theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 32060 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to publish a cross-departmental consultation on measures to help tackle delays facing (a) transport and (b) other infrastructure organisations in securing permission to install a distribution network operator connection from highways authorities. \p Lilian Greenwood: We continue to work with other government departments, such as MHCLG and DESNZ, to understand what changes are required to remove barriers to installing chargepoints and obtaining grid connections.

In December 2024, we announced further changes to planning permission for off-street locations and published a grid connections review specifically focused on electric vehicle charging. We continue to work with industry stakeholders to streamline relevant processes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve bus connectivity in )a) Great Gaddesden and (b) other rural areas. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in Tring, Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated over £12 million of this funding, and Buckinghamshire over £6 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, support early morning or evening services and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Michelle Welsh:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the transition to an online- only application process for the Blue Badge scheme has made on (a) neurodiverse people and (b) people with disabilities. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government has no current plans to make Blue Badge applications online-only. For online applications, the Department for Transport works continuously to improve online badge applications so they are quicker and easier for applicants. This includes undertaking specific research and testing to identify innovative improvements to the online application process. The service also undergoes regular accessibility and assurance testing to guarantee compliance with the Government’s digital standards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Seamus Logan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her Department's original budget for the Great Western Railway modernisation project was; how much her Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms. \p Simon Lightwood: The Great Western Route Modernisation Programme was estimated to cost £2,967m at the time of the 2015 Business Case. The outturn cost for the Programme in 2021/22 was £3,863m.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the recent £2 million Bus Service Improvement Plan funding allocated to Dorset Council is effectively utilised to enhance bus services in underserved rural communities within West Dorset. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government is committed to seeing better, more reliable bus services delivered right across England, including in West Dorset and other rural communities.

Local transport authorities are encouraged to use funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) on schemes that they, and local operators, believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and therefore maintaining service levels, whilst ensuring essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

This will be different for each area. We believe local leaders know their areas best and so are best placed to make decisions about how to improve services to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with farming communities on the potential impact of rural road infrastructure on farming operations. \p Lilian Greenwood: Local highway authorities are responsible for their local roads, in both rural and urban areas. It is up to them to engage as necessary with relevant stakeholders, including farming communities, on matters of this sort.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department will make an assessment of the impact of (a) unfilled station staff vacancies and (b) use of fixed-term contracts at Avanti West Coast-managed railway stations on (i) trends in the length of delays at ticket offices and (ii) trends in the number of unscheduled closures of ticket offices. \p Simon Lightwood: The Department expects all train operating companies to use reasonable endeavours to meet their obligations for regulated staffed ticket office opening hours under Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement. As such, we regularly review ticket office opening hours compliance and the causes of any negative trends, including staff vacancies.

Train operating companies are also required to achieve challenging customer experience targets across a range of measures, including ticket offices being open at advertised times. These standards are regularly and independently inspected via the Service Quality Regime and there are accountability and financial consequences for failure.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what long-term investment her Department is making in cycling and walking infrastructure within the Comprehensive Spending Review. \p Simon Lightwood: Future government investment in cycling and walking is being considered alongside all other transport priorities as part of the Spending Review. On 28 March, I informed Parliament of my intention to publish a third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy following the conclusion of the Spending Review. This will allow us to say more on the long-term funding for active travel, as required by the 2015 Infrastructure Act.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken a health impact assessment on the expansion of Heathrow airport. \p Mike Kane: The government has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals have been received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow.

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of public transport to hospitals in Hampshire and Surrey. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to providing access to services and keeping communities connected. The government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December 2024 as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform.

The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including ensuring access to vital local services such as hospitals. The government has committed to increasing accountability by including a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities, of which Hampshire County Council has been allocated over £14 million and Surry County Council over £12 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving to multi-year funding settlements for local authorities to support long-term transport infrastructure investment. \p Simon Lightwood: This government is committed to providing greater stability to local government by giving councils multi-year funding settlements and ending wasteful competitive bidding.

Funding to local authorities for transport in future years is being considered as part of the current Spending Review, the outcome of which will be confirmed in due course.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will ask (a) local authorities and (b) combined authorities to undertake an audit of bus stops in order to identify those that fall below the standard. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government recognises the value that high-quality public transport infrastructure provides to passengers, including bus stops. Local authorities are responsible for the bus stops in their area, and the government has allocated over £712 million to local authorities in England outside London in this financial year to support and improve bus services. This includes capital funding which can be used to improve infrastructure such as bus stations and stops. The Department has also published Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/24 Bus User Priority which provides guidance on good practice in the design of bus stops.

The Government also knows how important safe and accessible bus stations and stops are in supporting people to make inclusive journeys on local bus services. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill, introduced on 17 December, sets out a comprehensive package of measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive. This includes a requirement on Local Transport Authorities to publish Bus Network Accessibility Plans setting out an assessment of existing provision and measures to improve this in future. These plans could include an assessment of bus stops in the local area.

The Bill also introduces a power to enable the Secretary of State to publish statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus stations and stops, and to require specified public sector bodies to pay regard to it when they provide new or upgrade existing facilities. The guidance will help authorities to provide infrastructure that people can and want to use, helping to ensure that they are not prevented from using bus services because of inadequate accessibility or safety.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the (a) early commencement of services and (b) reliability of bus services between (i) Tring, (ii) Aylesbury, and (iii) Hemel Hempstead. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in Tring, Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead.

In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated over £12 million of this funding, and Buckinghamshire over £6 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, support early morning or evening services and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-22)

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Natalie Fleet:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help promote private funding for new EV charging infrastructure at motorway service areas. \p Lilian Greenwood: Access to a comprehensive charging network will enable more consumers to confidently purchase electric vehicles. Government is committed to supporting industry deliver a visible, reliable charging infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, ahead of need, and support industry's own investment in transport decarbonisation.

There has been great progress on the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on our Strategic Road Network. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint numbers at motorway service areas have increased by around 125% over the last 18 months (based on industry data). Within one mile of the Strategic Road Network, there are over 5,250 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargers - an increase of around 100% in the last 18 months (based on data from Zapmap).

Industry has already committed over £6bn investment to support the rollout of public chargepoints across the UK, and government is working closely with industry to target government support where it is needed, including gaps in provision on the Strategic Road Network due to barriers such as high connection costs.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason she announced the expansion of Luton Airport before publishing a climate emissions framework. \p Mike Kane: The Secretary of State’s considerations on the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme are explained in the Decision Letter, published 3 April 2025 on the Planning Inspectorate website, and this sets out the Secretary of States reasoning. Decisions on applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects are taken independently of the timing of policy announcements on other issues. The Honourable Member will understand that following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department sought legal advice on the compatibility of its decision to expand Luton Airport on the UK's commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord. \p Mike Kane: The full reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision on 3 April 2025 to grant consent to the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme, including consideration of carbon emissions and the Paris climate accord, are set out in her decision letter which is published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of expanding Luton Airport on economic growth; and if she will publish the modelling that underpins that assessment. \p Mike Kane: The full reasons for the Secretary of State’s decision on 3 April 2025 to grant consent to the London Luton Airport Expansion scheme, including assessment of the potential impact of expanding Luton Airport on economic growth, are set out in her decision letter which is published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Following the decision to grant consent, there is now a period when applications for judicial review may be made and during that period, I am unable to comment further on the decision.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to her Departments document entitled Response to call for input on single-sex spaces guidance, published on 17 December 2024, when she will publish new guidance; and whether (a) her Department and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission will consult on that guidance. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Government is sharing with the EHRC all the submissions that met the criteria of the previous Government’s call for input on single-sex spaces guidance.

It is vitally important that service providers understand the single-sex service exceptions in the Equality Act 2010 and feel confident using them. The Government has committed to ensuring that there is guidance in place which gives service providers assurance about the rights afforded by the Act and how to lawfully apply its single-sex exceptions. We will set out our next steps on this soon.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much the Government spends on countering disinformation; and in which Departments this money is spent. \p Feryal Clark: A number of departments, including DSIT, Home Office and the FCDO, work together to address risks to the UK from disinformation. Activities include analysis and policy work to reduce the spread and impact of disinformation online.

We do not share our total spend on information threats publicly because of the risks inherent in revealing the scale of our efforts to adversaries. Components of this spend include £3m invested in media literacy by DSIT to drive critical engagement with online content (2022-24) and £25.5m invested by FCDO in building societal resilience to Russian interference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (FY24-25).
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish the levels of funding allocated from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council budget to the (a) British Antarctic Survey and (b) National Oceanography Centre in each of the last five years. \p Feryal Clark: DSIT has allocated £13.9 billion to the R&D budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Below are UK Research and Innovation's Natural Environment Research Council budget allocations over the past five financial years for the British Antarctic Survey (including the Antarctic Logistics and Infrastructure (ALI) Partition, which is a ringfenced slice of the science budget to support the UK presence in Antarctica); and the National Oceanography Centre:
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding has been allocated from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council budget to the European Marine Energy Centre to date. \p Feryal Clark: The European Marine Energy Centre has not been allocated any funding from UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council to date.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish the total allocation of UK Research and Innovation funding to the Natural Environment Research Council since 2021-22. \p Feryal Clark: The allocation of UKRI funding to the Natural Environment Research Council was published in the following reports:
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Solicitor General, what information her Department (a) collects and (b) holds on British citizens that have served in the Israel Defence Forces since 2023. \p Lucy Rigby: In relation to part (a) of your question, the Attorney General’s Office does not collect this information.

In relation to part (b) of your question, the Law Officers’ Convention applies. The Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by, or requested of, the Law Officers. It can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with (a) OFGEM and (b) energy companies on VAT inclusion in (i) energy billing documents and (ii) online quotes for consumers. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with Ofgem on a range of issues.

Quotes on energy pricing and how those quotes are broken down for customers are a matter for energy suppliers. However, the Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier. This is laid out in the Supplier Licence Conditions (SLCs) for both electricity and gas.

Under 31E.10 of both sets of SLCs where the licensee provides a Domestic Customer with any information about the Charges for the Supply of Electricity, gas or any other type of charge or fee (the “Applicable Charges”), the licensee must inform the Domestic Customer of whether the Applicable Charges include or exclude value added tax.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of exempting Ground Source Heat Pumps from blowout prevention permitting requirements in Mining Remediation Authority Areas. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Mining Remediation Authority are responsible for safely managing the effects of past coal mining and will request a risk assessment as part of the permit to drill phase and the heat access agreement application for projects with groundworks in or near to coal (including mine workings) to help ensure works are undertaken safely. Guidance on managing the risk of hazardous gases when drilling or piling near coal can be found on GOV.UK.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is not currently exploring exempting Ground Source Heat Pumps from coal mining risk assessments.
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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling energy networks to access a dedicated radio spectrum for enhanced operational communications. \p Michael Shanks: Ofcom is responsible for the management of spectrum in the UK, including allocating spectrum. My officials are working with those in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and with regulators to establish and assess the evidence base for the future telecommunications requirements of the energy, water and transport sectors.
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Damien Egan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to ensure that information in official leaflets on (a) access to and (b) guidance on benefit entitlements is accurate. \p Sir Stephen Timms: To ensure information is accurate, all new and amended leaflets are subject to a quality assurance process where content is checked and approved by subject matter experts before publication.

In addition, the department undertakes an annual uprating review of all leaflets that are impacted by rate changes.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress his Department has made on establishing an asbestos census. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Asbestos in non-domestic buildings is a key ministerial priority. As part of its work, I have asked HSE to explore how it can develop our understanding of the legacy of asbestos in Great Britian, by building a more objective and reliable evidence base of the extent of asbestos in the built environment through a census, to inform longer-term strategy for continuing its safe removal over time.

HSE is taking a phased approach to the development of this work, focussing initially on the government estate.

HSE provides regular updates and assurance to ministers about its approach to asbestos management.
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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times has a PIP claimant's payment been (a) missed and (b) delayed following the registration of an appointee on their account in the last 12 months. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We do not hold any data about the impacts of registration of an appointee on a person’s PIP payments.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to disability payments on the proportion of Universal Credit claimants who will enter employment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The DWP is working with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to assess the employment impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The OBR will publish their estimate of the impacts alongside the Autumn Budget.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the progress of reform of the private pension system. \p Torsten Bell: We are committed to making reforms to the workplace pensions system to deliver better outcomes for UK savers and pensioners and to increase productive investment in the UK economy.

We have already completed our landmark Pensions Investment Review, which reported in May 2025. The Pension Schemes Bill, which was introduced in June, will legislate for the outcomes of the Review, in addition to other reforms to the pensions system. Our Bill Impact Assessment shows around 20 million savers could benefit and an average earner saving over their career could have around £29,000 more in their defined contribution pension pot at retirement as a result of the package of measures.

Additionally, the Bill will unlock some of the estimated £160 billion of surplus funds from well-funded Defined Benefit pension schemes to benefit sponsoring employers and members, with appropriate safeguards in place to protect members.

In July we launched the next phase of our reform agenda. The time is now right to finish the job started by the Turner Commission two decades ago and that is why we have revived the Commission, which is led by Baroness Jeannie Drake, Sir Ian Cheshire and Professor Nick Pearce. The Pensions Commission will make recommendations to ensure we have a pensions system that is strong, fair and sustainable.

Our reforms will also boost investment and growth in the UK. The Mansion House Accord will see leading workplace pension providers invest 10% of their workplace portfolio in productive assets such as infrastructure, property, and private equity. At least half of this will be in the UK.
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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will expand the remit of the Pensions Regulator to include employees whose employers have not made statutory contributions to pensions. \p Torsten Bell: Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer in the UK must automatically enrol eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme and pay the correct contributions. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is responsible for maximising employer compliance with the automatic enrolment obligations. Where an employer fails to meet their duties, for example if the employer has not made statutory pension contributions, TPR can investigate, issue compliance and penalty notices, and, in serious cases, pursue criminal prosecution.

If an employee has concerns regarding their workplace pension, such as unpaid contributions, they should raise this with their employer in the first instance. An individual can report their employer to TPR if it is not complying with the law and/or make a complaint to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) who can investigate the complaint and provide a remedy if the employer is found to be at fault. TPO, in collaboration with MoneyHelper and TPR, has published a factsheet for customers about this: Workplace pensions – unpaid pension contributions | The Pensions Ombudsman
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to issue guidance to employers on allowing apprentices aged under 18 to access industrial and commercial worksites. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Under health and safety law, employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health and safety of all employees, of any age. As part of this, there are certain considerations that should be made for young people, including apprentices.

Regulation 19 of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, deals specifically with employers' responsibilities to protect the health and safety of young people at work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides extensive guidance on its website, to help employers support the important contribution that apprentices make to the world of work, whilst ensuring that risks to their health and safety are properly assessed and controlled. The guidance was last updated in 2022 under the previous administration.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to incentivise the Motability scheme to source British manufactured cars. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Motability Foundation is a registered charity regulated by the Charity Commission so is independent of government. The Scheme is delivered by Motability Operations which is an independent commercial company under contract to the charity. The Motability Foundation is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Motability Scheme.

The department does however work closely with Motability and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Office for Budget Responsibility's report entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability – July 2025, published on 8 July 2025, whether she has asked the OBR to include in its next publication updated estimates of the potential impact of extreme weather related to climate change on trends in the level of economic growth over the next 10 years. \p Lucy Rigby: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the Government's official independent forecaster responsible for assessing the UK economic and fiscal outlook.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required to prepare an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances annually, known as a Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report (FRS), as set out in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act (BRNAA) 2011. The content of the FRS is determined independently by the OBR.

In its July 2025 FRS included an assessment of the fiscal risks linked to climate change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Carla Denyer:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2025 to Question 76417 on Carbon Emissions, whether the Financial Policy Committee (a) is (i) monitoring and (ii) assessing evidence on the likelihood of planetary boundaries being breached and (b) has used its stress testing frameworks to assess the potential impact of climate tipping points on financial stability. \p Lucy Rigby: The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is responsible for identifying, monitoring and taking action to mitigate systemic risks to the UK financial system. In its November 2024 Financial Stability Report, the FPC explained its approach to assessing climate-related financial stability risks; it recognised the potentially irreversible impact of passing through climate tipping points; and it highlighted that the Bank of England was considering incorporating risks caused or exacerbated by climate change into future bank and insurance stress tests. This followed the Chancellor’s remit to the FPC in 2024 recommending the FPC to use its stress testing frameworks, where appropriate, to consider how climate risks could impact financial stability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the financial performance of the Royal Mint in the last financial year. \p Lucy Rigby: The Royal Mint faced a challenging year in 2024-25, but took necessary steps to place the business on a sustainable footing. Over 60% of The Royal Mint’s reported losses were due to exceptional costs, including ending overseas coin production and a right-sizing initiative.

Despite these challenges, the organisation continued to advance its transformation plan, adopting new technologies and refining its cost base. Notably, it launched the Precious Metals Recovery (PMR) plant, which uses pioneering technology to extract gold from electronic waste.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Mohammad Yasin:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) representatives of the insurance industry on the (i) availability and (ii) affordability of home insurance policies that provide cover for domestic air-to-water heat pumps; and what steps she is taking to ensure that households adopting low-carbon heating technologies have access to adequate insurance protection. \p Lucy Rigby: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors on an ongoing basis.

Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The Government does not usually intervene in these decisions.

However, the Government is committed to ensuring that insurers treat their customers fairly and insurance companies are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the financial contribution of the co-operative sector to the economy; and what estimate her Department has made of the level of growth in that sector in each of the next five years. \p Lucy Rigby: The government recognises the contribution of co-operatives to the economy, serving local communities and ensuring the UK has a diverse business sector.

According to Co-operatives UK, there are 7,391 co-operatives operating in the UK with a combined annual income of £42.7bn. Co-operatives serve 16.6 million members - an increase of 1.4 million (9.5%) from 2024 levels - and employ almost 240,000 people.

The government is taking steps to support further growth the co-operative sector in line with its manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector. This includes funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, which will consider ways to update and modernise the Act. The review is expected to be published by the end of the 2025 and the government will carefully consider its findings before responding.

Additionally, at Mansion House 2024 the Chancellor set out a package of measures aimed at supporting the growth of the broader co-operative and mutuals sector. This included welcoming the establishment of the industry-led Mutuals and Co-operative Business Council and asking the PRA and FCA to produce a report on the mutuals landscape by the end of 2025.

The Department for Business and Trade has also announced a call for evidence which will explore business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals.

Together, these will support the growth of the co-operative sector in line with the manifesto commitment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Bank of England’s proposed retail holding caps on stablecoins on (a) consumer financial freedoms, (b) the competitiveness of UK fintech and (c) the risk of driving digital asset innovation offshore. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government recognises that facilitating stablecoin innovation is important for UK competitiveness, and continues to engage with the regulators, including the Bank of England, to ensure a coherent regulatory framework that works for businesses and consumers.

The Government will bring forward legislation later this year to create a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK, including stablecoins.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to implement regulation that increases risk appetite amongst investors. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide. That is why the Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms included bold actions to boost retail investment.

In particular, the Treasury is working closely with the FCA to roll out a system of targeted support in time for ISA season next year. This represents the biggest reform of the financial advice and guidance landscape in more than a decade, and will be a step change in the support available to consumers.

The Government will also move Long-Term Asset Funds (LTAFs) from the Innovative Finance ISA to the Stocks & Shares ISA from April 2026. This will give more access to the higher returns available from less liquid assets, while directing investment into productive assets that will drive economic growth.

In addition, the Government welcomes the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to grow the economy in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government’s approach to regional growth will drive growth in city regions, towns and communities and make the most of the opportunities in each part of the country, to make everyone better off. There is excellence right across the country and this government is backing it: lifting living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) will receive £37.9 million in Local Transport Grant funding enabling local authorities to deliver transport improvements including more zero emission buses, cycleways, accessibility and congestion improvement measures. This will deliver a four-fold increase in funding in 2029-30 compared to 2024-25.

Ely and East Cambridgeshire residents will also benefit from the Government’s commitment to growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to accelerate infrastructure investment, unlock new housing and commercial space, and strengthen partnerships with both private sector and local leaders. This also includes £2.5 billion for continued delivery of East-West Rail, providing new connectivity and unlocking growth across the corridor.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on reducing regulation for FinTech firms. \p Lucy Rigby: The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, delivers on the Government’s mission to shape a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable and internationally competitive, embracing innovation and leveraging the UK’s Fintech leadership.

For example, the Strategy committed to make it quicker and easier for new firms to achieve regulatory authorisation, allowing them to conduct limited regulated activities with streamlined conditions, as well as the launch of the FCA and PRA’s Scale-Up Unit to enhance engagement with fast-growing, innovative regulated firms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-16)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on making the UK the world’s most innovative full-service financial centre. \p Lucy Rigby: The Government published the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy on 15 July, which sets out the Government’s ten-year plan to make the UK the global location of choice for financial services firms to invest, grow and sell their services throughout the UK and to the world. As part of this, the Government announced the most wide-ranging package of reforms to financial services regulation in over a decade.

Following publication, HM Treasury has been working with partners to deliver the reforms at pace. The Department for Business and Trade has published its first quarterly update on delivery of the Industrial Strategy. In relation to financial services, it confirms that the Office for Investment: Financial Services announced in the Strategy has now been launched to guide and support international investors looking to establish or grow a presence in the UK’s financial services sector. In September, the Chancellor and US Secretary to the Treasury established the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, to drive innovation and growth in global markets including capital markets digital assets and other innovative financial activities.

Working with industry and the regulators, the government will continue to prioritise delivery of the wide-ranging reform programme set out in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.