Written answers

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Department for Business and Trade: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to to ensure the accuracy of his Department's headcount and payroll data.

    • G20

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many of his counterparts from G20 nations (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met.

      Construction: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle rogue builders.

      Consumer Goods: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to support small businesses with meeting the requirements of the EU Regulation on General Product Safety...

      Minimum Wage: Glasgow North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of people that will be impacted by the increase to the national minimum wage in Glasgow North East...

      Department for Business and Trade: Remote Working

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department takes to monitor the productivity of officials when they work from home.

      Trade Union Officials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with trade union officials since 5 July 2024.

      Public Sector: Productivity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with (a) the ONS (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Public Services Productivity Review.

      Import Controls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that imported products containing banned ingredients are not sold in shops in the UK.

      Business: Government Assistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with business representatives to discuss the Control Subsidy Regime.

      Stellantis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets attended any of the meetings held by his...

      Electric Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the criteria are for automotive companies to access the support for transition to electric vehicles announced in the Budget.

      Overseas Investment: Colombia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions of the UK/Colombia: Bilateral...

      Consumer Goods: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the Autumn Budget on the consumer goods sector.

      Retail Trade: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the Autumn Budget on the retail sector.

      Service Industries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the Autumn Budget on the professional services sector.

      Postal Services: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that people in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire are able to access...

      Post Offices: Franchises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if the Government will take steps to ensure Crown Post Office Staff will not be (a) made redundant and (b) moved to roles with (i) poorer...

      Hospitality Industry: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the Autumn Budget on the hospitality sector.

      Foreign Investment in UK: North of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support foreign direct investment in the north of England.

      Trade Agreements: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps ensure that the intellectual property chapter in a free trade agreement with India includes commitments to the (a) UN...

      Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with his counterparts from (a) Canada and (b) Mexico on the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement...

      Brexit: Economic Growth

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) leaving the EU single market and (b) ending free movement with...

      Trade Agreements: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when trade talks with India will commence.

      US Chamber of Commerce

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with the US Chamber of Commerce.

      Import Duties: USA

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to prepare for the potential imposition of trade tariffs by the US.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on UK research into space weather and its consequences.

    • Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Geospatial Commission on research into space weather and its consequences since July 2024.

      Voice over Internet Protocol: Gosport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the migration of analogue phone lines to digital voice over internet...

      Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of AI regulation for UK research into space weather and its consequences.

      Voice over Internet Protocol

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to run an awareness campaign for the switchover from analogue to digital phone lines.

      Rheumatoid Arthritis: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much Government funding there was into rheumatoid arthritis research in 2023-24; and which public bodies provided that...

      Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK research into space weather and its consequences on domestic...

      Geospatial Commission: Pilot Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has for the future of the Geospatial Commission's Earth observation data pilot.

      Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with ARIA on support for research into space weather since July 2024.

      Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on its approach to supporting research into space...

      Methane: Remote Sensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has for the UK Space Agency's methane monitoring programme.

      Health: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's press release of 12 December 2024 entitled £100 million public-private health...

      Solar Events: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with businesses on the Government's approach to research into (a) space weather and (b) its...

      Geospatial Commission: Pilot Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has for future (a) funding of and (b) data sharing by the Earth observation data hub.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prisons: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff there were by prisoners in HMP (a) Maidstone, (b) Huntercombe and (c) Morton Hall in each of the last five years; and what...

    • Reoffenders: Nationality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December to Question 16095 on Reoffenders: Foreign Nations, what was the (a) total number of reoffences and (b) nationality...

      Horizon IT System: Convictions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many letters her Department has sent informing postmasters and former postmasters that their conviction has been rescinded under the Post Office...

      Young Offender Institutions: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to review the education provided to children in young offender institutions.

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Department of Health and Social Care: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

    • Cancer: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Health in response to the question from the hon. Member of Wokingham...

      Pancreatic Cancer: Diagnosis and Health Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) raise awareness of the symptoms and (b) reduce the number of misdiagnoses of pancreatic...

      Cancer: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the average cost of (a) bowel and (b) all cancer care at stage (i) 1, (ii), 2, (iii) 3 and (iv) 4 for...

      HIV Infection: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to integrate HIV (a) prevention and (b) care into the broader health system.

      Colonoscopy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of patients that have received a colonoscopy and subsequently been referred to cancer...

      Obesity: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of obesity in (a) Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency and (b) other...

      Food: Hygiene

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the display of restaurant food hygiene ratings in all English licenced...

      Health Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve NHS provision of (a) dental care for pregnant women, (b) radiography services for...

      Social Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to address (a) recruitment and (b) retention in adult social care in rural areas.

      Palliative Care: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes made to employer National Insurance contributions at the...

      Domestic Abuse: Older People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of legal protections against the (a) abuse and (b) neglect of older people.

      Hospices: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support hospices that rely on charitable donations, in the context of changes to National Insurance thresholds.

      Dental Services: Knowsley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) children and (b) adults are registered with an NHS dentist in Knowsley constituency.

      Pharmacy: Access

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that pharmacies are accessible.

      Primary Health Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to integrated care boards on representation for NHS Primary Care stakeholders.

      Care Workers: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health support for social care workers.

      Self-harm: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many incidents of self-harm using (a) paracetamol, (b) ibuprofen and (c) aspirin by 16 and 17-year-olds were recorded in each of the...

      Dental Services: Knowsley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of dentistry provision in Knowsley constituency for (a) children and (b) adults.

      General Practitioners: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether families including a (a) baby and (b) young child in temporary accommodation are able to remain registered at their GP surgery if...

      Dementia: Music Therapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his plans for a National Care Service include a review of training for carers in the use of musical techniques to help support...

      Drinking Water: Fluoride

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to support a fluoridation scheme in Macclesfield constituency.

      Dental Services: Knowsley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of dental practices that accept new NHS patients in Knowsley constituency.

      General Practitioners: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of GP appointments that have been booked through online forms as a result of the Help...

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including people with post-Covid syndrome in the list of people...

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of limiting eligibility for the covid-19 vaccination in autumn 2025 on...

      Smoking: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment of the probability of an increase in youth smoking rates of illegal tobacco products as a result of the implementation of...

      Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) raise awareness of Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and (b) support children...

      Migraines: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve support, (b) ensure equitable access to specialist services and (c) promote workplace...

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18797 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, how many of the claims relating to Covid-19...

      Influenza: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding was allocated to promote the update of the influenza vaccine in (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.

      Hydrocephalus: Babies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of infants with hydrocephalus initially present symptoms after 8 weeks of age.

      Clinical Trials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on (a) improving the process for clinical trials and (b) ensuring that those trials are more...

      Givinostat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were in receipt of Givinostat through the Early Access Programme on 10 December 2024; and if he will make an assessment...

  • Department for Education

    • Class Sizes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average pupil-to-teacher ratio is in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) nationally.

    • Mandarin Language: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will continue her Department’s funding for the Mandarin Excellence Programme.

      Schools: Gender Based Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) boys and (b) young men receive education in school on preventing violence against women and...

      Multi-academy Trusts: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take with local authorities to improve the (a) transparency and (b) accountability of multi academy trusts.

      Special Educational Needs: Hendon

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to improve SEND provision in schools in Hendon.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the backlog of Education, Health and Care Plans in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England.

      Multi-academy Trusts: Accountability and Complaints

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve (a) management accountability and (b) the complaints and oversight system for staff at multi-academy trusts.

      Schools: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to promote the inclusion of disabled students in schools; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of...

      Special Educational Needs: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Special Educational Need schools are eligible for split school site funding.

      Schools: Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of travel provision for children to attend school when living in temporary accommodation.

      Writing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of writing by hand in learning to write lessons.

      Natural History: GCSE

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects teaching of GCSE Natural History to begin.

      Pupils: Languages

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent estimate of how many primary school children do not speak English as their first language.

      Children: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what role Ofsted plays in ensuring the (a) safety, (b) wellbeing and (c) educational attainment of children living in temporary accommodation.

      Young People: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of young people who have previously lived in temporary accommodation entering (a) further and (b)...

      Pupils: Temporary Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of living in temporary accommodation on the educational attainment of children at each of the...

      Foster Care: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the number of foster carers in (a) England and (b) Cheshire.

  • Home Office

    • UK Border Force: Seasonal Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Border Force plans to continue using its seasonal workforce beyond 31 January 2025.

    • Migrants: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of families that have no recourse to public funds.

      Visas: Families

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase the salary threshold for family visas.

      Undocumented Workers: Delivery Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a review of the employment of illegal immigrants in the food delivery...

      Asylum: Syria

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to pause asylum applications made by people from Syria, in the context of the fall of the Assad regime.

      Crimes of Violence: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of an independent review into the impact of crimes committed by illegal migrants on...

      Asylum: Syria

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on returning Syrians (a) seeking...

      Research and Scientists: Visas

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on visas for (a) scientists and (b)...

      Asylum: Hotels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people living at the Bruce Hotel in East Kilbride have been granted asylum in the past 12 months.

      Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who arrived in the UK by small boats since 5 July 2024 are (a) male and (b) female.

      Asylum: Hotels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents are accommodated at the Bruce Hotel in East Kilbride.

      Arrests: Great Yarmouth

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders were arrested in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last 10 years.

      Asylum: Hotels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum hotels had been closed as of 4 July 2024.

      Domestic Abuse: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend the flexible fund beyond February 2025.

      Essex Police: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the proposed 2025/26 funding settlement for Essex Police in the context of (a)...

      Home Office: Art Works

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8515 on Home Office: Art Works and Cultural Heritage, which (a) portraits and (b)...

      Home Office: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-professional diversity and inclusion (a) advocates, (b) champions and (c) advisers work in each business area within her Department.

      Home Office: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent staff support central staff diversity networks in her Department.

      Lincolnshire Police: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for Lincolnshire police force.

      Police: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of police officers in (i) Epping Forest constituency and (ii) Essex.

      Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a breakdown of crimes committed by nationality in each of the last five years for which data is available.

      National Crime Agency: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what headcount cap has she set for the National Crime Agency for financial year (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

      Foreign Influence Registration Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to commence the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, and whether she plans to include China in the enhanced tier of that scheme.

      Home Office: Recruitment and Unpaid Work

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that (a) internships and (b) jobs in (i) her Department and (ii) all non-ministerial bodies are open to...

      Essex County Fire and Rescue Service: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to address funding shortfalls faced by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in the context of the...

      Police: Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve the effectiveness of data collection from mobile phones by the police in relation to crime.

      Fire and Rescue Services: Labour Turnover

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a South East allowance for firefighters to support retention in (a) Essex and (b)...

      Emergency Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioners the authority to independently...

      Refugees: Employment and Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what tailored support she plans to provide to refugees to access (a) training and (b) employment after the closure of the Refugee Employment...

      Home Office: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish her Department's equality training documentation on Windrush.

      Wholesale Trade: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the levels of wholesale crime.

      Wholesale Trade: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to include provisions on the protection of wholesale workers in the Crime and Policing Bill.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • State Retirement Pensions: Age

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of maintaining the state pension age at 67.

    • State Retirement Pensions: Age

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the planned increase in the state pension age to 68.

      Care Leavers: Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many care leavers in England claimed Universal Credit between 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2024.

      Children: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the additional costs to families for raising a disabled child.

      Department for Work and Pensions: Mental Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is implementing a trauma-informed approach across all its services.

      Department for Work and Pensions: Mental Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training her Department provides to its staff on supporting people who have experienced trauma.

      Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase uptake of Pension Credit in winter 2024-25.

      Department for Work and Pensions: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what timetable her Department has for conducting a fairness analysis on the Advances Model artificial intelligence system in respect of...

      Department for Work and Pensions: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the equality impact assessment carried out prior to the introduction of the Advances Model artificial intelligence system.

      Wildlife: Rodenticides

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for (a) her policies on reducing Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide...

      Social Security Benefits: Veterans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will exempt military compensation as income when calculating entitlement to means-tested benefits.

      Social Security Benefits: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that planned reforms to the disability benefit system provide adequate (a) security and (b)...

      Refugees: Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16633 on Department for Work and Pensions: Freedom of Information, if he will publish a...

      Disability: Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to decide (a) how and (b) when people affected by the loss of the enhanced disability premium when migrating to...

      Workplace Pensions: Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether entitlement to a defined benefit occupational pension affects entitlement to Universal Credit if that pension is not drawn.

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations of work capability assessment decisions have resulted in a different decision in...

      Social Security Benefits: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending access to benefits for families with children who have no recourse to...

      Employment Rights Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on...

      Children: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with disabled children’s charities, in the context of the development of a child poverty strategy.

      Employment: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support older workers in rural settings.

      Employment: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of women in employment since 2010.

      Menopause: Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women are on long term sick leave due to menopausal symptoms.

      Employment: Knowsley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to employment opportunities for disabled people in Knowsley constituency.

      Education and Employment: Scarborough and Whitby

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Youth Guarantee on young people in Scarborough and Whitby constituency.

      Migrant Workers: English Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were referred by job centre advisors to a course to improve their English language skills in each year since 2015.

      Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Pension Credit awareness campaign.

      Pension Credit: Social Security Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 17079 on Pension Credit: Social Security Benefits, what the average weekly cash total...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether algorithm driven risk scoring is being used in the process of selecting Universal Credit claimants for a Targeted Case Review.

      Social Security Benefits: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many targeted case reviews her Department expects to have carried by the end of 2024.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Agriculture: Subsidies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has conducted an impact assessment of the decision to accelerate reduction of direct payments to farming businesses.

    • Agriculture: South Devon

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applicants in South Devon constituency received capital grant funding in (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.

      Electronic Equipment: Waste

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the amount of electronic waste generated by the UK by (a) product type and (b) region in each...

      Mobile Phones: Secondhand Goods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the findings in the report by Which? entitled...

      Avian Influenza

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of avian flu across the UK in the last 12 months.

      Eggs: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require imported eggs to...

      Inland Border Facilities: Ashford

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the overall (a) capital and (b) running costs are of the Inland Border Facility at Sevington; and what the budget is...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wokingham to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on...

      Trees: Conservation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to enhance the protection of (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees.

      Cats: Animal Breeding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to regulate cat breeding.

      Government Departments: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to question 16316 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Energy if he will...

      Horticulture: Import Controls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce time taken for (a) sanitary and (b) phytosanitary checks at border control posts for...

      Food: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's (a) biosecurity and (b) border control measures for imported...

      Disposable Wipes: Plastics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce legislative proposals to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

      Sewage: Coastal Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of water bill increases on coastal communities that are affected by...

      Cats: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving...

      Farms: Biodiversity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the resilience of farm businesses by improving biodiversity.

      EU External Trade: South America

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the trade agreement between the EU and Mercusor on...

      Litter: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to issue guidance on issuing of litter fines to householders.

      Packaging: Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the evidential basis is for the levels of Extended Producer Responsibility fee for (a) steel food cans, (b) fibre-based...

      Agriculture: Food Supply

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 July 2024 to Question 1488 on Agriculture: Food Supply, if he will have discussions with the...

      Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to review the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England)...

      Agriculture: Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the number of farmers who will exit the sector as a result of the change to agricultural...

      Agriculture: Kent

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the economic contribution of farming to (a) Kent and (b) Faversham and Mid Kent constituency.

      Shoreline Management Plans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the current Shoreline Management Plans.

      Floods: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to collaborate with local authorities to ensure that infrastructure is swiftly repaired after the...

      Sustainable Farming Incentive

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the record-keeping requirement for the Sustainable Farming Initiative for 2024 will be maintained.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her oral Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend of 2...

    • Empty Property: Leisure and Retail Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent large vacant (a) retail and (b) leisure units in town centres from remaining empty.

      Recruitment: Location

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has a policy on location-neutral recruitment.

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 6111 and 6401 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local...

      Housing: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to improve fire safety in residential buildings; and what support she has made...

      Local Government: Worcestershire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Worcestershire County Council on (a) local government...

      Land Registry: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff are employed by HM Land Registry.

      Leasehold: Ground Rent

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the results of the consultation entitled Modern Leasehold: Restricting Ground Rent for...

      Planning: Local Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of removing the role of elected councillors from certain planning...

      Planning: Local Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government will take with respect to councils who do not meet the targets set out in the National...

      Planning: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the reforms set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12...

      Affordable Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help increase the supply of affordable housing in (a) Mid Cheshire...

      Right to Buy Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a formal consultation on reductions to Right to Buy discounts.

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Training

      [SUGGESTED RE-DRAFT] To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many away days her Department has held for senior officials since the 30 May 2024.

      Infrastructure: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to maximise the use of developer's contributions to improve community...

      Planning: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning reforms balance new housing development with the...

      Right to Buy Scheme: Foreign Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's statistics entitled Social housing lettings in England, tenancies: April 2023 to...

      Freehold: Property Management Companies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a system for dispute resolution available to freeholders...

      Dedicated Schools Grant

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to extend the statutory override for the Dedicated Schools Grant.

      Council Tax: Birmingham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 11925 on Council Tax: Greater London, and with reference to the...

      Social Services: Croydon East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, What proportion of the (a) Children’s Social Care Prevention Grant and (b) Children and Families Grant will be...

      Local Government Finance: Disadvantaged

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will review the distribution criteria for the Recovery Grant to ensure access to that funding for (a) Essex and...

      Local Government Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to ensure that local authorities in rural areas receive higher levels of funding in the...

      Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many times officials from her Department have met with homelessness sector stakeholders since July 2024.

      Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support councils in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England...

      Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of local government (a) processes and (b) resources for identifying...

      Housing First: Pilot Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Housing First pilot schemes; and whether she plans to expand...

      Small Businesses: Sutton and Cheam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support small and medium sized high street businesses with (a) rising rents,...

      Local Government Finance: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on Local Government Finance, HCWS265, if she will make an...

      Regional Planning and Development: Higher Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had made an assessment of the potential role of universities (a) within and (b) outside mayoral...

  • Department for Transport

    • Train Operating Companies: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to implement key performance indicators to measure the performance of rail operators after franchises have expired.

    • Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2024 to Question 17936 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, if she will publish her assessment of the...

      Cycleways: Westmorland and Furness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide additional funding for Westmorland and Furness Council to maintain cycleways.

      Bus Services: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure bus travel is accessible for people with disabilities.

      Electric Scooters: Public Places

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to give people with disabilities additional rights to use electric scooters in...

      Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Stagecoach and (b) Stephensons on the frequency of buses in (i) England, (ii) the East of England and (iii) Suffolk.

      Chiltern Railways: Information Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled RVAR 2010 exemption: Chiltern Railways passenger...

      Railways: Investment and Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to establish Great British Railways on long-term (a) investment and (b)...

      Office of Rail and Road: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff are employed by the Office of Rail and Road.

      Transport: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with local authorities to develop integrated transport systems in rural areas.

      Southeastern Trains: Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for new rolling stock for Southeastern metro services.

      Motor Vehicles: Lighting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3112 on Motor Vehicles: Lighting, whether the independent research has begun; when the results...

      Pedicabs: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the potential impact of the lights and loud noises made by...

      South Western Railway: Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to replace end-of-life rolling stock on South Western Railways.

      Great British Railways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take to help support the transition to Great British Railways.

      Great British Railways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her timeline is for the establishment of Great British Railways; and what key milestones she expects to reach in the next 12 months.

      Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the efficiency of (a) traffic commissioners and (b) DVLA offices in processing licence renewals for C1 vehicle handlers.

      Roads: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department projects that the A57 link road upgrade will be completed.

      Railway Stations: Spalding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the support provided for people with mobility issues to access trains at Spalding station.

      Electric Vehicles: National Security

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the national security risks of (a) electric vehicles and (b)...

      Railways: North of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department projects that the Transpennine Route Upgrade will be completed.

      Railway Stations: South Basildon and East Thurrock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the condition of train stations in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

      Driverless Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the regulation of self-driving delivery robots alongside other forms of micro mobility.

      Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total allocation given to each Local Authority is for pothole repairs.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Gambling: Taxation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Statutory levy and online slot stake limits to be introduced to tackle...

    • Press Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on the freedom of the press of the recent IPSO ruling in relation to a complaint...

      Nightclubs: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of nightclub closures in the UK since 2020.

      Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many representations her Department has received from (a) organisations, (b) hon. Members and (c) individuals on the future of the...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Equality and Human Rights Commission: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, how many full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff are employed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

    • Religious Freedom

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help protect religious minorities.

      Disability and Ethnic Groups: Equality

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to consult with (a) disabled and (b) Black peoples’ organisations on the planned implementation of the draft Equality...

      Sexual Harassment

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how she plans to monitor the effectiveness of the new preventative duty on sexual harassment.

      Government Departments: Equality

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish Public Sector Equality Duty implementation guidance for each (a) Government Department and (b) arms-length body.

  • Wales Office

    • ASW: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the pensions of former Allied Steel and Wire workers.

    • Wales Office: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether ministers in her Department have met with representatives of the alcohol industry since July 2024.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty.

    • Development Aid: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Baroness Shafik on consulting with (a) parliamentarians, (b) NGOs and (c) other...

      Chinmoy Krishna Das

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

      British Nationals Abroad: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the APPG report entitled Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance Report 2019: Why...

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Apulia G7 Leaders’ communique, published in June 2024, what steps his Department is...

      British Nationals Abroad: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's procedures are for informing relatives when a British national dies abroad in (a)...

      Nigeria: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand routine immunisation programs across northern Nigeria.

      Syria: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent the religious persecution of Christians in Syria.

      Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Ahmadiyya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had meetings with Ahmadiyya Muslim representatives in...

      Bangladesh: Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has provided the interim government in Bangladesh with support for the asset recovery of...

      Syria: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals were in Syria on 11 December 2024.

      Syria: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria.

      British Nationals Abroad: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to British citizens and their families in cases where (a) suspicious deaths...

      Gaza: Hostage Taking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas...

      Aleppo: Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to respond to (a) attacks on (i) Christian communities, (ii) humanitarian access and (iii)...

      Gaza: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Amnesty...

      Syria: Fenethylline

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the (a) identification and (b) destruction of...

      Syria: Chemical Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is participating in international action to (a) identify and (b) destroy chemical weapon (i)...

      Syria: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide a breakdown of planned spending for the additional £11 million in humanitarian aid for Syria.

      Syria: Fenethylline

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) identify and (b) destroy Captagon (i) production and (ii) distribution facilities...

      Golan Heights: Syria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government recognises the Golan Heights as Syrian territory.

      Afghanistan: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department last raised the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan in the (a) UN Human Rights Council...

      Gaza: Health Professions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is he taking to tackle (a) detention and (b) mistreatment of healthcare workers in Gaza.

      British Council: Repayments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of British Council's repayment of its pandemic loan on its...

      Palestinians: Fire and Rescue Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September to Question 3985 on Palestinians: Fire and Rescue Services, if he will take...

      Syria: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts about (a) the role the UK will play in...

      Afghanistan: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of women and girls in that country.

      Diplomatic Service: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve collaboration with foreign authorities in investigating...

      British Nationals Abroad: Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of UK citizens that are imprisoned abroad.

      Mohammed Hamouda

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 15678 on Mohammed Hamouda, what information he has received...

      Israel: International Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department next plans to publish an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.

      Ukraine: Reconstruction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to authorise the use of frozen Russian state assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine.

      Foreign Relations: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's use of soft power to support free and fair elections...

      Diego Garcia: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the potential impact of transferring sovereignty...

      Diego Garcia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to oral answer of 13 November 2024 by the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development...

      Diego Garcia: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Mauritius on (a) Mauritius' policy on nuclear weapons and (b)...

      British Council: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 14865 on British Council: Finance, what the planned...

      British Council: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure the financial stability of the British Council.

      Israel: International Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of his Department's reporting timelines on Israel's compliance...

      Israel: International Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned external legal advice on Israel's compliance with international...

      Nigeria: Malnutrition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle malnutrition in northern Nigeria.

      Nigeria: Nutrition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand (a) inpatient, (b) community-based, (c) outpatient and (d) other nutritional...

      Nigeria: Malnutrition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what bilateral funding to tackle malnutrition levels across northern Nigeria will be in 2025/26.

      Sustainable Development: Drinking Water and Sanitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to meet sustainable development goal six.

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Solar Taskforce

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16151 on Energy: Supply Chains, whether his Department is taking steps to...

    • Solar Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential contribution of domestic solar energy generation to the UK meeting its net zero...

      Carbon Capture and Storage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the development of carbon capture and storage technology.

      Solar Power: Land Use

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the development of large-scale solar farms.

      Energy: Housing

      What steps he is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes in winter 2024-25.

      Renewable Energy: Job Creation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support job creation in the renewable energy sector.

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with energy suppliers on support for consumers in winter 2024-25.

      Heat Batteries: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential role of heat batteries in decarbonising domestic heating.

      Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to help tackle rural fuel poverty under the Warm Homes Plan.

      Fuel Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to bring forward a consultation on a Renewable Heating Fuel Obligation as required by section 159 of...

      Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many low-income households have (a) applied and (b) received vouchers for measures under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme from...

      Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made any declarations of interest to the Permanent Secretary of his Department relating to the direct appointments...

      Heat Pumps

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the financial impact of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the average household income.

      Heat Pumps: Carbon Dioxide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the reduction in emissions in tCO2 due to the introduction of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism in...

      Boilers and Heat Pumps

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) gas boilers, (b) oil boilers, (c) heat pumps and (d) biofuel boilers...

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people have functioning smart meters in (a) North Northumberland...

      Fuel Poverty: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of levels of fuel poverty on levels of excess deaths in each of the last two years.

      Boiler Upgrade Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including hybrid heat pumps as an available measure under the...

      Renewable Energy: Supply Chains

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on the Green Industries Growth Accelerator programme.

      Sizewell C Power Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to construct grid connections for Sizewell C.

      Nuclear Power Stations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to extend the operation of existing nuclear power plants beyond 2030.

      Environment Protection: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate the Government has made of the number of green jobs created by the (a) production and (b) uptake of renewable liquid...

      Net Zero Teeside Power and Northern Endurance Partnership: Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether, under amendments to the Government’s business models for the (a) Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT) and (b) Northern...

      Wind Power: Fylde

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his oral Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Fylde of 8 October 2024, Official Report, column 140,...

      Electric Cables: Storms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what cost comparison he has made of repairing (a) overhead and (b) underground power lines following storm damage.

      Remote Sensing: Environment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will have discussions with the (a) UK Space Agency and (b) Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on using...

      Quadrature Climate Foundation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers, and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Quadrature Climate...

      Offshore Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a just transition for oil and gas (a) communities and (b) workers.

      Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that the deployment of offshore renewables does not impact on blue carbon stores.

  • Treasury

    • Office of Budget Responsibility: Reviews

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Office of Budget Responsibility is next due to have an external review.

    • Poverty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on levels of poverty.

      Individual Savings Accounts

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adjusting the Lifetime ISA property price cap in line with (a) inflation and (b) average house prices.

      Taxation: International Cooperation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with her G20 counterparts on a global agreement to tax the world’s richest individuals.

      Corporation Tax: Investment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the amount of additional business investment due to the capital allowances measures in the corporate tax roadmap.

      Employers' Contributions: Public Services

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will extend the Employment Allowance to (a) GPs and (b) other people providing public services.

      State Retirement Pensions: National Insurance Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce (a) delays and (b) complexities in obtaining the necessary information to purchase additional years of National...

      Capital Gains Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Capital Gains Tax: Rates of tax — carried interest, published on 30 October 2024, what the...

      National Insurance Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what income HMRC has derived from (a) class two and (b) class four National Insurance contributions in each of the past five years.

      Agriculture: Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13623 on Agriculture: Inheritance Tax, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the...

      Russia: Money Laundering

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing Russia on a domestic money laundering watchlist.

      High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 16634 on high rise building remediation taken on by the FSCS, how much and what proportion of the...

      Investment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the total value of investments in (a) cash, (b) stocks and shares, (c) innovative finance and (d) lifetime ISAs in...

      Mortgages: First Time Buyers

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with mortgage providers on the availability of low deposit mortgages for first time buyers.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Economic Secretary to the Treasury plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wokingham on the Equitable Life Policy compensation...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ministry of Defence: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11939 on Ministry of Defence: Employers Contributions, how much of the cost of employer National...

    • Ministry of Defence: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many private recruitment agencies his Department uses to fill senior vacancies; what the potential cost to the public purse is of these services;...

      Armed Forces Covenant

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a public sector organisation that has signed the Armed Forces Covenant may be removed as a signatory if the organisation has acted in...

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October to Question 1829, on Armed Forces: Housing, how many of the 600 home insulation improvements have (a) been...

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what types of damp and mould treatment are used for Service Family Accommodation.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many individual Service Family Accommodation properties will have received a damp and mould treatment (a) between 5 July 2024 and 10 December 2024...

      Strategic Defence Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish his response to the Strategic Defence Review at the same time as the Spending Review.

      Skynet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6342 on Skynet, whether SKYNET 6A satellite procurement remains on schedule.

      National Armaments Director

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Major defence reforms launched, with new National Armaments Director to tackle waste and boost...

      Armed Forces: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17776 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, how the Army measures Capita’s performance against key...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of civil service pensions in each of the last ten years.

    • Cabinet Office: Employment Agencies

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much each Department has spent on recruitment agencies in each of the last five years.

      Public Bodies: Conflict of Interests

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Audit Office's report entitled Managing conflicts of interest: value for money, published on 22 November 2024, whether...

      Government Departments: Consultants

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on consultants across Government Departments in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

      10 Downing Street: Staff

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people worked in the No. 10 foreign policy team on (a) 31 October 2024 and (b) 11 December 2024.

      Sue Gray

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when Sue Gray's employment as a special adviser ended.

      Government Departments: Employment Tribunals Service

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of out of court settlements for employment tribunal cases across Government in each of the last five years.

      Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11837 on Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review, if he will set out...

      Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Official Visits

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13327 on DCMS: Official Visits, when he plans to announce when he plans to publish the (a) Q1...

      Cabinet Office: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.

      Storms

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to support people affected by Storm Darragh.

      Foreign Investment in UK: National Security

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to enhance the scrutiny of acquisition of...

      National Security Adviser: Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the remuneration package is for the National Security Adviser.

      Government Departments: Social Media

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Departments have social media accounts by social media platform; and how much each Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b)...

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Consumer Goods: UK Trade with EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the EU General Product Safety Regulations on (a) businesses and (b)...

    • Politics and Government: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to have discussions with political parties on the future of Northern Ireland's political institutions.

      Northern Ireland Executive: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the process for appointing the (a) First Minister and (b) Deputy First Minister.

      European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will published the legal advice he received on the European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill.

  • Home Office

    • Visas: Digital Technology

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the transition to the eVisa system in January 2025; and what consideration they have given to postponing it.

    • Migrant Workers: Costs

      To ask His Majesty's Government which "associated costs" employers who recruit internationally will be required to pay, as set out in the Home Office news story published on Gov.uk on 28...

      Hong Kong: Electronic Travel Authorisations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the Electronic Travel Authorisation for British National (Overseas) passport holders who may...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Food: Prices

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of analysis by Kantar that grocery price inflation has risen for three months in a row, and what steps they are taking to mitigate...

    • Wildlife: Smuggling

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the paper, 'Insights into the primate trade into the European Union and the United Kingdom', by Svensson et al, published in the...

      Domestic Waste

      To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of household waste was (1) recycled, (2) reused, (3) sent to landfill, and (4) used as resource in 'Energy from Waste', in each of the past 3 years.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the potential withdrawal of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on the ability of church buildings to...

    • Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

      To ask His Majesty's Government which bodies they have consulted about the implications of any change to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

      Television Licences: Non-payment

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of households choosing not to buy a television licence.

      BBC: Sexual Harassment

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding the investigation into allegations of sexist behaviour on...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many claims for Pension Credit were made between the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 July (HC Deb, col 1038) of the removal of the Winter...

    • Jobcentres: Disability

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether people with disabilities who are not in receipt of out of work benefits are eligible to receive support to return to work from Job Centre Plus coaches; if...

      Cost of Living: Rural Areas

      To ask His Majesty's Government further to the report Hidden Hardship, published by Dr Stephanie Denning of Coventry University in November 2023, what assessment they have made of the need (1) to...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Business

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase business confidence and encourage firms to increase their (1) expansion, (2) investment and (3) recruitment.

    • Takeovers: Disclosure of Information

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2 December (HL2621), what assessment they have made of the effect of directors of public...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Visas

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries allow British citizens to travel to them without a visa.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Disability: Rented Housing

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to enforce section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Equality Act 2010, to ensure landlords cannot unreasonably deny disabled access adaptations to...

    • Girls: Health

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the remit of the Minister for Women and Equalities specifically to include girls’ wellbeing.

      Women: Muslims

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of Muslim women who have been discriminated in the workplace due to their (1) faith, and (2) race, in each of the past...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Ministers: Members' Interests

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the ministerial code regarding declarations of interest to improve public confidence in elected officials.

    • Civil Service: Training

      To ask His Majesty's Government why the National School of Government was closed, and whether they have any plans to establish an equivalent institution in place of Civil Service Learning...

      Civil Service: Translation Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 3 December 2024 (HL2738), what is the aggregate value of the Crown Commercial Service framework...

      Civil Service: Translation Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 3 December (HL2738), whether the guidance against unnecessary translation of documents into foreign...

      Parthenon Sculptures

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Greece discussed the Elgin Marbles during their meeting on 3 December; and if so, why it was not mentioned in...

      Ministers: Official Residences

      To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on 13 November (HC10698), which specific Minister has been allocated each...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Local Government: Employers' Contributions

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the increase in national insurance will have on local councils and their services.

    • Local Government: Pension Funds

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 26 November (HL2477), what they expect the minimum standards for asset pooling to be in the Local...

      South Tees Development Corporation: Finance

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value for money to taxpayers of the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) given the recent external auditors’...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to mitigate the impact on third party litigation funding of the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and other) v...

    • Television Licences: Non-payment

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have been imprisoned in each of the past five years for non-payment of the BBC licence fee.

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Armed Forces: Cadets

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Combined Cadet Force units in schools, given confirmation that the School Staff Instructor grant to Cadet Expansion Programme...

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Internet: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to establish an evidence base which will safeguard the experience of children online, specifically with reference to the...

    • Artificial Intelligence: Cybersecurity

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports indicating that the UK faces growing pressure on its ability to tackle the increasing scale and severity of cyber...

  • Leader of the House of Lords

  • Treasury

    • Employment: Costs

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increasing employment costs on employers and the effect that this will have on the economy.

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.

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