theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59046 on Insulation: Housing, whether he has had recent discussions with mortgage brokers on the potential impact of spray foam installation on their ability to issue a mortgage. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding will be allocated to the third road investment strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 June, this Government will deliver improvements to people’s everyday travel by providing £24 billion of capital funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve national and local roads across the country. We will confirm funding for the third Road Investment Strategy in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to allocate funding for specific projects as part of the third road investment strategy. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport will confirm the enhancement schemes and large-scale renewals to be delivered in the next road period when the third Road Investment Strategy is published in early 2026. National Highways will then publish further details in its Delivery Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with National Highways on the A1 through North Northumberland. \p Lilian Greenwood: I hold regular discussions with National Highways on matters related to the Strategic Road Network. I am aware that National Highways is undertaking a safety study on the A1 through Northumberland which focuses on how it can improve the route’s safety rating. The study will identify specific locations where safety performance can be enhanced. These locations can then be considered for funding as part of the future Road Investment Strategies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate on (a) car dealerships and (b) the automotive sector in (i) rural areas and (ii) Yeovil constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The ZEV Mandate requirements only apply to vehicle manufacturers and not to car dealerships. However, we continue to consider views from dealership representatives on the transition.

I am aware that one of the UK’s micro volume manufacturers is based in Yeovil. The Government recognises that micro volume manufacturers face additional challenges in decarbonising at the pace of the ZEV Mandate trajectory, and exemptions are in place for these manufacturers until 2035.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims were made for (a) delayed or (b) cancelled journeys by railway companies in public ownership in each month for which records are available; and what was the value of those claims. \p Simon Lightwood: Most train operating companies publish on their website Delay Repay compensation data on the number of claims submitted, the number of claims approved and the value of these claims. Delay Repay compensation is paid for eligible delays regardless of the reason for the delay. See below, for the most recent rail period available, the relevant data for Southeastern, South Western Railway, Northern and TransPennine Trains and a link to their website.

Train Operating Company

Claims Received

Claims Approved

Value of Claims

Average Value Per Approved Claim

Website

Southeastern

35,447

27,808

£234,212.50

£8.42

Southeastern

South Western Railway

24,662

18,488

£187,488.00

£10.14

South Western

Northern

55,801

43,455

£382,782.00

£8.81

Northern

TransPennine Trains

25,292

19,728

£349,867.88

£17.73

TransPennine

We are unable to provide London North Eastern Railway’s (LNER’s) data as it is not something it currently publishes on its website. The figures provided below from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) covers a period longer than one month and is also the number of claims closed, not received, or approved. We have included its approval rate, along with the link to the ORR data.

LNER - 05/01/25 to 31/03/25 - 117,948 Claims Closed – Approval Rate of 79.5 per cent. https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/delay-compensation-claims/.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on her Department. \p Mike Kane: In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department has spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Mike Kane: The Department for Transport provides equipment that enables staff to work across multiple locations, including from home where appropriate. This includes meeting legal obligations to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for staff who require them.

However, the Department does not record expenditure in a way that separately identifies costs specifically related to home working. Additionally, the Department’s hybrid working policy is non-contractual and does not entitle staff to additional equipment or to be reimbursed for items to facilitate home working.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Amanda Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that projects supported by the Zero Emission Vessel Infrastructure fund in (a) Aberdeen (b) Portsmouth and (c) the UK are able to proceed with vessel plug-in demonstrations; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (i) uncertainty on the UK Emission Trading Scheme's applicability to domestic maritime, (ii) the VAT rating of shore power and (iii) the level of ports' (A) transmission and (B) standing charges on the viability of such projects. \p Mike Kane: The Zero Emission Vessel Infrastructure (ZEVI) fund provided £80 million of funding to ten projects, including over £25 million for cold ironing projects in Portsmouth, Aberdeen and Falmouth. Our UK SHORE programme delivery partner Innovate UK, monitors, scrutinises and works with projects to ensure they are on track for delivery and to assist with overcoming barriers which may impact upon delivery.

While we have not specifically assessed the impact of the points raised on the viability of ZEVI projects, the wider policy environment will of course enable the long-term viability of these projects.

The recently published Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out our intended policy package for the UK domestic maritime sector, including expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to domestic maritime from 2026. This will be a key policy in enabling the conditions for zero and near-zero emission vessels to be commercially viable, by applying a price to emissions, and incentivising the uptake of emissions reduction technologies.

In the coming months we will publish our response to the consultation on the technical details of including domestic maritime in the ETS, which will provide more certainty on the applicability of the scheme.

Further to this, we recently concluded a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports. It focused on port decarbonisation and zero emissions at berth, including questions on the barriers and opportunities of reducing emissions at berth and standing and transmission charges at ports. Our response to this call for evidence will follow in due course. We will continue to engage with Ofgem and other departments regarding the provision and use of electricity by ports and their users.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61272 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, which rail enhancement projects will be funded by the Spending Review 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: The Spending Review settlement represents an increase in funding on what has been spent on rail enhancements in recent years. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to investment in rail and in schemes that support economic growth.

The Secretary of State will be setting out more details of the specific road and rail investments funded by the Spending Review in the coming weeks.
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Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding was (a) allocated and (b) spent on railways in Wales between 2010 and 2024 by fiscal period. \p Simon Lightwood: The table below shows the UK Government funded expenditure on operations, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of railways in Wales for each financial year, noting that we do not have data for the financial year 2010/2011.

Financial Year

11/12

12/13

13/14

14/15

15/16

16/17

17/18

18/19

19/20

20/21

21/22

22/23

23/24

£million

230

249

318

307

388

508

502

551

460

414

434

521

525

Spending on railways in Wales by the Welsh Government, including continuing subsidy for rail services operated by Transport for Wales is not included, nor is payment made by the Department in respect of services that Transport for Wales operates wholly within England.
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John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to introduce a statutory cap on the number of private hire vehicle licences issued in London. \p Simon Lightwood: Taxis and private hire vehicles are an important mode of transport for many people. They are disproportionately used by disabled people, allow many children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access education and provide transport at night when other modes may be less available. The Department for Transport is considering all options to improve the regulation of the taxi and private hire vehicle sector to provide the best overall outcomes for passenger safety and the sector. The administration of the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regime in London is a matter for the Mayor of London.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to lower train fares to encourage the use of public transport. \p Simon Lightwood: We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare. With the move to Great British Railways, passengers will be able to receive a more consistent offer across the network. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Highways England's roadside litter clearing duties. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government sets National Highways performance targets on litter as part of its Road Investment Strategies. These are based on the percentage of the Strategic Road Network where litter conditions are graded at B or above under the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Litter Code of Practice. Progress towards the targets is monitored by the Office for Road and Rail, including through annual reports to Parliament. In 2023-24 National Highways' performance improved when compared to the previous year, and 59.2% of its network met the target. The ORR is continuing to challenge NH on the actions it is taking to address litter on the Strategic Road Network. Further details on litter management by National Highways can be found here: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/environment/communities/litter-on-motorways-and-major-a-roads/.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on his Department. \p Ellie Reeves: In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy. The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible.

Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. My Department will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US, led by the Department for Business and Trade.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54822 on Cabinet Office: Directors, whether Baroness Casey will be a member of the Cabinet Office Board. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Hon. member to PQ 54822.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54812 on Government Departments: media, if he will list the 180 companies that expressed an interest in providing external public relations under the RM6364 Media and Creative Framework. \p Georgia Gould: The procurement process under RM6364 Media and Creative Framework is currently live. As such, we are unable to disclose details of the interest expressed by individual companies at this stage, as doing so would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Crown Commercial Service and the bidders engaged in the bidding process. Further information will be made available in accordance with procurement confidentiality and competition rules as the process progresses. The agreement is due to be awarded in December 2025.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59366 on Cabinet Office: staff, whether his Department has a target for (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory exits; and what communications have been sent to civil servants on this matter. \p Georgia Gould: As set out in the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59366, in line with the 2025 Spending Review, we are restructuring the Cabinet Office into a more strategic, specialised, and smaller department to achieve £110 million in annual expenditure savings by the 2028/29 financial year. Our focus is on identifying budgetary savings rather than meeting a specific headcount target.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse for Senior Civil Service pay in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial years. \p Georgia Gould: The latest paybill information for the Senior Civil Service can be found in the 2025/26 annual report by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49382 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the relevant narrative entry in the transparency data will show which OCS invoice relates to the refurbishment of the Downing Street media room. \p Georgia Gould: The Government Property Agency is awaiting OCS' submission of an application for payment for the costs for the 9DS Media Suite.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of reducing GREAT campaign funding on economic growth. \p Ellie Reeves: I refer the hon. member to the PQs 63750 and 64200.

In 2025/26, GREAT has allocated its budget to maximise the economic returns that the programme can deliver with the available resources. This includes delivering targeted campaigns and events in high-priority markets to continue to drive international trade, investment, tourism and student recruitment for all nations and regions of the UK.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason council tax is not included in the measure of consumer price inflation. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 1st July is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 89.6KB)
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will reintroduce Lords Spiritual from the Church of Ireland to the House of Lords. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Bishops of the Church of Ireland previously sat in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, from the coming into force of the Union with Ireland Act 1800 until the disestablishment of the Church in 1871. Given the Church of Ireland is no longer part of the established church, there are no plans to reintroduce Church of Ireland bishops to the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date (a) was the last and (b) is the next meeting of the Honours and Appointments Secretariat. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The UK Honours and awards system does not comprise a committee or administrative team known as the Honours and Appointments Secretariat, which was the previous name of the Honours and Memorialisation Secretariat. This team holds weekly team meetings.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the level of UK investment generated by the GREAT campaign since 5 July 2024. \p Ellie Reeves: I refer the hon. member to the PQ 63750.

The campaign uses a comprehensive evaluation framework with timeframes for results tailored to each participating organisation's activities. Evaluation results for the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign have not yet been finalised for financial year 2024/25.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) unauthorised and (b) sickness absences there were in the civil service in each of the last five years. \p Georgia Gould: Sickness absence data for the Civil Service is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence.

Individual departments are responsible for managing their workforces, including any instances of unauthorised absence. This information is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts their Department has with Palantir. \p Georgia Gould: Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service.
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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish the Resilience Strategy. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government will set out its resilience strategy in due course.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme, published on 28 November 2024, what the percentage take-up rate was for (a) UK Government departments and (b) arm's-length bodies separately. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme was a voluntary programme offering a free, framed portrait of The King to any eligible public institution that requested one.

Following the conclusion of the scheme, a breakdown of the take up was published on gov.uk.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54280 on Civil Servants: Pay, whether civil servants in her Department that are relocated outside of London will have their pay reduced; and whether civil servants employed in new locations outside of London will lose their London weighting. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer on 3 July (PQ 63008).

The Cabinet Office does not have London Weighting. There are separate London and National pay ranges. If an employee relocates from a London to National location on a voluntary basis, their salary would reduce to the equivalent point on the opposite pay range.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54828 on Civil Servants: Training, if he will publish the full training (a) documentation and (b) modules prepared for the course. \p Georgia Gould: It is not possible to share these products as they are interactive e-learning and videos that need to run on learning management systems. We would not publish learning content or materials themselves, as they might contain internal policy details, or intellectual property owned by a third party.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance has been given to Cabinet ministers by the (a) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and (b) Cabinet Office on whether Ministers who personally receive donations from trade unions (i) must and (ii) need not recuse themselves from (A) official government meetings and (B) decisions relating to those specific trade unions. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As set out in the Ministerial Code, there is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Any advice given to ministers as part of this process would be in confidence.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on compensation for people impacted by infected blood and also by variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: In his 2022 Compensation Framework Study, Sir Robert Francis recommended that variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) was not included in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. He noted that “this is a rare disease for which there is a separate compensation scheme. It is unlikely, therefore, that a separate category is justified in this scheme. However, many of the infected have been warned there is a risk of their having vCJD. Assuming that risk, insofar as it exists, is shared by all who have received blood or blood products in the relevant period, there is no special case for taking it into account in this scheme."

Chapter 5 of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s May 2024 Report examines the Government response to vCJD.
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people with Hepatitis B were waiting for an interim payment of compensation from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority on 30 June 2025. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The delivery of the Infected Blood Interim Compensation Payments is the responsibility of the four existing Infected Blood Support Schemes (IBSS). Interim Payments have been made to people infected with HIV and/or Hepatitis C as a result of infected blood and their bereaved partners. People infected with Hepatitis B are not eligible to apply to IBSS and are therefore not eligible for interim payments.

However, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, which is being delivered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), has broader eligibility criteria than the current Infected Blood Support Schemes. People who are or were infected with a chronic case of Hepatitis B are eligible for compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, including compensation for past financial loss and care costs.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question HL7758 on Government Departments: Sanitation, if he will publish the Government Property Agency's guidance document that is now used in (a) new build and (b) refurbishment projects. \p Georgia Gould: The Government Property Agency’s latest Workplace Design Guide (published March 2022) is available on GOV.UK. This is kept under review.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to (a) consolidate and (b) relocate departmental property estates outside of London. \p Georgia Gould: On 14 May, the Government announced it will:

strengthen its presence in 13 cross Government locations across the UK;

ensure that 50% of UK-based SCS are located outside of London by 2030;

strengthen the talent pipeline by launching a new apprenticeship programme, setting an ambition for 50% of Fast Stream roles to be based outside London by 2030, and committing to develop and launch a local government interchange programme in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA);

reduce the number of Civil Service buildings in London, closing 11 buildings by 2030 to deliver £94m in savings per year; and

launch two new thematic campuses: an Energy Campus in Aberdeen; and a Digital & AI Innovation Campus in Manchester.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Ian Murray: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. However, contractual homeworking is a type of flexible working arrangement where an employee and the department agree to change the employee’s designated place of work to their home address. The Civil Service position on contractual home working agreements is that these are not routinely approved other than for a very small number of relevant roles, or where a workplace adjustment is agreed in respect of a disability under the Equality Act or occasionally as a redundancy mitigation. Civil servants are expected to spend at least 60 percent of their time in the office or on official business, which can include conducting site visits or meeting stakeholders.

The Scotland Office is required by The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 to ensure that workstation users, including those who work from home, perform a suitable and sufficient analysis of their workstation. Before purchasing equipment, users must complete mandatory health and safety training, a homeworking checklist, a Display Screen Equipment self-assessment, and obtain line manager approval.

The Scotland Office spent:

● £110.45 in Financial Year 2022/23;

● £742.85 in Financial Year 2023/24;

● £0 in Financial Year 2024/25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

For the first time ever, this deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef to the US market. This is a major opportunity for NI farmers to sell their high quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.

The Government remains focused on making sure businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. We are continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_392

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he received the report from the Independent Monitoring Panel relating to the operation of the UK internal market; and when he plans to publish it. \p Hilary Benn: The Government expects to receive the final report of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by 9 July, and the first report of the Independent Monitoring Panel in the coming weeks. Following receipt, the Government will then proceed with the publication of the respective reports in line with its existing commitments to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_393

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Jo Stevens: This information is not centrally held. The Office has a hybrid working policy and all staff are issued with a laptop and mobile phone to allow remote working where necessary. Staff are expected to spend at least 60 per cent of their time in the office or on official business, which can include conducting site visits or meeting stakeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_394

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many staff in her Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based. \p Jo Stevens: No staff in my Department currently have permission to work remotely outside the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_395

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of whether UK (a) company and (b) public sector supply chains are involved in (i) environmental harms and (ii) human rights abuses (A) in the UK and (B) overseas. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains.

The review will be a neutral, objective appraisal of policy, led by officials in my department. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and alternative means of supporting responsible business practices. It will have due regard to costs on business and the approaches taken by our trading partners. Throughout the review, we will harness the insights and expertise of businesses, investors, trade unions, academia and civil society.

We have also established the Office for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), to replace the UK's National Contact Point. This enhanced office will support industry to integrate responsible business practices and help victims of corporate malpractice through continuing to operate a non-judicial complaints mechanism for alleged violations of the OECD Guidelines on RBC.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_396

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of UK visa policy changes on SMEs that trade with Colombia. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: UK exporters remain able to travel to Colombia visa-free to provide their goods and services. The UK also continues to welcome Colombian nationals with visit visas travelling to the UK for business reasons.

DBT supports UK businesses of all sizes to export to Colombia, including through the British Embassy in Bogota. The UK-Andean Countries trade agreement provides preferential access to both UK and Colombian businesses, while the next UK-Colombia ministerial trade dialogue will provide an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen our trade relationship further, including in light of the UK’s new industrial and trade strategies and its upcoming SME Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_397

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to (a) restrict and (b) regulate unsolicited doorstep cold calling in residential areas. \p Justin Madders: Conducted properly, trading from door to door or conducting business in a consumer’s home can be a legitimate form of business, provided traders observe the legislation regulating the practice.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 updates existing protections that prohibit traders from engaging in aggressive or misleading commercial practices, including harassment, high pressure-selling techniques, coercion or undue influence against consumers. Traders are banned from ignoring a request from a consumer to leave or not return to the consumer’s home.

Residents can collectively ask their local Trading Standards services to set up ‘No cold calling zones’, which are designed to prohibit uninvited callers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_398

Monica Harding:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to introduce a maximum limit on levels of glyphosate in menstrual products. \p Justin Madders: Most period products are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which requires all products to be safe and for consumers to be provided with information on the potential risks of a product.

Officials are currently reviewing the evidence base concerning the safety of period products, from which any evidence gaps will be identified, and appropriate expert evidence or further research sought. Where appropriate the Department will seek to work with other interested Government Departments, including those with responsibility for the regulation of glyphosate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_399

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) average wages and (b) inflation. \p Justin Madders: My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes con-sideration of impacts on wages and macro-economic impacts. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, including on wages and the wider economy, given the current stage of policy development. We are refining our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses and trade unions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_400

Tom Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the length of paid parental leave. \p Justin Madders: The Government is committed to making life better for families. In the Plan to Make Work Pay we promised to review the parental leave system. We are delivering on this commitment and launched this review on 1st July.

The review presents a much-needed opportunity to consider our approach to the system of parental leave and pay. All current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements will be in scope.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_401

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any guidance has been issued to UK businesses following the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators.

We respect the independence of the International Court of Justice, and we are carefully considering the Court’s advisory opinion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_402

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to support independent cinemas. \p Chris Bryant: We are supporting cinemas through permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure premises with rateable values under £500,000 from 2026/27.

Our Plan for Neighbourhoods will provide £1.5 billion to 75 towns across the UK over ten years. Places will be able to use their £20 million to enrich their cultural and media offering and could, amongst other opportunities, refurbish, restore, or develop cultural and heritage assets, including local cinemas.

The British Film Institute (BFI), a DCMS Arms Length Body, also provides support to the cinema sector. The BFI’s Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) is a collaboration of eight film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK. Film hubs are centres of expertise and support that connect cinemas, festivals and creative practitioners including using lottery funding to support the independent cinema exhibition sector by enhancing skills and sharing best practice.

Further information about film hubs is available at: https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/bring-film-wider-audience/bfi-film-audience-network

Furthermore, we are actively considering the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's recommendation to deliver capital infrastructure funding for independent cinemas and what we can do to further recognise the importance of cinemas within their local area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-08 conversation_403

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has held recent discussions with (a) Bridport Arts Centre and (b) Dorchester Arts on access to capital funding (i) to tackle maintenance backlogs and (ii) for modernisation. \p Chris Bryant: Our arms-length body Arts Council England (ACE) is investing £176,345 over three years in Bridport Arts Centre as part of their National Portfolio 2023-26 (NPO). In 2024/25 ACE granted a further £20,000 to Bridport Arts Centre from their Area Funds to explore the lease/ownership of the building which will have a direct impact on their ability to address energy efficiency and accessibility.

In 2024/25 ACE invested £12,650 in Dorchester Arts through their open-access National Lottery Project Grants to deliver a festival of scriptwriting. All recipients of ACE funding remain fully responsible for their operations, artistic programme, and the day-to-day management of their activities.

The Spending Review sets out DCMS’s high-level funding settlement, and individual decisions on how to invest departmental resources will be determined in due course. The Spending Review does, however, commit to significant investment into Arts, Culture, and Heritage infrastructure. Across the spending review period DCMS will be delivering funding across its major capital programmes, supporting local institutions and leveraging economic growth across the regions.

DCMS has not had any recent discussions with Bridport Arts Centre or Dorchester Arts directly, however, in September 2024, ACE held discussions with Bridport Arts Centre about their lease on their Grade II listed building as the contract end approaches.

On 23 June, an ACE Annual Progress Review took place to assess Bridport Arts Centre’s progress against the objectives set out in their ACE funding agreement over 12 months. This included consideration of their contribution to ACE’s Environmental Responsibility Investment Principle which includes energy efficiency.

Both organisations are eligible to apply to ACE’s current round of capital funding, and more information can be found on their website here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-creativity-and-culture/capital