theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's news story entitled New powers for police to tackle neighbourhood crime, published on 25 February 2025, where the 13,000 new officers will be deployed by county. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government has committed to restoring neighbourhood policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. This includes putting thousands more police personnel on the beat in neighbourhood policing roles up and down the country. Every part of the country will benefit from this pledge, including Bedfordshire.

The delivery model for 2025/26 is designed to create an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible and can be adapted to the local context and varied crime demands. As such, the 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers will be spread across England and Wales, with specific delivery profiles to be published in due course.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Regulatory Policy Committee's press release entitled Crime and Policing Bill: late publication of Home Office impact assessments, published on 10 March, for what reason those impact assessments were not published on 25 February 2025. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government has published four Economic Notes and two Economic Impact Assessments covering measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, which can be found here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938/publications.

Two further Economic Impact Assessments, relating to the duty to report child sexual abuse, and the provisions in the Bill relating to SIM farms, the power to suspend IP addresses and domain names, and criminal liability of bodies corporate and partnerships, will be published soon.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38055 on Public Space Protection Orders: Fixed Penalties, whether (a) local authorities and (b) outsourced contracts can generate a profit from the issuing of fixed penalty notices. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with a range of tools and powers they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), including the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.

The Home Office does currently not hold data on the number of PSPOs in force but is taking action to address that through the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill, introduced to Parliament on 25 February 2025. This Bill will introduce a new power for the Home Secretary to make regulations requiring key local agencies, such as local authorities, to report information about ASB to the Government.

Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence. Depending on the behaviour in question, the enforcing officer could decide a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) would be the most appropriate sanction. As set out in legislation, FPNs have a fixed upper limit of £100. Provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill will increase the upper limit for breach of a PSPO to £500. This is a penalty for failing to comply with a requirement of the PSPO.

We will be issuing accompanying statutory guidance which will emphasise the importance of the new limits being used proportionately. The guidance will also recommend that local authorities include wording on proportionate use of FPNs in any service level agreements with contractors.
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Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with (a) BT, (b) EE and (c) other operators on ensuring the adequacy of Emergency Services Network coverage around Kilburn in Wetherby and Easingwold constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) managed by the Home Office uses BT EE as a mobile service provider for the deployment of associated infrastructure and provision of the Emergency Services Network (ESN).

There are regular formal, governed engagements and meetings to discuss progress with BT EE on coverage issues, and the Programme remains on track to deliver effective coverage for all emergency services across the whole of the UK.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 33043 on Home Office, what steps her Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Decisions on engagement are always best made on a case-by-case basis, after consulting the relevant evidence and priorities.
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Katie White:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people in safeguarding roles are continuously educated on the evolving gang culture lexicon. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The relevant statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), is clear that children at risk of harm outside the home should receive a multi-agency safeguarding response. The guidance also makes clear that all practitioners working with children and families need to understand their role in identifying emerging problems and need appropriate training so that they are able to identify and recognise all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and remain aware of new and emerging threats.

A robust safeguarding framework is in place that schools and colleges must have regard to in the form of the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE). The guidance is clear that every school must have a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) who should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection. DSLs are required to undergo the training needed to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role effectively within their school and community context, including how to identify, and respond to both vulnerabilities and specific harms that put children at risk, including serious violence and the risk of criminal exploitation.

In addition, the Government is committed to tackling the gangs that lure children and young people into criminality and exploitation which is why through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we are targeting exploitative drug dealing gangs and providing specialist support for children and young people to escape county lines and child criminal exploitation. To increase awareness of county lines exploitation amongst those best placed to spot it, frontline professionals can access guidance on how to identify potential victims of county lines and appropriate referral routes: Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason she removed the five year settled status pathway for Ukrainians living in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: We continue to keep the Ukraine Schemes under review to ensure they continue to meet the needs of Ukrainians in the UK.

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes. This is why we have always been clear that the Ukraine schemes provide temporary sanctuary, and not a route to permanent settlement in the UK. There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were granted leave to enter (a) on the basis of family life as a (i) partner and (ii) parent and (b) due to exceptional circumstances in compliance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in each year since 2022. \p Seema Malhotra: The requested data is not available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the application window for the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme to three months. \p Seema Malhotra: The 28-day window for applications to be submitted helps ensure effective operational planning and sufficient biometric enrolment capacity across all visa routes, which ultimately allows us to deliver the most efficient service for customers.

Those who apply before their current permission expires will retain the conditions of their current visa while their application is under consideration, enabling them to continue to exercise their rights to work, study, and live in the UK.

As with all aspects of our service delivery, this will continue to be monitored.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 35858 on Banks: closures, whether she has had discussions with retail banks on keeping high street bank branches open since 5 July 2024. \p Emma Reynolds: The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with all major banks to discuss a wide variety of topics.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefiting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 140 are already open.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her Department's policy is on whether compliance costs reported for financial regulations should be subject to periodic independent verification. \p Emma Reynolds: Following the announcement to cut the administrative costs of regulation on businesses by 25% by the end of this Parliament, the government is now taking forward a baselining exercise to understand how much regulation is costing and where it can be reformed to remove unnecessary burdens and achieve its policy objectives more efficiently. We are considering a range of methodologies to ensure our baselining is robust.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 requires the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to undertake and publish a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) when consulting on any proposal to make or amend rules, to analyse the likely expected costs and benefits arising from the changes. The FCA and PRA are also required to maintain CBA Panels which provide advice on the preparation of CBAs.
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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in banks' policies on block management accounts on people who own apartment buildings. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government is aware of ongoing action taken by some banks to restrict their services in respect of pooled client accounts, which may include block management accounts. We understand the difficulties this can cause for those whose accounts have been closed as a result.

The Government is considering changes to the regulations in this area, in order to improve access to pooled client accounts for the businesses which depend on them. Proposals on this issue formed part of the recent consultation on Improving the Effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations. The Government is reviewing responses to this consultation and will respond in due course.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how she determines which state benefits are (a) subject to and (b) exempt from tax. \p James Murray: The tax treatment of social security benefits depends on their purpose. Generally, benefits that replace income are subject to tax, while those intended to support specific needs are exempt.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of applying VAT to unredeemed deposits in the deposit return scheme on revenues to the Exchequer. \p James Murray: The Government is currently considering the VAT treatment of deposits charged under deposit return schemes. Should VAT be applied to unreturned deposits HMRC expect the impact on exchequer receipts to be negligible.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to introduce a permanent reduction in business rates for pubs. \p James Murray: We intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including pubs, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27, and fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more. The multiplier rates will be confirmed at Autumn Budget 2025.

During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL businesses will receive a 40 per cent relief on their business rates up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and the tax multiplier applied to small properties will be frozen. Under the previous government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025, and so by extending it, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.

The Government has also published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and inviting industry to co-design a fairer business rates system.

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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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the freeze on beer duty. \p James Murray: At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products, including mostly draught beer – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint. This reduction increased the relief available on draught products to 13.9% came into effect on 1 February 2025. Other alcohol duties were increased in line with inflation.

As with all taxes, the Government keeps alcohol duty under review as part of its Budget process.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Ministers' press release entitled, Regulator axed as red tape is slashed to boost growth, published on 11 March 2025, whether (a) services and (b) offices are shared between the Payment Services Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority. \p Emma Reynolds: The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has carried out important work to support the UK’s world leading payments sector. However, moving forward, the Government wishes to see a more streamlined regulatory environment with minimal overlap between regulators’ responsibilities. That is why the Government has announced its intentions to consolidate the PSR and its functions primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Government will consult on the detail of this proposal in the summer and legislate as soon as possible.

These questions are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the allocation of a greater share of defined contribution pension capital into UK productive assets, in the context of the Mansion House reforms. \p Torsten Bell: The government published the Interim Report of its Pensions Investment Review at the Mansion House event on 14 November. This Report puts forward ambitious proposals to reform the UK pension system which could unlock productive investment while boosting savers’ pension pots.

The government is currently considering whether further interventions may be needed by the government to ensure that these reforms are benefiting UK growth.

The final report of the Pensions Investment Review will be published in the Spring, ahead of the introduction of the Pension Schemes Bill.
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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the EU Green Taxonomy regulations apply to Northern Ireland. \p Emma Reynolds: The EU Taxonomy Regulation, which is part of the EU's sustainable finance framework, does not directly apply in Northern Ireland.

There are some circumstances where a UK company may be subject to the EU Taxonomy reporting requirements because of its operations in the EU. This could apply to relevant companies in Northern Ireland, just as elsewhere in the UK.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she is making on implementing the findings of The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, published by her Department in February 2021. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government agrees with the central conclusion of the Dasgupta Review that nature, and the biodiversity that underpins it, sustains our economies, livelihoods and wellbeing. It is therefore committed to integrating nature into economic and financial decision-making, and the institutions and systems that underpin it.

The Treasury continues to make progress and explore ways to strengthen processes for assessing the climate and environmental impacts of fiscal decisions and improve the Green Book in line with emerging evidence and best practice. For example, building on the extensive guidance already provided for evaluating and monetising natural capital impacts, the Government has published updated supplementary guidance to the Green Book on Enabling a Natural Capital Approach, including additional guidance on valuing biodiversity.

As set out in the Budget last October, the Government is continuing to invest in the natural environment, confirming £5 billion over two years to support the transition to a more productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural sector in England, and at least £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration to protect soils, rivers and biodiversity.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure the digital service tax is not repealed. \p James Murray: The Digital Services Tax (DST) is an interim tax measure to ensure that digital services providers pay UK tax on digital services that reflects the value they derive from UK users.

The UK remains committed to reaching a global solution on the taxation of the digital economy through Pillar 1 of the G20-OECD Inclusive Framework project. It is UK’s intention to repeal our Digital Services Tax (DST) when this international solution is in place.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the £500,000 rateable value threshold will be uprated in April 2026 in line with the average percentage uplift in aggregate rateable values from the 2026 business rates revaluation. \p James Murray: The Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.

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

The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Autumn Budget 2025, taking account of the outcomes of the 2026 revaluation as well as the broader economic and fiscal context.
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James Wild:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40654 on Income Tax: Pensioners, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners that will be affected in each year. \p James Murray: HMRC publish the number of income tax payers by age. This information can be found in Table 2.1 of the collated income tax liabilities statistics tables for the years up to 2024-25, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66798d4797ea0c79abfe4b83/Collated_Income_Tax_liabilities_statistics_tables_-_2.1_to_2.6.ods. Data on future years will be published in the usual way.

As I set out in my previous answer, the Personal Allowance - the amount an individual can earn before paying tax - will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in the coming tax year. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.
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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Annex 2 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816, whether Trident renewal is classified as a controversial weapon for the purposes of (a) environmental, social, and governance and (b) ethical investments. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK Benchmarks Regulation sets out the requirements for UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned Benchmarks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitor and supervise benchmark administrators according to the Benchmarks Regulation to ensure that benchmarks are produced robustly and with due transparency. The FCA published a statement regarding their position on sustainability regulations and UK defence investment on 11 March 2025.

It is for benchmark administrators to decide if they wish to provide UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned benchmarks under the Benchmarks Regulation, including by paying due regard to the relevant FCA guidance, and which companies to include in their benchmarks. It is then up to firms and investors to choose whether to use these benchmarks.

This Government does not see a conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the number of limited companies where the only employee is the director who pays employer National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

Estimates of the number of sole director companies liable to pay employer National Insurance contributions are not available.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37570 on Housing, whether the Valuation Office Agency collects data on the (a) total plot size of the curtilage of a dwelling and its surrounds including any garden and (b) the area size of the dwelling itself excluding any surrounds and garden. \p James Murray: The Valuation Office Agency only requires data on a dwelling’s total plot size when it is non-standard for a typical property of that type. Plot size is recorded in these instances because an unusually large or small plot could influence the property’s assessment for Council Tax.

The area size of the dwelling itself is recorded for all properties.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many refuges are in each local authority area in England and Wales according to hereditament data held by the Valuation Office Agency to the closest associated Special Category Code. \p James Murray: The Valuation Office Agency does not record data on refuges by Special Category Code.
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Alberto Costa:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of private prosecution cases brought by the RSPCA being heard in the Crown Court since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Sentencing Act 2021. \p Sarah Sackman: Based on extracted management information data, the RSPCA has initiated 15,070 prosecutions since the Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force in April 2007. This figure is taken as of September 2024 in line with published statistics.

There have been 198 Crown Court receipts of prosecutions initiated by the RSPCA since the Animal Welfare Sentencing Act 2021 came into force in June 2021.

As the CPS has the power to take over any private prosecution, it is not possible to identify any such cases from the figures provided, and therefore these figures may include prosecutions taken over by the CPS.

This Government recognises that greater transparency is needed in relation to private prosecutions, in order to improve confidence in the criminal justice system. This is why we have launched a public consultation on options to improve the oversight, regulation, and transparency of private prosecutors in the criminal justice system, which closes on 08 May. The consultation seeks respondents’ views on improvements to the available data on private prosecutors and the prosecutions they bring.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison places for the estate in England were (a) under construction and (b) in planning, in (i) new build prisons (ii) prison extensions and small secure houseblocks and (iii) other projects as of May 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: As outlined in the recently published 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places through the 20,000 prison place programmes. This Government will deliver what the previous administration failed to achieve. We will get the prison places this country needs built and will ensure that we always have enough prison places to lock up dangerous offenders.

Given the nuances of the planning system and prison build programmes, we have defined ‘in planning’ as developments submitted for, or awaiting, determination of full planning permission as of May 2024. Some projects within the 20,000 prison place programmes can be delivered through Permitted Development Rights and therefore do not require planning permission. Places that had received planning permission ahead of May 2024 have not been included in this response.

We are aiming to deliver four new prisons (i), in addition to HMPs Five Wells and Fosse Way which have already been built. As of May 2024:

c.1,500 places were under construction at HMP Millsike, which officially opened on 27 March 2025, alongside an additional c.245 place houseblock at HMP Fosse Way.

c.4,900 places were in the planning system for the proposed new prisons in Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire and Lancashire.

Other places within the 20,000 prison place programmes will be delivered through the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate ((ii) and (iii)) including Small Secure Houseblocks. As of May 2024:

c.2,400 places were under construction.

c.970 places were in the planning system.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the gross number of prison places removed from the prison estate in England and Wales through permanent closures of whole (a) prisons and (b) wings was between (i) 1997 to 2010 and (ii) 2010 to 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The previous Labour Government added nearly 28,000 places to the prison estate between 1997 and 2010. However, available records do not provide a breakdown for these figures of these places by category. The annual breakdown of this net change has been provided in the table below.

For the information requested relating to the period between 2010 and 2024, I refer you to the table provided in the response to PQs 36624 & 36626.

Last year this Government announced plans to build 14,000 places by 2031 as part of our 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy. We have already started the 700-place expansion at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk in March, and a new houseblock providing nearly 460 places at HMP Rye Hill in Northamptonshire recently received its first prisoners. We are also opening HMP Millsike in the coming weeks, a major milestone which will hold nearly 1,500 prisoners and help put more violent offenders behind bars to make streets safer.

Table 1. Annual change in Operational Capacity between May 1997 and May 2010.

Date

Total Operational Capacity

Annual net change

May-97

61,927

x

May-98

69,520

7,593

May-99

69,645

125

May-00

71,171

1,526

May-01

71,598

427

May-02

73,535

1,937

May-03

76,051

2,516

May-04

77,431

1,380

May-05

78,987

1,556

May-06

81,200

2,213

May-07

83,158

1,958

May-08

85,087

1,929

May-09

86,805

1,718

May-10

89,757

2,952

Total

27,830
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of capacity made available through Operation Safeguard was used between its inception and July 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Operation Safeguard is an important contingency measure used to ensure that the current demand on prison places does not cause undue disruption to Criminal Justice System partners. The first places were activated by the previous Government in February 2023.

Between 20 February 2023 – 4 July 2024, 86,561 Operation Safeguard police cells were made available overnight.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_254

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 36625 on Prison Accommodation, when she expects places to become available through the small house blocks programme. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: As outlined in the recently published 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering 14,000 prison places the previous Government failed to get built. These places will be delivered through the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate, including Small Secure Houseblocks, as well as the construction of four new prisons, including the recently opened HMP Millsike.

As set out in the NAO Report, we expect places to become available through the Small Secure Houseblocks programme from 2027.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_255

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the consultation document on ethnic and disability pay gap reporting, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including a question to consultation respondents on the costs to employers of the new measures. \p Seema Malhotra: The public consultation seeks views on the proposed approach to mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting in order to inform the drafting of the legislation.

We are separately engaging with a wide range of organisations, including employers, and gathering evidence in a more systematic manner on the likely costs and benefits of the proposed reporting requirements. This work will inform the impact assessment that will be published alongside the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_256

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent. \p Feryal Clark: When Information Society Services, such as social media or live streaming sites, rely on consent to process children’s data, consent is only lawful in respect of children under the age of 13 when parental authority has been granted. The current age of consent was set by Parliament in the Data Protection Act 2018. We will continue to keep the evidence for and against change in this area under review.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_257
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_257

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to p. 69 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, which innovation partnerships she plans to continue; and what criteria his Department uses to decide which innovation partnerships are effective. \p Feryal Clark: In the English Devolution White Paper, we committed to support more local leaders, working in partnership with businesses and universities, to unlock their regions’ innovation potential.

For example, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is deepening its regional partnerships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England and working to extend this to the Devolved Administrations. InnovateUK is working with local leaders across the UK to develop jointly owned local innovation action plans. UKRI is developing a framework to assess the effectiveness of these partnerships, which will help inform the consideration of options for future regional innovation funding as part of the Spending Review.

We are also developing a new, UK-wide regional innovation funding programme as part of the Spending Review. This will help to ensure everyone benefits from innovation-led growth.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_258
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_258

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to introduce measures to protect men and boys online. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Safety Act requires all platforms to proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content, including illegal incitement to violence and sexual offences, including where these are targeted at men and boys.

Services must employ age-appropriate measures to protect all children from legal abusive and hateful content, including misandry.

Category 1 services will have extra duties where abuse is not illegal, requiring them to offer user empowerment tools, enabling all adult users greater control over their online experience. Category 1 services will also need to remove legal misandry content, when prohibited in their terms of service.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_259
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_259

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the consultation entitled Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, published on 17 December 2024, what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's proposed copyright law reforms prevent the use of materials created by (a) copyright holders and (b) independent creators by large technology firms. \p Feryal Clark: The Government’s consultation on Copyright and AI closed on 25th February.

It sought views from both AI developers and rights holders on proposals to create an effective rights reservation system. We will not move forward with any option until we are confident that it will be effective, proportionate, and accessible to both individual creators and larger rights holders.

The Government’s priority now is to review all responses to the consultation, gathering the evidence to inform its next steps. The Government will continue to engage extensively before setting out proposals in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_260

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Section C1 of the consultation entitled Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, published on 17 December 2024, what discussions he has had with (a) the creative sector and (b) Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of his Department's proposals for data mining exception and rights reservation on the UK economy. \p Feryal Clark: The Government has engaged extensively with the creative sector and will continue to do so. This includes a roundtable meeting held by the Secretary of State with creative sector representatives in March.

The consultation was jointly published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The range and scale of impacts the Government is considering in its proposals are outlined in the summary assessment of options.

The Government recognises that this is a complex area and welcomes all views and evidence to help shape its thinking.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_261
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_261

Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve mobile network coverage in (a) Kilburn and (b) other villages in Wetherby and Easingwold constituency. \p Chris Bryant: According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report (published on 5 December 2024) 97% of the Wetherby and Easingwold constituency has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, while 5G is available from at least one operator outside 85% of all premises. I have raised my concerns about the accuracy of their coverage reporting with Ofcom and I urge them to continue to improve this.

The government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from good quality mobile coverage. Our ambition is for all populated areas, including communities in your constituency, to have higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We work closely with the mobile industry and are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_262
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_262

Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings (a) she, (b) the Minister for Future of Roads and (c) her officials have had with (i) hon. Members and (ii) trade associations that contributed to the Government's review on Volumetric concrete mixers prior to announcing the findings of that review. \p Lilian Greenwood: My Department engaged with hon. Members and industry stakeholders through correspondence prior to the announcement. In addition, industry and interested parties were given the opportunity to present views and evidence on this topic as part of the Call for Evidence between October and December 2023.

Temporary exemptions to weight limits for VCMs will expire in 2028. This policy is being maintained.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_263

Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she held discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade prior to announcing changes to volumetric concrete mobile operating weights from 2028. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Secretary of State for Transport did not raise this with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. However, cross-Whitehall engagement did occur prior to the announcement.

This is not a change to the policy on weights for VCMs but a decision to continue with the existing policy that a temporary exemption will come to an end in 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_264

Edward Argar:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the annual additional lorry miles on concrete deliveries that would rise from cutting the weights of volumetric concrete mobile from 2028. \p Lilian Greenwood: A call for evidence ran from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for VCMs. The following factors were considered: reduction in payload per journey, increased waste, and increased vehicle mileage.

Information received did not provide any compelling evidence for permitting a weight limit exemption specifically for VCMs on the grounds of increased lorry miles.

Current exemptions to weight limits for VCMs will expire in 2028. This policy is being maintained.
wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_265
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_265

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential return on investment of increasing funding for (a) cycling and (b) walking. \p Simon Lightwood: Investment in active travel supports the Government’s economic growth, health and net zero missions, and generally has a very positive benefit-to-cost ratio. Walking and cycling are among the cheapest and most accessible forms of physical activity and some of the most cost-effective interventions to meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended physical activity levels. The Department announced the details of almost £300 million of funding for active travel in 2024/5 and 2025/6 on 12 February. This will deliver 300 miles of brand new pavements and cycle routes to enable 30 million more journeys by walking and cycling every year. It will lead to 43,000 less sick days a year to ease pressure on the NHS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_266

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding her Department plans to provide to Dorset Council for (a) cycling and (b) walking infrastructure in each of the next three financial years. \p Simon Lightwood: On 12 February, the Department announced the funding allocations for the Combined Active Travel Fund (CATF), the dedicated revenue and capital funding round for 2025/26. Dorset Council was awarded £774,233 and it will be for the authority to decide on infrastructure projects it may wish to progress with this funding.

Decisions on future Government funding for active travel will be a matter for the Spending Review, which is considering all transport expenditure in the round. Specific funding allocations to Dorset Council for 2026/27 and 2027/28 will be agreed after the Spending Review concludes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-09 conversation_267

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to request funds for (a) cycling and (b) walking as part of the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. \p Simon Lightwood: Future government funding for cycling and walking is being considered alongside all other transport priorities as part of the Spending Review. On 28 March, I informed Parliament of my intention to publish a third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy following the conclusion of the Spending Review. This will allow us to say more on the long-term funding for active travel, as required by the 2015 Infrastructure Act.