complaints. \p Sarah Sackman: When tenants commit anti-social behaviour (ASB) it can cause misery for housemates, neighbours, and the wider community. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced specific measures designed to give victims and communities a say in the way that complaints of ASB are dealt with. As well as trying to resolve issues through housing management companies, depending on circumstances, tenants are able to contact their local authority or the police for support. It is also open for individuals to take legal action against the people behaving anti-socially and for an individual, or a freeholder to apply to the First-tier Residential Property Tribunal for forfeiture of the lease.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_67

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to support the funding of third-party litigation in London. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice and is committed to ensuring it works fairly for all.

The Government welcomes the Civil Justice Council review of litigation funding, which will help inform the approach to potential reforms. We are considering the report carefully and will outline next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-04 conversation_68

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many super-injunctions relating to the Government are in place. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government does not publish or hold centralised data on the number of super-injunctions currently in place, due to the sensitive and often confidential nature of such orders.

Where such orders are made, they are typically issued by the High Court under strict judicial oversight and may include provisions that prevent disclosure of their very existence.