theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_237

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the accessibility of knives online. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government has set out an unprecedented mission to halve knife crime in a decade and we are already taking a range of steps to make our communities a safer place for our young people.

We know that more needs to be done to tackle the sale of knives and offensive weapons online which is why last October, the Home Secretary asked Commander Stephen Clayman, as the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, to carry out a review into the online sale and delivery of knives. The review was published on 19 February 2025: www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-end-to-end-review-of-online-knife-sales

We have already decided to take forward the most pressing recommendations in the report and have announced “Ronan’s Law” a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives including strengthening age verification controls and checks through a two-stage age verification system at the point of purchase and on delivery. We are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, funding a new online police coordination hub to take action against illegal knife and weapon content online; and we are intending to consult later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives.

It is a Government manifesto commitment to hold senior executives of online platforms and marketplaces to account for illegal knife related content around the sale of prohibited offensive weapons or illegal marketing of knives in ways which encourages violence. We ran a public consultation on these proposals which closed on 11 December 2024 and we will be publishing our response shortly.

We have also implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes. The ban came in to force on 24 September 2024 and it is now illegal to sell, manufacture, supply or possess these weapons.

It is also a Government manifesto commitment to ban ninja swords and we ran a consultation between 13 November 2024 and 11 December 2024 to clarify the legal definition. We are now moving forward with our plans to ban ninja swords later this year.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_238
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_238

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle drug related crime in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire. \p Dame Diana Johnson: To deliver on our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, it is crucial that we tackle the gangs that lure children and young people into crime and run county lines through violence and exploitation.

County Lines are the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.

Since July 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people.

As part of the Programme, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in. The most recent of these took place 25 November to 1 December 2024 and resulted in 261 lines closed, as well as 1,660 arrests, 1,434 individuals safeguarded and 557 weapons seized.

As committed to in the Government’s manifesto, we are also introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation in the Crime and Policing Bill to go after the gangs who are luring children into violent crime. A new criminal offence is necessary to increase convictions against exploiters, deter gangs from enlisting children, and improve identification of victims. Alongside a new offence, we are creating a new regime for CCE prevention orders to prevent exploitative conduct committed by adults against children from occurring or re-occurring.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_239
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_239

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used by Crime Registrars to determine whether hate incidents meet the criminal threshold. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) for recorded crime requires that every force in England and Wales must have a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) who has attended a College of Policing training course and been accredited as professionally competent.

The FCR is responsible for overseeing the correct application of the National Crime Recording Standards within their force which stipulate that:

An incident will be recorded as a crime for ‘victim related offences’ if, on the balance of probability:

(a) the circumstances of the victims’ report amount to a crime defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and the HOCR); and

(b) there is no credible evidence to the contrary immediately available.

Regarding hate crimes, these are defined as "any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender."

The FCR is the final arbiter within each force in relation to any crime recording decisions and in many forces their role extends to the recording of non-crime hate incidents.

The College of Policing publishes operational guidance known as ‘Authorised Professional Practice’ (APP) for the police, including FCRs, on how to deal with many different types of crimes or incidents. In June 2023, the College updated its APP relating specifically to non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) to align with the previous Government’s statutory code of practice.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_240
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_240

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support police officers unable to benefit from the final ten years of enhanced accrual under the 1987 Police Pension Scheme. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The main public service pension schemes – including the police pension schemes – were reformed following the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission in 2011. This reviewed the public service pensions landscape and the potential reforms in depth.

The 2015 scheme offers valuable pensions, improves affordability and sustainability, and is fairer to lower and middle earners. It is backed by the taxpayer, index-linked, and offers guaranteed benefits on retirement. Police officers, like the firefighters and the armed forces, also benefit from a normal pension age in the 2015 scheme of age 60, while other public service schemes have a normal pension age aligned to State Pension Age.

The 2015 scheme introduced valuable protections for the benefits that members have accrued in their legacy schemes (including the 1987 pension scheme): protecting the point at which they can draw those legacy benefits, maintaining a link to their final salary against their pensionable service and where applicable, a link to the enhanced accrual rate.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_241

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Dame Diana Johnson: No, Home Office has not used AI software to respond to written parliamentary questions.

.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_242

Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 20 December 2024 to Questions 19855 and 19857 on Climate Change: Demonstrations and to Questions 19852 and 19853 on Arms Trade: Israel, Question, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2023 and (b) Public Order Act 2023 on (i) the policing of protests and (ii) (A) arrests and (B) convictions for protest related activities. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental part of our democratic society.

We have committed to holding expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 beginning in May 2025. This process will review how the legislation has operated since it came into force. We will carefully consider the outputs of this review.

The full Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 will also be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. This will include a review of sections 73, 74 and 79, as well as the other public order measures in the Act.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_243
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_243

Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 20 December 2024 to Questions 19855 and 19857 on Climate Change: Demonstrations and to Questions 19852 and 19853 on Arms Trade: Israel, Question, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of (a) the policing of protests and (b) trends in the number of (a) arrests and (b) convictions for protest related activities. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental part of our democratic society.

We have committed to holding expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 beginning in May 2025. This process will review how the legislation has operated since it came into force. We will carefully consider the outputs of this review.

The full Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 will also be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. This will include a review of sections 73, 74 and 79, as well as the other public order measures in the Act.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_244
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_244

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the membership of the Technology Advisory Board has changed since June 2023. \p Dan Jarvis: I refer the Hon. Member to Question UIN 30994 answered on 24 February 2025.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_245
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_245

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who claimed asylum in the British Indian Ocean Territory and subsequently transferred to the UK (a) has been or (b) are the subject of an investigation into foreign espionage activities directed at (i) UK and (ii) international allies' interests. \p Dan Jarvis: All migrants who have arrived in the UK have undergone the required security checks in line with the appropriate immigration rules.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_246
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_246

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable the repurposing of assets seized from sanctions violations to fund reparation for victims and survivors of serious human rights or humanitarian law violations and serious corruption. \p Dan Jarvis: Prosecutors and/or law enforcement agencies are currently able to confiscate or permanently seize assets where someone has benefitted from their offending or where their assets have or will have links to criminality, by making use of powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

This includes powers to allow law enforcement agencies to take civil proceedings to enable the permanent seizure of assets that are demonstrated to have been obtained through unlawful conduct or which are intended for use in unlawful conduct.

We are committed to exploring all lawful routes through which Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_247

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) crime networks and (b) money laundering systems operating behind (i) barbers and (ii) nail shops. \p Dan Jarvis: Addressing cash-based money laundering is one of the strategic priorities of the National Economic Crime Centre, which sits within the National Crime Agency and who are currently working with partners to facilitate an increased operational response to this threat.

In parallel the National Police Chiefs Council economic crime co-ordinators are engaged in the development of Clear Hold Build strategies to help police forces tackle serious and organised crime.

Clear Hold Build aims to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by organised crime and increase public confidence in the police and partner agencies. This includes tackling financial crime on the high street.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_248
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_248

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide a path for settlement for Ukrainians in the UK linked to the 100 year partnership with Ukraine. \p Seema Malhotra: We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine to assist in the rebuilding of the country. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_249
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_249

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria her Department uses to establish the annual number of Seasonal Worker visas. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office works closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to set the annual quotas for the Seasonal Worker route. This process takes into consideration a range of data and information including previous years’ usages, work force plans and industry intelligence because the Government keeps the annual quota numbers under review, we are unable to provide an estimated projection of what the visa numbers will be over the next five years.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_250
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_250

Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what engagement she has had with the higher education sector ahead of the publication of the Legal Immigration White Paper. \p Seema Malhotra: We keep all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, consulting with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_251
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_251

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation process her Department undertook with (a) refugee advocacy organisations and (b) other stakeholders prior to implementing the changes to the Good Character: caseworker guidance. \p Seema Malhotra: We keep all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_252
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_252

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of Ofgem's criteria for conducting future reviews of the energy price cap methodology. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government continues to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the price cap continues to protect consumers from unfair prices.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_253
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_253

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Ofgem to consider average changes to wages in future energy price cap methodology. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government continues to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the price cap continues to protect consumers from unfair prices.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_254
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_254

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to provide financial support for pension-age carers, in the context of increases in the price cap for energy bills. \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, including pension-age carers. 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. Last week, we published a consultation on expanding the Warm Home Discount scheme for next winter, where we propose to remove the high cost to heat threshold, making all those on means tested benefits eligible for the scheme. This would make those of pension age, who claim the Saving Credit element of Pension Credit, eligible for a rebate next winter.

In addition, I have also worked with energy suppliers to agree a £500 million Winter Commitment to help customers struggling with bills this winter. I would urge any consumers struggling with their energy bills to contact their energy supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice to see what support they can receive.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_255
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_255

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to provide support to homes with an EPC rating of D and below in Newton Abbot constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: There are various schemes currently delivering home energy efficiency improvements across Great Britain, including Newton Abbot, such as the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Owner occupier households are eligible if they receive means tested benefits and fall within Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band D-G.

The new Warm Homes: Local Grant will also support low-income homeowners living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England, with delivery beginning this year.

The home retrofit tool on GOV.UK, ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) allows users to get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_256
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_256

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent reports that energy bills are forecast to rise from April 2025. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Energy bills are forecast to rise for the period 1 April to 30 June 2025 due to an increase in international gas prices.

The Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy. 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.

We continue to monitor energy prices and the price cap and are working to ensure bills are affordable for consumers in the long-term, including through our work with Ofgem to reform standing charges, and through our Warm Homes Plan which will upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_257
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_257

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the cost to the public purse was of expenditure by Ofgem on consulting services in each of the last three years. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Ofgem is an independent regulator and while DESNZ works closely Ofgem, it is directly accountable to Parliament for its performance.

Ofgem’s expenditure on other consultancy services for the past three years was:

• 2023-24: £18.8m• 2022-23: £29.6m• 2021-22: £23.4m

Ofgem attempts to minimise its reliance on external support by running targeted recruitment for the skills required to deliver its functions. Information on Ofgem’s expenditure is available in its annual reports (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/about-us/ofgem-annual-reports).
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_258
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_258

Andy McDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of households eligible for the Warm Homes Discount in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency in winter 2025-26. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (82%) of the residential premises in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency come from Middlesbrough constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 9,708 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and not eligibility.

We don't have constituency-level estimates of likely numbers of future recipients of the Warm Home Discount under the potential expansion set out in the recent consultation. At a national level, we expect around an 80% increase in overall eligibility, but this will vary at local level due to e.g. differences in demographics, household makeup or the balance of rented vs owner-occupied properties, since these kind of factors could affect the likelihood of the benefit recipient (or their partner or appointee) being named on their energy bill (which is a requirement for eligibility).

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/warm-home-discount-statistics-2023-to-2024
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_259
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_259

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of redistributing green levies and surcharges to help increase energy affordability. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is committed to ensuring a fair and affordable transition to Net Zero while considering the impact of policy costs on all energy consumers. Consumer energy bills are a vital tool to leverage private sector investment to support our critical goals to decarbonise the energy market whilst contributing to economic growth. Policy costs, or levies, fund essential schemes that have delivered significant benefits, including increasing renewable generation capacity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The Renewables Obligation and the Feed-in Tariffs schemes are now closed to new applications but have brought forward the successful renewable electricity sector that we see today in the UK.

The Department keeps the aggregate impact of these policies under review.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_260
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_260

Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to accelerate (a) retrofit and (b) home upgrades for social housing residents. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will improve the existing housing stock by tackling fuel poverty and ensuring lower energy bills for decades to come. The Autumn 2024 Budget confirmed an initial £3.4 billion for heat decarbonisation and household energy over the next three years. This includes £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes, with £1.29 billion of grant funding allocated to Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in England to support social housing providers and tenants, with delivery starting in April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_261
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_261

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Michael Shanks: The Department does not formally use AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_262
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_262

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will visit the decommissioning power stations at (a) Oldbury and (b) Berkeley (Severn Edge); and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (i) deploying Small Modular Reactors at Oldbury and (ii) developing a Science & Technology Park at Berkeley. \p Michael Shanks: Great British Nuclear is driving forward its Small Modular Reactor competition and has separately acquired the site at Oldbury-on-Severn. No decisions have yet been taken on deployment of technologies at specific sites but the merits of any projects would be considered. We will also consider where the UK's science and innovation infrastructure is best placed to deliver new nuclear’s needs.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_263
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_263

Ian Lavery:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many contracts his Department has awarded to Altrad since 2022; what the value of those contracts is; and how many of those contracts relate to the removal of asbestos. \p Michael Shanks: We do not hold any contracts for this supplier “Altrad”.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_264
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_264

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of steel supply chain exposure to Uyghur forced labour in the production of wind turbines. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is committed to tackling the issue of forced labour in supply chains and is taking robust action. Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 places a requirement on businesses with a turnover of £36m or more to publish an annual modern slavery statement, setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chain.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_265
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_265

Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years. \p Michael Shanks: DESNZ operates seven social media accounts. Since the Department was established on 7th February 2023, we can only provide information for the past two years. The department spends £84 annually on subscriptions and allocated £366,928 in 2023 and £545,576 in 2024 for advertisements on social media platform.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_266
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_266

Lola McEvoy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many projects are waiting to be connected to the National Grid in Darlington constituency. \p Michael Shanks: The Government does not hold data on projects awaiting a grid connection on a constituency basis. The latest national register for transmission connections is available at https://www.neso.energy/data-portal/transmission-entry-capacity-tec-register/tec_register_-_25_february_2025 and for distribution connections in the North-East at https://northernpowergrid.opendatasoft.com/explore/dataset/embedded-capacity-register/information/?disjunctive.local_authority&disjunctive.point_of_connection_poc_voltage_kv
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_267
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_267

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department will take to ensure local authorities are adequately resourced to improve standards in the private rented sector. \p Matthew Pennycook: Through the Renters’ Rights Bill, the government is strengthening local authorities’ enforcement powers and extending and increasing ring-fenced civil penalties to support a ‘polluter pays’ approach.

In accordance with the New Burdens Doctrine, we will ensure additional net costs on local authorities created by our reforms are fully funded.

We will continue to explore how best we can create a sustainable funding system for private rented sector enforcement over the long-term, including through fees.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_268
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_268

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Alex Norris: No, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not used AI software to respond to written parliamentary questions.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_269
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_269

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 29 January 2025, HCWS396, on Growth Corridor Strategy, if she will place the list the proposed locations of each of the 18 submissions for large-scale new developments within the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. \p Alex Norris: The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.

The Taskforce will not be sharing information about its locations evidence base prior to publication of the final report.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_270
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_270

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays to the implementation of the Future Homes Standard on home efficiency standards. \p Alex Norris: The Government understands the urgency of introducing new energy efficiency standards so that as many homes as possible are built to be zero-carbon ready. We are committed to implementing the Future Homes Standard this year, and are taking the time to set the technical requirements at a level which is ambitious and keeps us on track to achieve our net zero ambitions, while also being achievable across all sites.

In the meantime, please rest assured that an uplift to the energy efficiency standards in 2021, which came into effect in June 2022, set high standards for home energy efficiency. New homes built between now and the Future Homes Standard coming into force will likely be built to these 2021 standards. They should therefore have excellent fabric quality, including insulation, and are likely to include low-carbon technologies, such as solar panels or heat pumps.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_271
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_271

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure new developments are built to standards which reflect (a) nature and (b) climate targets. \p Alex Norris: The Future Homes and Buildings Standards, to be introduced later this year, will set our new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and ensures they are fit for a net zero future. In addition, Part O of the Building Regulations requires new buildings to mitigate the risk of overheating.

Biodiversity Net Gain requires development to deliver environmental improvements locally and nationally. Our new Nature Restoration Fund will provide the opportunity for development to fund nature recovery, creating a win-win outcome for both the economy and nature. In addition, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 made some immediate changes to support climate change mitigation and adaptation. The NPPF also makes clear that the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_272
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_272

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on infrastructure development alongside new housing in Huntingdon constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: MHCLG Ministers regularly collaborate with official and Ministerial colleagues across government to deliver shared priorities, including in relation to the provision of housing and infrastructure.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 26106 on 5 February 2025.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_273
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_273

Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring that both staircases in new residential buildings over 18 metres function as fire-fighting staircases. \p Alex Norris: In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the UK government took significant steps to enhance fire safety in new residential buildings including increased provisions of sprinkler systems, and the ban on combustible materials in external walls.

Following engagement with the sector including fire and rescue services, developers and designers, the government proposed to introduce new guidance making provisions for a second staircases in new residential buildings exceeding 18 metres in height. This new guidance takes effect on 30 September 2026.

The current guidance, Approved Document B (Fire Safety), is already clear that residential buildings with a floor area of 900sqm should include a minimum of two firefighting stairs. For buildings below this threshold where a second stair is provided, the second staircases should be, as a minimum, a protected escape stair able to provide an effective means of egress for occupants.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_274
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_274

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 22777 on Land Registry: Buildings, what the methodological definition is of a volume of people who attended an office location during November 2024; and what the frequency of attendance in a week is that would class as a staff member attending. \p Matthew Pennycook: Further to the answer given to Question UIN 22777 on 27 January 2025, the figure given for each office is the number of individual members of staff based at that office who attended the office on at least one day within the specified month.

A member of staff is recorded as having attended the office on any given day if they spent the majority of that day at a HM Land Registry office (or another workplace that is not a HM Land Registry office such as other government department, supplier premises or customer offices, where they needed to do so for work).

The number of staff assigned to each of HM Land Registry’s offices on 30 November 2024 and 26 February 2025 can be found in the table below. No adjustment has been made to attendance numbers to account for those on short term leave.

Office Location

Net Headcount (excluding long-term absences) 30 November 2024

Net Headcount (excluding long-term absences) 26 February 2025

Birkenhead

547

540

Coventry

278

286

Croydon

398

402

Durham

827

816

Fylde

444

445

Gloucester

361

358

Hull

371

383

Leicester

310

326

Nottingham

580

566

Peterborough

297

300

Plymouth

804

803

Swansea

879

881

Telford

359

353

Weymouth

275

272

Total

6730

6731
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_275
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_275

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the resources of the Planning Inspectorate in dealing with (a) local and (b) national planning appeals within target timeframes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Inspectorate is performing well across a number of key areas such as local plan examinations, nationally significant infrastructure project applications, s62a applications, and planning appeals proceeding by hearings and inquiries. It is, for example:

The Inspectorate is implementing actions to maintain performance in these areas and to improve end-to-end times for other casework including by:

In addition, the Inspectorate has designed and developed a new digital Appeals Service currently in Beta phase. This new service improves the process for submitting appeals, including reducing the number of invalid appeals submitted. In turn, this reduces the number of validation checks required and is speeding up the time taken to validate appeals. The new service has been expanded to cover all local planning authority areas.

In five pilot local authority areas the digital Appeals Service is now being used to progress the appeal from receipt through to decision. This provides an interface for Local Planning Authorities and appellants to manage appeals and automate notifications which are expected to save time for participants, improve their experience of the appeals service and be a foundation for further improvements.

The Planning Inspectorate is an Arm's Length Government Body with responsibility for allocation of resources, prioritisation and overall operational performance. The Inspectorate publishes updates on its performance on its website regularly.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_276
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_276

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultations on establishing mayoral combined authorities, published on 17 February 2025, for what reason respondents are asked their sexual orientation to respond to the consultation. \p Jim McMahon: Collecting demographic information in the consultation helps us to understand whether the responses we receive are representative of those who live and work in the areas involved in the consultations. This will also help MHCLG conduct an equality impact assessment to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. We are not asking for information that identifies individuals in consultation responses, and the demographic information provided is anonymous.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_277
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_277

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30642 on Tower Hamlets Council, which opposition parties are represented on the Board; and if she will ensure that each opposition party on the council is able to send a councillor to the Board. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30642 on 19 February 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister has directed that Tower Hamlets Council should include at least two opposition councillors on its Transformation and Assurance Board. The exact approach to that is, quite properly, a matter for the Council itself not for Ministers.

The Council is responsible, subject to the Directions given by the Deputy Prime Minister, for its own improvement journey and the government is committed to working in a spirit of partnership to ensure councils across the country are fit, legal and decent.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_278
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_278

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on what the value of business rates written off by Buckinghamshire Council was in each of the last three financial years. \p Jim McMahon: Data on the amount of business rates that local authorities have written off are published as part of the annual ‘Collection of council tax and business rates’ statistical release, published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics#collection-rates-for-council-tax-and-non-domestic-rates.

Local authorities are asked to report the amount written off in the financial year across three lines – in relation to bills for the year itself, in relation to the previous year only and in relation to earlier financial years. All local authority level data are published in Table 9.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_279
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_279

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in Local Government Pension Scheme asset allocation to UK equities in the last ten years. \p Jim McMahon: The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) invests approximately 9% of its total assets of c. £392 billion in UK equities (or 17% of its total equity holdings) compared to over 20% a decade ago. The government’s landmark pensions review aims to unlock investment in the UK economy.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_280
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_280

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 902375 on Electoral Register: Wales, if she publish the minutes of the Interministerial Group on Elections for meetings held since 4 July 2024. \p Rushanara Ali: The Interministerial Group met on 12 February 2025 and the communique will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_281
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_281

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 October 2024 to Question 10528 on Candidates: Expenditure, what guidance the Government issued to (a) candidates, (b) parties and (c) election agents on notional invoices in Representation of the People Act returns before 2001. \p Rushanara Ali: The government is not responsible for issuing guidance on campaign expenditure. From 2001, it has been the role of the independent regulator, the Electoral Commission, to issue guidance on campaign expenditure, including notional expenditure. Retrieving the information on the position prior to 2001 could only be done at a disproportionate cost to the department.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_282
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_282

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to bind ring-fenced planning department budgets within local authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The ringfencing, or retention, of planning fee income within local authority planning services will be considered as part of the government’s longer-term plans for planning fees.
wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_283
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_283

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the role of local nature recovery strategies in local planning decisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local Nature Recovery Strategies are being prepared across England to set out priorities for nature recovery, map important habitats and identify opportunities for improvements.

The government recently updated its Planning Practice Guidance to explain the role of Local Nature Recovery Strategies in the planning system and made clear as part of that update that these strategies will form an evidence base which may be a material consideration when making planning decisions.

It is for individual decision-makers to determine what is a relevant material consideration in each case.