theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

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Zarah Sultana:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase (a) transparency and (b) control for consumers in the defined contribution pension transfer process, in relation to the inability of Independent Financial Advisers or pension holders to execute transfers based on a specified date or value. \p Torsten Bell: The Department is working with regulatory bodies, the pensions industry and other stakeholders to identify and explore potential changes to pension transfer processes that will enable greater efficiency, whilst providing savers with effective consumer protection.

In December 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a discussion paper (DP24/3). The document sought views on how to ensure that consumers who ask to transfer or consolidate, do so on a well-informed basis. It also explores how pension providers can action these requests both diligently and efficiently.

The FCA is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions as it analyses the feedback received and determines next steps.

Additionally, DWP officials have conducted work with other government departments, pensions institutions, consumer organisations and the pensions industry to consider if the practical application of the Conditions for Pension Transfer regulations could be improved, whilst retaining appropriate levels of protection for pension scheme members.

We will look to share the outcome of these areas of work as soon as it is practical to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) improve work coach support and (b) provide tailored employment support for jobseekers. \p Alison McGovern: As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service across Great Britain that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work. In England, these reforms will include bringing together Jobcentre Plus with the National Careers Service to create a greater awareness and focus on skills and careers as well as better join-up between employability and careers provision.

Our new service will move away from the current one size fits all approach, recognising people are individuals with different support needs and will provide better tailored support. Providing high-quality personalised support that helps people get into work, support training, and get on at work is a central tenet to the new service.

We will provide an update on our plans to Get Britain Working and the steps we are taking in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of mandating 60 per cent office-working by departmental staff by September 2025 on productivity within her Department. \p Andrew Western: Civil Service Heads of Departments across government have agreed that the Civil Service is best able to deliver for the people it serves by taking a consistent approach to in office working. Heads of Departments agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

The approach allows teams and departments to maximise the benefits of hybrid working and to get the best from being together. This also reflects the view of Civil Service leaders that there remain clear benefits to spending time working together face-to-face as the government delivers on the Missions commitments. The Civil Service approach is comparable to other large private and public sector employers.

Whilst this decision was not directly linked to productivity, the Department closely monitors performance and will continue to do so following implementation of the change. In DWP, around 35% of colleagues spend 100% of their time working in the office, delivering face-to-face services to customers. Other colleagues are able to work in a hybrid way, spending part of their time in the office and part of their time working from home.

Senior Civil Service colleagues are expected to work from the office (which includes face to face time with colleagues or partners on official business elsewhere) for more than 60% of their contracted hours, and the Department has now announced that colleagues at all other grades will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their contracted hours in the office from 1 September 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-16)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department made local-level equality impact assessments on the changes in Winter Fuel Payment eligibility. \p Torsten Bell: In line with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty, an Equality Analysis was produced and considered as part of the ministerial decision-making process. This was published on 13 September and is available online: Equality Impact Assessments produced for targeting Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK
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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Minister for the Armed Forces plans to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 28 January 2025. \p Luke Pollard: We are committed to ensuring Government responses to correspondence are timely, accurate, and high quality. On this occasion there was an administrative error which has caused a delay, for which I apologise. However, I can assure the hon. Member that I will be writing to him imminently on the matter he has raised.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be supported by the Boxer contract during this Parliament. \p Maria Eagle: The Mechanised Infantry (BOXER) programme supports a network of over 100 UK suppliers. It has created approximately 1,000 direct British jobs and sustains three times as many.

60% by value of the original BOXER production contract is planned to come from the UK.
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Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether experiencing acne (a) in the past and (b) at present is used as a criterion within the online recruitment process for selecting potential future members of the territorial army. \p Luke Pollard: The Government inherited a recruitment crisis from the last Government.

The Defence Secretary has undertaken to review the current recruitment policies and has already announced several changes to prior outdated approaches.

An update to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets out the Medical Employment Standards for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies.

The updated JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is now in use and applies to both Regular and Reserve Forces. In the case of acne, the update confirms that candidates with acne that has resolved with or without treatment, are now able to join the Armed Forces.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 50267 on Armed Forces: Housing, what discussions the new taskforce has had on RAF Wyton. \p Maria Eagle: RAF Wyton has been confirmed as a trailblazer site to potentially deliver new homes on surplus Ministry of Defence land. The Department is working with Homes England on how to accelerate the sites sale.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 50259 on Armed Forces: Housing, when the workshop with Homes England to discuss RAF Wyton is scheduled to take place; and which stakeholders are due to be in attendance. \p Maria Eagle: The workshop is scheduled to take place on 21 May 2025 with representatives from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Homes England in attendance.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be supported by the New Medium Helicopter contract in each of the next four financial years. \p Maria Eagle: The New Medium Helicopter procurement remains commercially sensitive, and the evaluation and approval process needs to complete before further details, including estimates of the number of jobs it will support, can be confirmed.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs will be supported by the Ajax contract during this Parliament. \p Maria Eagle: The Armoured Cavalry (Ajax) Programme supports 4,100 jobs in the UK supply chain across 230 companies.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs will be supported by the RCH 155 contract during this Parliament. \p Maria Eagle: The Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) project is currently in the assessment phase with the intention of delivering the system within this decade, therefore, it is not possible to provide a total figure at present. The anticipated new Rheinmetall UK gun barrel factory, that will manufacture RCH 155 and Challenger 3 barrels, will support over 400 jobs.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average office attendance is for (a) Valuation Office Agency and (b) HM Revenue and Customs staff, adjusting for VOA work that requires off-site visits. \p James Murray: For the period of March 2025, 67% of VOA people attended the office as expected, once off-site adjustments are considered. For the same period, 80% of HMRC people (excluding VOA) did so.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding (a) council tax and (b) business rate challenges are still open and unresolved in relation to (i) 2022-23, (ii) 2023-24 and (iii) 2024-25 in (A) England and (B) Wales. \p James Murray: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes official statistics for England and Wales on Non-domestic Rating and Council Tax: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about/statistics

The VOA published an update for business rates on 8 May 2025. This includes the number of outstanding cases from the 2017 and 2023 Rating Lists in England and Wales. They can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-challenges-and-changes-2017-and-2023-rating-lists-march-2025

The latest published data for Council Tax is 2023-24.

Valuation Office Agency: Council Tax statistics - GOV.UK
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff the Valuation Office Agency employs; and whether she has set a target for a reduction to that number. \p James Murray: As of the 30 April 2025, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) employs 4,005 staff, which equates to 3,749.71 full-time employees. In addition, the VOA employs 88 contingent labour workers.

The VOA has no current plans to reduce the workforce.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of applications for Specified Adult Childcare Credits. \p James Murray: HMRC recognises the difficulties that delays can cause customers and are deploying additional resources to process Specified Adult Childcare Credits.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed exemption of Indian (a) based employers and (b) multi-national corporations with offices in the UK from paying National Insurance contributions on (i) costs to the public purse and (ii) those businesses in each of the next three years. \p James Murray: The OBR will certify the impact of the trade deal including the Double Contributions Convention in the usual way at a fiscal event, once the deal is finalised and ratified. The agreement to negotiate a Double Contributions Convention was made in the context of the wider deal, which will bring billions into the economy.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what form of legislation her Department plans to bring forward to merge the Valuation Office Agency with HM Revenue and Customs. \p James Murray: No legislation is required to bring forward the merger and the change will come into effect by the end of the financial year.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an illicit tobacco taskforce. \p James Murray: In the illicit tobacco strategy titled ‘Stubbing out the problem’, the Government committed to establishing a multi-agency illicit tobacco taskforce to co-ordinate enforcement activity, involving staff from HMRC, Border Force and Trading Standards and working closely with other law enforcement and intelligence partners.

This team is now in place and contributing to efforts to tackle illicit tobacco across all relevant departments.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress she has made in implementing a new business rates regime. \p James Murray: Autumn Budget the Government announced an intention to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to apply a higher rate from 2026-27 on the most valuable properties - those with a rateable value of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but include the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act gained Royal Assent on 3 April, giving the Government powers to introduce new multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and high-value properties, and ending charitable rate relief for private schools.

At the Autumn Budget 2024 the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invited industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. Officials have conducted a number of roundtables with interested stakeholders, and I have similarly held roundtables and spoken to businesses directly to hear their views.

In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of SMEs using National Insurance relief for apprentices aged under 25 in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency. \p James Murray: HMRC publishes estimates of the number of employers who benefit from the relief on employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/main-tax-expenditures-and-structural-reliefs
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what customer service metrics are collated into (a) Valuation Office Agency and (b) HM Revenue and Customs. \p James Murray: HMRC Customer Service Metrics include Net Easy and Customer Satisfaction with its phone, webchat and digital services. HMRC also measures its telephone and correspondence performance through Telephony Adviser Attempts Handled and Customer Correspondence responded to in 15 working days and 40 working days. HMRC monitor performance against these metrics and a set of supporting metrics, which can be found in the monthly and quarterly publications HMRC monthly performance reports - GOV.UK , and HMRC quarterly performance updates - GOV.UK , and in our Annual Report and Accounts: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrcs-annual-report-and-accounts

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has aligned all telephony metrics with HMRC. Other metrics the VOA report on can be found in its Annual Report & Accounts: www.gov.uk/government/collections/valuation-office-agency-annual-report-and-accounts
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an additional allowance for divorced persons before inheritance tax is payable by their next of kin. \p James Murray: The estates of all individuals benefit from a £325,000 nil-rate band for inheritance tax. The residence nil-rate band is a further £175,000 and it is available to those passing on a qualifying residence on death to their direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren. This means qualifying estates, whether or not the deceased was married or single at the time of death, can pass on up to £500,000 in these circumstances.

A surviving spouse or civil partner is able to pass on up to £1 million in certain circumstances if the estate of the first spouse or civil partner did not use any of their nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band. This could be because all the assets were left to the surviving spouse or civil partner, and the exemption for transfers between spouses and civil partners applied.

Any unused nil-rate band or residence nil-rate band is not transferable between other individuals. However, the rules for all individuals mean that two divorced individuals can still pass on up to £500,000 each, and so up to £1 million in total, to their children without an inheritance tax liability because of these nil-rate bands.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits increasing duties on additional (a) food and (b) drink products that cause tooth decay. \p James Murray: The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is recognised as a transformative health tax intervention. Following the announcement of the Levy, the average sugar content of soft drinks in scope fell 46% between 2015 and 2020. Further, the policy has been linked to 5,000 fewer cases of obesity in year 6 girls, and a 28.6% and 5.5% fall in sugar-related tooth extractions in those aged 0-4 years and 5-9 years respectively.

The ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, published last month, seeks ways to further encourage producers to remove added sugar from soft drinks. Specifically, it sets out proposals to reduce the minimum sugar threshold at which the levy applies from 5g to 4g sugar per 100ml, and to remove the current exemptions for milk-based and milk substitute drinks with added sugar. These changes would be estimated to reduce calorie consumption by 15 million kcal per day in children and 46 million kcal per day in adults, achieving health and economic benefits of around £4.2 billion over 25 years.
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Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a tax on ultra-processed food. \p James Murray: The ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, published last month, seeks ways to encourage producers to remove added sugar from soft drinks. Specifically, it sets out proposals to reduce the minimum sugar threshold at which the levy applies from 5g to 4g sugar per 100ml, and to remove the current exemptions for milk-based and milk substitute drinks with added sugar. These changes would be estimated to reduce calorie consumption by 15 million kcal per day in children and 46 million kcal per day in adults, achieving health and economic benefits of around £4.2 billion over 25 years.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in what locations the (a) Valuation Office Agency and (b) HM Revenue and Customs have offices; and whether any offices are shared. \p James Murray: Full details of the current office locations for VOA and HMRC are set out in the tables below:

HMRC offices

Location

Shared with VOA (Marked with a X)

Belfast, Erskine House/Carne House

Birmingham, Arena Central

X

Bristol, Glass Wharf

X

Cardiff, TY William Morgan

X

Croydon, Ruskin Square

X

Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth House

X

Glasgow, Atlantic Square

X

Leeds,7&8 Wellington Place

X

Liverpool, India Buildings

Manchester, Three New Bailey

X

Newcastle, Benton Park View

X

Nottingham, Unity Square

X

Portsmouth, Lynx House

Stratford, Westfield Avenue

Dover, Priory Court

Gartcosh, Scottish Crime Campus

Ipswich, Brook Lawrence House

Telford, Plaza 1 & 2

Swansea, Sandringham Park

Worthing, Teville Gate House

X

Bradford, Centenary Court

Manchester, Trinity Bridge House

Washington, Waterview Park

East Kilbride, Queensway House

London, Parliament Street

Porthmadog, Ty Thedford

Preston, St Mark’s and St Mary’s

X

Reading, Premier House

VOA offices

Aberdeen, Union Point

Cambridge, Eastbrook

Canary Wharf, 10 South Colonnade

Carmarthen, St Davids Park

Colchester, The Octagon

Durham, Wycliffe House

Eastbourne, St Annes House

Exeter, The Senate

Folkestone, Palting House

Hull, Earle House

Inverness, River House

Lancaster, Mitre House

Merseyside, Redgrave Court

Norwich, Rosebery Court

Oxford, Avalon House

Plymouth, Crownhill Court

Sheffield, Greenfield House

Southampton, Mountbatten House

St Austell, Penhaligon House

Stoke on Trent, Bennet House

Swansea, Swansea Civil Centre

Wembley, Brent Civil Centre

Wrexham, Yale Business Village
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document entitled HM Treasury: Ministers' Hospitality - February 2025, published 25 April 2025, whether the Economic Secretary to the Treasury discussed the (a) foreign influence registration scheme and (b) China with TheCityUK on 6 February 2025. \p Emma Reynolds: I attended TheCityUK’s annual dinner on 6 February 2025. Each year, a minister and/or regulator addresses the dinner. Speakers in previous years have included the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bank of England, and numerous Economic Secretaries to the Treasury

I delivered a speech highlighting the important role of the financial services sector in delivering growth and setting out the Government's vision for the sector's future development and continued global leadership

The foreign Influence Registration Scheme or China was not discussed.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the UK’s exposure to Chinese (a) sovereign debt and (b) state-backed entities through (i) public pension funds and (ii) financial institutions. \p Emma Reynolds: Seven of the eight largest Public Service Pension Schemes (PSPSs) are unfunded, which means that they do not hold or invest assets against their pension liabilities and instead the Exchequer pays pensions as they come due. The largest funded PSPS is the Local Government Pension Scheme in England & Wales (LGPS). The LGPS is managed locally by 86 Administering Authorities and each publish asset allocation data in their yearly Annual Report and Accounts.

The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee closely monitor risks to the financial system, including those stemming from UK financial institutions’ global exposures. The Bank’s most recent stress test (Financial Stability Report, November 2024), shows that the UK banking system is resilient to severe global scenarios.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45656 on Government Departments: Legal Opinion, for what reason changes were made to the previous edition; and if she will publish the previous edition. \p Lucy Rigby: In November 2024, the Attorney General issued amended guidance for assessing legal risk across government to raise standards for calibrating legality and to ensure government lawyers can give full and frank advice to the Government.

The updated legal risk guidance is focused on supporting Ministers in making policy and operational decisions.

It does not give government lawyers any form of veto – decisions are for policymakers – a point the Attorney General’s guidance makes plain in express terms and a point the Attorney General has made clear publicly.

Many elements remain unchanged from previous versions of the guidance, and it retains the same three elements of the risk assessment.

All versions of the legal risk guidance were published at the time they were amended.

The 2015 version remains available here: Legal_Risk_Guidance_-_Amended_July_2015.pdf.

The 2022 version of the guidance is not currently available, but the Attorney General’s Office can provide a copy.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it remains his policy to reduce energy bills by £300 a year. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

It remains our ambition to cut energy bills by up to £300 by 2030.

The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. On 25 February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation has now closed and the Department is evaluating the responses.
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Andrew Bowie:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the North Sea Transition Authority maximises the economic recovery of oil and gas in the North Sea. \p Michael Shanks: The Department is responsible for the policy framework within which the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) operates. The OGA Strategy outlines how the NSTA’s principal objective will be met. The NSTA does so in several ways – for example, facilitating collaboration across the basin.

The Building the North Sea’s Energy Future consultation, which closed on 30 April 2025, sought views on whether the NSTA’s principal objective of maximising economic recovery adequately reflects the current context in the North Sea and supports the Government’s strategic objectives. The Government will respond in due course.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of full electrification on (a) fish and chip shops, (b) other businesses and (c) economic growth. \p Sarah Jones: Fuel switching from fossil fuels to electricity has the potential to significantly reduce emissions, making a central contribution to our carbon budget commitments. Clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. This will allow the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

Many electric technologies are more efficient than their gas counterparts, and therefore electrification has the potential to lower energy requirements for sites. The Government remains committed to supporting electrification and addressing the barriers to investment in electric technology. This includes further development of policy options to address the high cost of electricity relative to natural gas, and the implementation of planning reforms to speed up infrastructure development and unblock issues on grid connection delays.

Taking the points specified in the hon Member’s question in turn:

A) Fish & chip shops: Alongside the electrification of heating and cooling, a key approach for full electrification of a fish & chip shop could be switching from a gas fryer to an electric fryer. An electric fryer is more energy efficient and generally requires less maintenance than a gas fryer, but also tends to require higher upfront costs, and currently results in higher operating costs due to the higher price of electricity compared to gas.

B) Businesses: For many businesses based in commercial units or offices, full electrification would require an electric source of heating and cooling, such as heat pumps or electric boilers. Heat pumps are highly efficient, reducing carbon emission significantly, and can provide both heating and cooling. As with the gas fryer, greater energy efficiency from heat pumps and electric boilers would reduce energy consumption, however upfront costs and operating costs are generally higher than gas alternatives. Some businesses with high temperature heat requirements, such as those involved in manufacturing, amy also require more specialised electrification technologies.

C) Economic growth Electrification is the future for most UK industries, and brings with it a range of economic benefits. These include boosting the domestic supply chain, and supporting UK businesses to be more productive. Electrification will reduce the UK’s reliance on volatile fossil fuel prices, making the UK a more attractive place to do business leading to increased growth and jobs.

At present, government provides grants of up to £7,500 for low carbon heating systems through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which are available to small commercial buildings.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) fish and chip shops and (b) other catering businesses will be required to replace existing gas cooking equipment. \p Sarah Jones: Fuel switching from fossil fuels to electricity has the potential to significantly reduce emissions, making a central contribution to our carbon budget commitments. Clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. This will allow the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

Many electric technologies are more efficient than their gas counterparts, and therefore electrification has the potential to lower energy requirements for sites. The Government remains committed to supporting electrification and addressing the barriers to investment in electric technology. This includes further development of policy options to address the high cost of electricity relative to natural gas, and the implementation of planning reforms to speed up infrastructure development and unblock issues on grid connection delays.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number and proportion of (a) cold and (b) energy-inefficient homes occupied by pensioners in Wiltshire. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does not collect local-level data specifically on cold or energy-inefficient homes occupied by pensioners. The latest estimate of the fuel poverty rate in Wiltshire, based on the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric, was 9.5% of households in 2023 (Table 2 of the sub-regional fuel poverty statistics).

Statistics on fuel poverty in England in 2024 by age of the oldest person in the household can be found in Table 15 of the fuel poverty detailed tables.
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Melanie Onn:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any funding his Department has provided for Greater Lincolnshire devolution is ringfenced for net zero initiatives. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Government recognises the important role of local places, including Greater Lincolnshire, in driving action to help realise our national net zero targets. The English Devolution Whitepaper sets out the Departments approach to English Devolution.
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Melanie Onn:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance he has issued to local authorities on reporting requirements for net zero targets. \p Kerry McCarthy: The Government recognises the important role of local places in driving action to support net zero targets. Whilst we do not require Local Government to report on their net zero work, we run a Local Net Zero Delivery Group to discuss key net zero policy and delivery issues - this helps to inform our understanding of net zero action and share best practice at the local level.
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Martin Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Norwegian authorities and (b) other international partners on the UK’s access to the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage project; and what recent discussions his Department has had with the London Protocol on the non-pipeline transport of carbon dioxide for offshore storage. \p Sarah Jones: The Government regularly engages with European nations, including Norway, and with international partners on developments in the carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) industry, but has not specifically discussed access to the Northern Lights project.

The UK has one of the largest potential CO2 storage capacities in Europe. We have an opportunity to offer CO2 storage services to neighbouring countries, providing new growth opportunities and supporting regional decarbonisation.

The UK has applied a 2009 Amendment to the London Protocol allowing us to enter into bilateral agreements or arrangements with third countries for cross-border transport of CO2 for permanent geological storage.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46114 on Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Finance, what the projected decrease in the annual funding is in the next five years. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Funding arrangements for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme in future financial years will be confirmed following the current Spending Review.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the renewables industry on its reliance on imports of batteries from China. \p Michael Shanks: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support interconnector infrastructure. \p Michael Shanks: Interconnector development is a developer-led process in GB. Projects are given regulatory approval through Ofgem, a process with no formal role for Government. We welcome Ofgem’s decision to approve five new interconnector projects, including two Offshore Hybrid Assets, in November 2024.

The Department is in regular communication with interconnector projects at all stages of development and we of course look to support their development where appropriate.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to develop a strategic framework to enable the integration of hydrogen into future net zero energy systems. \p Sarah Jones: Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system.

We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.

Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system.

We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.
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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20869 on Consumer Goods: Safety, what steps his Department is taking to support sole traders selling (a) engineering and (b) other products in meeting the requirement for an EU-based responsible person, in the context of the availability of STEM skills in the EU. \p Justin Madders: I recognise that the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) may require changes for some businesses, including sole traders and those selling engineering products to the EU.

We have published guidance for Northern Ireland, which we regularly review, and continue to support businesses trading with the EU. Since October 2024, the UK Export Academy delivered eight free GPSR training sessions supporting over 5,000 users.

DBT's Export Support Service are now signposting businesses to verified external service providers specialising in GPSR via the Export Support Directory. These are paid for providers, so businesses should perform due diligence before entering commercial relationships.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the coordination of (a) trade and (b) investment policies relating to the People’s Republic of China. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK regularly engages with international partners regarding trade and investment policies, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organisation.

With regards to China specifically, the UK's overall approach is to cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must. During my visit to China in April, I held frank and honest discussions with my counterparts on the opportunities and challenges in the bilateral trade relationship, including improving overall reciprocity in market access, raising UK concerns on level playing field issues and market distorting practices and discussing economic security issues.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of e-bike battery fires caused by products manufactured outside the (a) UK and (b) EU. \p Justin Madders: The Office for Product Safety and Standards leads a programme of activity to tackle the fire risks from unsafe lithium-ion e-bike batteries. All e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries placed on the UK market must be safe and producers are responsible for ensuring their products comply with the law. Last year, the Government published statutory guidelines on lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, setting out the safety mechanisms they must contain.
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Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many bullets has been shipped to Israel since October 2023. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: DBT does not hold records of final exports of strategically controlled goods, and the fact that a licence is granted does not mean that an export takes place. For specific goods export data, you should refer to HMRC.

The Government has however published extensive information relating to export licensing decisions in relation to Israel. On 10 December, an ad hoc data release was published on ‘Export control licensing management information for Israel’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024) which provides information on export licences to Israel to 6 December 2024.
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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to consult stakeholders on (a) alignment with international reporting standards and (b) the potential impact on companies as part of the first two UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, expected in Q1 2025. \p Justin Madders: The Government will shortly publish a consultation covering the endorsement of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards. It will seek views on UK versions of the ISSB Standards, which will be known as UK Sustainability Reporting Standards, including on the costs and benefits of reporting against those Standards. The Government will take endorsement decisions later this year, following the consultation.