theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 23916 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Legal Costs, whether her policy on naming organisations or groups as extremist affects her policy on not engaging with extremist organisations. \p Alex Norris: The community engagement principles were a policy launched by the previous administration – they provided a set of standards and guidance on how Government should consider which partners to engage with. Guidance was published in March 2024, but the principles were never implemented by the last government. The naming of extremist groups was also part of the Counter-Extremism policy by the previous administration. The responsibility for decisions around who departments engage with sits with those departments and the appropriate policy areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

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Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there are any requirements for civil servants to book a desk in advance in order to attend the office in person in each of (a) their Department's office workplaces and (b) the arm’s length bodies of their Department. \p Alex Norris: For all of offices except Darlington, we have a desk booking system which enables staff to reserve a desk prior to attending the office. However, it is a recommendation rather than a requirement for staff to reserve a space in advance. In the Darlington Economic Campus, staff book a space rather than a desk to attend the office and this is done in collaboration with the other Departments we share with.

ALBs operate at arm's length from the department and have the flexibility to determine their own workplace policies, including desk booking arrangements. The department does not collect this information centrally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled, Plan for Neighbourhoods: prospectus, updated on 12 March 2025, whether there will be further rounds of funding available for towns not selected in this round. \p Alex Norris: The new £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods will deliver up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, a long-term commitment to building the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards.

Through the Plan for Neighbourhoods, the locations and associated funding will remain the same as under the Long-Term Plan for Towns. We are delivering on what places were promised by the previous government, during the last Parliament.

There are no plans to expand the programme at this time, this would be a decision for the upcoming Spending Review. The Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister have been clear that the Spending Review will need to support the delivery of the government’s plan for a decade of national renewal and raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s Plan for Neighbourhoods: prospectus, updated on 13 March 2025, on what basis local authorities in Bedfordshire were excluded from selection. \p Alex Norris: The Plan for Neighbourhoods was launched on 4 March. The 75 places across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were chosen via a selection methodology that has been published in the Plan for Neighbourhoods prospectus. The metrics used for selection included indices of multiple deprivation, healthy life expectancy, skill level, and Gross Value Added per hour worked. As well as this, eligible places had to have a population size of between 20,000 and 100,000.

All 75 towns across the UK that were originally selected to receive Long-Term Plan for Towns funding will receive the Plan for Neighbourhoods package. We are making good on those commitments, giving each of the 75 places the certainty that they will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 26862 on New Towns Taskforce, how the taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Taskforce is reviewing responses to its December call for evidence and will be working with local partners to consider potential new town locations ahead of making its recommendations to ministers this summer.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions the New Towns Taskforce has had with relevant stakeholders on access to banking services in new towns. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises 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.

As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce has been tasked with identifying the infrastructure, public and private services, and green space required to enable the creation of well-connected new towns in potential locations.

The taskforce has developed draft principles which should provide the building blocks for every new town. These were published in the Building new towns for the future policy paper published on 12 February which can be found on gov.uk here.

The Taskforce also plans to undertake a series of engagement events to understand what the public think the core components of new towns should be and to further test the design and placemaking principles published in the policy paper.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how new unitary authorities will be required to (a) merge their existing local plans and (b) set new local plans following reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: The legal status of local plans is not impacted by local government reorganisation. Where reorganisation occurs new unitary authorities are expected to promptly prepare a local plan covering the whole of their area. Until that new plan is adopted, existing constituent local plans remain in force as part of the development plan for their area. New unitary authorities have the discretion to progress emerging constituent local plans.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much Homes England has spent on consultants since 5 July 2024. \p Alex Norris: Since 5 July 2024 to present Homes England has spent £2,240,319.90 (excluding VAT) on consultants to provide external advice and support on a number of key projects to improve the operations of the agency.

For transparency, all Agency consultancy spend over £250 is published on Homes England’s website.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the non-regression principle in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on her Department's ability to introduce deregulatory measures to increase housebuilding. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to unlocking and accelerating the building of new homes without reducing relevant protections. For example, the new Nature Restoration Fund provided for by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will enable developers to fund restoration more efficiently whilst securing improved outcomes for the environment. As such, the Bill would not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection of existing environmental law and the Secretary of State has confirmed as much via a statement under section 20(3) of the Environment Act.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 25268 on Political Parties: Finance, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent (a) Iranian, (b) Russian and (c) Chinese citizens who are resident in (i) Wales and (ii) Scotland donating to UK (A) political parties and (B) regulated donees. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 25690 on 30 January 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 34616 on Voting Rights: Foreign Nationals, what checks are undertaken to ensure that Commonwealth citizens seeking to sign up to an electoral roll are qualifying Commonwealth citizens. \p Rushanara Ali: Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers. EROs hold legal powers which allow them to request documentary evidence to confirm an applicant’s nationality, if they are not satisfied as to any applicant's nationality.

The application form to register to vote is clear about the possibility of applicants being required to provide additional evidence about their nationality, and that their nationality or immigration status may be checked against government records. The Electoral Commission has also published guidance for EROs on the types of evidence they may request, and advice on how to check immigration records held by the Home Office.
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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support councils to provide temporary accommodation in London. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high, and we are taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, grant funding for homelessness services is increasing this year by £233 million compared to last year (2024/25). This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings total funding to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26.

This Government has inherited record levels of temporary accommodation, and we recognise the pressure this has put on councils. The government regularly takes a wide range of evidence into account when determining the overall level of funding available for local government services, including expected temporary accommodation pressures in 202/26. The majority of funding provided through the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced in recognition that local councils are best placed to understand the needs of their communities. The Government has confirmed there will be over £5 billion additional government grant funding available for local government services in 2025/26, over and above increases to council tax. Of this, over £2 billion is being made available through the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26.

The Government is clear that, in the short-term, we must prioritise eliminating the worst forms of temporary accommodation such as families in Bed and Breakfast (B&B), other than in genuine emergencies. We have also launched Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots, backed by £8 million, to work with 20 local councils with the highest use of B&B accommodation for homeless families, including 11 London Boroughs. This will support LAs to move families into more suitable accommodation.  Redbridge is one of the pilot areas we’re working with to test innovative approaches and kickstart new initiatives; sharing the learning across the country.

In addition, the £1.25 billion Local Authority Housing Fund will provide capital funding directly to English councils and is expected to around 7,700 homes by 2026. It will create a lasting asset for UK nationals by building a sustainable stock of affordable housing and better-quality temporary accommodation for local communities.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 34860 on MHCLG: Greenpeace, and of 11 March 2025 to Question HL5100 on Community Relations, whether her Department’s decision not to engage with (a) Greenpeace, (b) XR and (c) Just Stop Oil is due to (i) her Department’s engagement principles or (b) other reasons. \p Alex Norris: Decisions concerning who we engage with are carefully considered by government departments on a case by case basis. The government will only engage with organisations when it is in the public interest.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to encourage freeholders of buildings occupied by multiple leaseholders to install solar panels. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has commenced the Right to Manage measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. They came into effect on 3 March 2025.

These changes implement the Law Commission recommendation to increase the non-residential floorspace limit from 25 to 50 per cent for Right to Manage claims. This means that more leaseholders in mixed-use buildings will qualify for the right to manage, gaining control over the management of their building. Further changes mean that leaseholders making right to manage claims will no longer have to pay their freeholder’s process costs for that claim.

Taken together, these changes will give more leaseholders the opportunity to take greater control over the buildings they live in, enabling them to more easily progress the installation of rooftop solar where the lease in question permits this.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to require developers to complete flood defences committed to at planning stage in areas at risk of flooding within a mandated time period. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local planning authorities are responsible for ensuring compliance with planning permissions and conditions, including monitoring and taking enforcement action if necessary.

National planning guidance makes clear that where flood risk management infrastructure such as flood defences form part of the strategy for addressing flood risk, strategic and site-specific flood risk assessments should identify how this infrastructure will be operated, funded and maintained.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Environment Agency's data entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, updated on 28 January 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions UIN 29949 on 19 February 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what will happen to adopted local plans within local authorities abolished in local government re-organisation. \p Matthew Pennycook: The legal status of local development plans is not impacted by local government reorganisation. Where reorganisation occurs, new unitary authorities are expected to promptly prepare a local plan covering the whole of their area. Until that new plan is adopted, existing constituent local plans remain in force as part of the development plan for their area. New unitary authorities have the discretion to progress any emerging constituent local plans.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 11 March 2025, whether she has made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has had a constructive engagement with the sector regarding our proposals for mandatory training for planning committee members and we will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders in respect of the details of the proposed training and how this will be delivered.

We have not made an estimate of the number of planning applications decided by the casting vote of the chair if the size of planning committees is reduced. We will, however, consult on the right level to set the size of planning committees to reflect best practice.
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring tenancy agreements to allow domestic appliances to be used at times that allow people living in (a) flats and (b) houses in multiple occupation to take advantage of off-peak energy tariffs. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill will require private rented sector landlords in England to provide new tenants with a written statement of terms, which in practice will usually be provided via a written tenancy agreement.

Regulations will be made before the reforms are commenced, setting out what this written information must include. The Department is currently engaging with interested parties to seek their views on this information and will consider utilities as part of that process.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of introducing a specific offence for the sale of stolen exam board papers. \p Catherine McKinnell: Ofqual, the independent regulator for qualifications, exams and assessments in England, are clear in their guidance issued to schools, colleges and students about the importance of exam security and the repercussions of committing any form of malpractice.

In addition to this, depending on the specific circumstances, individuals could be charged by the police under existing legislation.
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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the adoption and special guardianship support fund permanent. \p Janet Daby: An announcement on funding for the adoption and special guardianship support fund will be made as soon as possible. All future decisions will be considered as part of the next spending review.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18517 on Natural History: GCSE, what progress she has made in her consideration of next steps on the implementation of a new GCSE in Natural History. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government recognises the importance of providing all children and young people with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to understand and develop a connection to the natural world, access green careers, and thrive in life and work in a world with a changing climate.

The government is therefore pleased to confirm that we will be moving ahead with a new GCSE in natural history. The GCSE will enable more young people to benefit from the opportunity to learn about the natural world in more depth at key stage 4. It will equip them to understand and respect the natural world and contribute to the protection and conservation of the environment locally, nationally and internationally.

The content of the new natural history GCSE will need to build on the curriculum content that pupils learn earlier in their schooling related to the natural world in subjects like science, geography and citizenship. We therefore plan to finalise and consult on proposed subject content for the new GCSE after the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review has concluded. The Review Group is expecting to publish its final report with recommendations in autumn 2025.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of school uniform costs on families in Slough. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department published its latest research on the cost of school uniform in September 2024, which surveyed parents and carers of children aged 4 to 16 attending state-funded schools in England. The research can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms-survey-2023.

This research found that the average total expenditure on school uniform and physical education (PE) kit, based on the items required in 2023, was £381.92. There were higher levels of expenditure for children in secondary schools, at £442.25, than in primary schools, at £343.28, and within both phases for girls (secondary: £454.31; primary: £357.28) compared to boys (secondary: £430.40; primary: £330.78).

The data was sampled to be representative of the population at primary and secondary level. The sample size was not large enough to make robust comparisons at a regional level.

Too many families still tell the department that the cost of school uniform remains a financial burden. ​This is why we have introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities. This will give parents more choice in where to purchase uniform and allow them greater flexibility to make the spending decisions that suit their circumstances.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provision available for young people with SEND who are at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) (a) in Cornwall and (b) nationally; and what steps she is taking to ensure they receive support to enter education, employment, or training. \p Catherine McKinnell: All education and training providers, as with other related service providers, have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, so they are not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled students. This includes people with a learning difficulty. This duty is set out under section 20 of the Equality Act 2010, which is available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/20.

Local authorities are also responsible for commissioning education for young people who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan and have high needs. Cornwall Council’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) offer is developed in partnership with parents, carers and stakeholders, which includes the two colleges in Cornwall. The Together for Family’s SEND strategy sets out Cornwall Council’s considerations for post-16 young people. Schools and colleges in Cornwall help young people prepare for adulthood and there are specific programmes of education to support young people in moving on to further education, independent living, training and/or employment.

The council provides further support for young people at risk of becoming not in employment, education or training (NEET) through the Cornwall Opportunities Initiative and the Youth Engagement Project for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, aimed at disadvantaged young people, which has received £2 million from the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund. The latter programme works with young people aged 16 to 24, with a specific focus on 16 to 18 year-olds who are NEET or are at risk of NEET, have special educational needs, or are in other vulnerable groupings.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps he has taken with global partners to achieve a global clean energy transition. \p Kerry McCarthy: The UK works closely with international partners towards an accelerated global clean energy transition, building on our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This includes working through the UNFCCC and other multilateral fora; through alliances including the Global Clean Power Alliance; and bilaterally, as with our recent engagement with China. The UK will host with the International Energy Agency an international Summit on the Future of Energy Security in London on 24-25 April, seeking to build a holistic approach that meets our changing needs as we drive forward the global energy transition.
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Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by National Infrastructure Commission entitled Electricity distribution networks: creating capacity for the future, published on 21 February 2025. \p Michael Shanks: The government welcomes the overall thrust of the National Infrastructure Commission’s study and its focus on supporting strategic investment in the distribution network. We are reviewing the detail of the study with our key delivery partners and will publish a response to the individual recommendations this spring. This will include how current policy work is addressing the recommendations and how we will build on this in the future.
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Luke Akehurst: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 the level of the UK’s reliance on Chinese technology in (a) solar panels, (b) wind power generation and (c) batteries. \p Michael Shanks: This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must. As an open economy, we welcome foreign trade and investment where it supports growth and jobs in the UK and meets our legal and regulatory requirements. We work closely with industry to build secure supply chains and back UK businesses. The government has also established Great British Energy to drive forward greater investment in clean, home-grown energy production and to build supply chains across the UK.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the development of green technologies. \p Kerry McCarthy: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to her on Question UIN 32430:

The Government is committed to supporting the growth and scaling-up of green technologies, including through the creation of GB Energy, as part of its Clean Energy Superpower Mission. A combined total of £1.3 billion has been committed through the 2021-25 Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to accelerate the commercialisation of green technologies supporting around 5,500 jobs and leveraging £750 million in private investment. The Government will set out its full approach to seizing the growth opportunities from clean energy industries in the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
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Ms Polly Billington:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential implications of the development of the Land Use Framework for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. \p Michael Shanks: My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to upgrade grid capacity and infrastructure in South East Cornwall to support the integration of renewable energy projects. \p Michael Shanks: The Government’s Clean Energy Superpower and Growth missions will be enabled by a significant reinforcement of our electricity network, at all levels across the high voltage transmission and lower-voltage distribution networks. The network companies are responsible for owning and operating the grid, and Government is working with them, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to accelerate the delivery of network infrastructure and enable the connection of new renewable generation.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to (a) incentivise and (b) support households to adopt clean energy solutions in South East Cornwall constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: For homes, we have kickstarted delivery of the Government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan, which will transform homes across the country, including those in South East Cornwall, by making them cleaner and cheaper to run. This includes grant support through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), and targeted support for low income and fuel poor households, namely GBIS, ECO. The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, and Warm Homes: Local Grant will also begin delivery this year.

The Government is also committed to making electric vehicle charging infrastructure more affordable and accessible, particularly for those without off-street parking, and is offering grants to support the installation of private chargepoints in residential and commercial properties.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure that pricing for energy bills is competitive. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Energy prices for households on default tariffs are determined by Ofgem’s price cap, which is set at a level that protects such consumers from paying inefficient prices, while allowing for competition between suppliers.

Prices for other tariffs, including fixed tariffs and non-domestic tariffs, are set by suppliers, who compete for customers on the basis of price and quality of service.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of low benefit-in-kind rates for electric vehicles on carbon emissions since 2020-21. \p Kerry McCarthy: The department has not made a specific assessment of this kind. Transport decarbonisation policy is led by the Department for Transport, while HM Treasury is responsible for strategic oversight of the UK’s tax system. The department continues to work in close collaboration with both, as the Government seeks to decarbonise the UK’s transport networks.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_127

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on the rollout of 5G. \p Chris Bryant: The Government outlined its estimates of the potential impact of Part 2 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 in its de minimis impact assessment. The impact assessment can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/627a76c88fa8f57d86f3f0ce/De_Minimist_Impact_Assessment_-_Telecommunications_Infrastructure__PSTI_Bill_.pdf. A specific assessment in relation to 5G rollout was not carried out.

The Act introduced a range of measures intended to optimise the use of existing apparatus and to support network deployment. Most measures are now in force, and the government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions as soon as possible.
wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_128

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment o strengthening protections from AI-generated CSAM by introducing a statutory duty for all Generative AI developers to (a) complete a risk assessment and (b) mitigate the risks of their products contributing to illegal activity. \p Feryal Clark: AI generated child sexual abuse images are illegal material. It is an offence to produce, store or share any material that contains or depicts child sexual abuse, regardless of whether the material depicts a real child or not.

The Online Safety Act places new duties on companies that provide user-to-user services and search services to prevent CSAM appearing on their services, and to have systems in place to remove it quickly when it does.

We also remain committed to introducing targeted rules on companies developing the most powerful AI models to ensure we can realise the benefits of these systems safely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_129

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to protect children against the risks of generative-AI content on small websites. \p Feryal Clark: AI generated content is regulated by the Online Safety Act where it is shared on an in-scope service and constitutes illegal content or content which is harmful to children. Providers who publish pornographic content must protect children from that content, including where it is AI generated.

In recognition of the unique risks that small but high-risk platforms pose to users, Ofcom, the online safety regulator, has established a taskforce to tackle these services. The taskforce’s aim is to proactively identify services, focusing on those posing the most severe risks of harm, and ensure compliance with the Act.
wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_130
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_130

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will put a statutory duty on small websites to prevent putting children at risk of (a) sexual extortion, (b) grooming and (c) generating child sexual abuse images. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Safety Act creates new duties on online services to protect users from being harmed by illegal content and activity. The strongest duties are to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation (CSEA) and to stop child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from being shared. The illegal content duties have been in effect from 17 March. Ofcom is the regulator for the regime and has set out steps providers can take including strong automated content moderation measures and anti-grooming measures. Ofcom will continue to develop their codes iteratively, including measures to detect, prevent and remove CSAM.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_131

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will introduce legislation to put a statutory duty on generative AI developers to (a) complete risk assessments for and (b) mitigate risks of contributing to illegal activity. \p Feryal Clark: We remain committed to introducing targeted rules on companies developing the most powerful AI models to ensure we can realise the benefits of these systems safely.

The Central AI Risk Function continues to identify, assess and prepare for risks associated with AI, including the risks of AI contributing to illegal activity.

The Online Safety Act also places new duties on companies that provide user-to-user services and search services that will do more to mitigate the risk of illegal content on their services.

We will continue to engage with the tech sector to support them in making their technology safer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_132

Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of progress towards the CLEAR UK Space Agency Mission de-orbiting two satellites by 2026. \p Chris Bryant: The ‘CLEAR’ debris removal mission, led by ClearSpace UK, passed its Preliminary Design Review in April 2024. Since then, through phase two of the UK Space Agency’s active debris removal (ADR) programme, CLEAR has undergone £2,350,000 of derisking activities to enhance the technology readiness levels of critical mission systems and refine mission costs.

CLEAR’s progress is in line with UK Space Agency (UKSA) mission planning. Subject to the Spending Review outcome, UKSA is developing the business case for phase three of the ADR programme which, if successful, will be published for tender in mid-2025 and awarded to one supplier for mission launch in 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_133

Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of LaunchUK in facilitating a small satellite launch. \p Chris Bryant: Government is committed to making the UK a European leader in small satellite launches and delivering a launch capability that brings benefits to communities and organisations across the UK.

We have made significant progress towards this goal. The UK is the only European country with multiple spaceports licensed for orbital launches, and Spaceport Cornwall conducted the first orbital launch from European soil in 2023. Although the satellites carried onboard were not successfully placed into orbit due to an anomaly, the launch showed that the UK is capable of launching satellites into space.

The next UK launches are planned from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, which received its launch licence last year. Several domestic and foreign launch operators are targeting orbital launches from SaxaVord from this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_134

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 35265 on Animal Experiments, what steps he plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) report on progress made against the commitments set out in the planned strategy. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. Regarding the monitoring and reporting on progress on commitments made, the plan will include arrangements for governance of delivery.
wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_135

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the accountability of social media companies on online safety. \p Feryal Clark: The Online Safety Act puts new duties on social media companies and search services, making them responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.

The duties are now coming into effect, with platforms now being required by law to implement measures to reduce the risk of illegal content and activity on their services, with additional protections for children coming this Summer.

Ofcom has a range of strong enforcement powers to use if services fail to comply with the Act, including the ability to issue fines, and implement business disruption measures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_136

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with social media companies on online safety for children. \p Feryal Clark: This year, as platforms start to comply with the duties under the Online Safety Act, the Government has high expectations that there will be a significant change in online experiences for children and Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users online.

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss how we can continue to protect children online. Details of ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_137

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28458 on Life Sciences: Northern Ireland, what the geographical spread was of the projects that received funding up to the summer of 2024. \p Feryal Clark: The Life and Health Sciences Launchpad in Northern Ireland has so far funded 32 business-led projects. These were in the following local authorities:
wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_138

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the 1.7% increase in benefits that are linked to inflation from April 2025 for disabled people receiving a state pension. \p Torsten Bell: Attendance Allowance (which provides support for pensioners with care needs) has been consistently uprated in line with inflation since it was introduced and will be increased by 1.7% from April 2025. This means that the higher rate of Attendance Allowance will be £110.40 per week, and the lower rate £73.90 per week in 2025/26. Expenditure on Attendance Allowance was around £6.9 billion (real terms) in 2023/24 and is forecast to increase to £7.7 billion in 2024/25, before rising to £8.6 billion by 2029/30. Extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance, which may also be paid to people over state pension age, will also be increased by 1.7% from 7 April 2025.

In addition to this, over 12 million pensioners will see their basic or new State Pension increase by 4.1% in April 2025, worth up to £470 a year. Our commitment to protect the Triple Lock on the new and basic State Pensions means that, over the course of this Parliament (up to and including 2029/30), the OBR forecasts that Government spending on the State Pension will rise by over £31 billion.

We are also increasing the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit by 4.1%. Pension Credit provides extra money to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income and includes additional amounts for those with a severe disability, caring responsibilities, responsibility for a child, or certain housing costs. Extra-costs disability benefits can also give rise to a disability addition in Pension Credit, meaning that disabled pensioners are more likely to be entitled to Pension Credit, and at a higher amount, than those without disabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-21 conversation_140

Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with representatives of the WASPI campaign on support available for women affected by state pension age changes. \p Torsten Bell: My predecessor met with representatives from WASPI Ltd in September 2024, the first Minister to do so for 8 years.