Lord Bailey of Paddington

As has been the case under successive administrations, the Cabinet Office is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House. The Deputy Prime Minister’s council tax responsibility is properly discharged.

Independent public body reviews are one of our most effective levers to drive improvement and ensure public bodies deliver value for the taxpayer.The Cabinet Office guidance on the undertaking and requirements for reviews of public bodies is published on gov.uk, and was last updated in April 2024.

This Government is committed to supporting vibrant high streets that contribute to a thriving everyday economy, growth and community cohesion. Illegitimate businesses can undercut and undermine legitimate ones that are seeking to contribute to their high street and local economy.

Money laundering through cash-based high street businesses is a known issue that government continues to focus on. While businesses such as candy shops are not regulated under the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), they interact with MLRs regulated businesses such as banks, who are required to undertake customer due diligence, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) must submit reports to the National Crime Agency if they suspect money laundering.

The government works closely with law enforcement and regulators to monitor trends in criminal behaviour – and how these may relate to changes in the make-up of our high streets – to ensure resources are deployed towards the most significant threats.

Supporting people to stay healthier for longer is at the heart of the Government’s Health Mission. We are committed to tackling the obstacles driving obesity. We have already laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on TV and online, announced changes to the planning framework for fast food near schools and we are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose. We are also committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s.

Government provides an annual £50m Network Subsidy funding to support the delivery of a minimum number of branches and a geographical spread of branches in line with published access criteria. The Government uplifted the subsidy in FY 24/25 by £37.5 million to further support the Post Office network and the important services it provides. The access criteria ensure that however the network changes, Post Office delivers essential services across the UK via its network of 11,500 branches. The access criteria will ensure that, across London, 99% of the population will continue to live within 3 miles of a Post Office.

The government is deeply concerned by the findings of the StandWithUs UK report.

Antisemitism is unacceptable, and universities must have robust policies and processes in place for preventing and tackling it. Whilst it is entirely right that universities protect freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus, this does not extend to hate, harassment or incitement. Last month, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education met with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more could be done to address the continued unacceptable level of antisemitism on our campuses.

From August 2025, the Office for Students’ (OfS) new condition of registration for preventing, addressing and investigating incidents of harassment will take effect and universities will be held to account for their action. Furthermore, under the Prevent duty, the OfS monitors and evaluates whether universities and other higher education (HE) providers have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.

The government is also investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism in education, including support for Jewish student welfare in HE, and remains committed to ensuring that all students can study in safety and dignity.

At present, we do not have plans to increase the cap on fixed penalty notices that councils can issue for fly-tipping. Councils can currently issue fixed penalty notices of up to £1000.

We have committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess they have created. This will build on the sanctions already available which also include seizing vehicles and prosecution action which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment.

We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance. We are also conducting a review of their powers to seize and crush vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

The Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency attend the local authority-led Launders Lane technical sub-group meetings, along with the London Fire Brigade and others. Ultimately the council is the lead authority on regulating the site and more information on the work of its technical sub-group can be found on the council’s website.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 would apply to Transport for London. However, the Government announced on 6 August that it will repeal the Act as part of the Employment Rights Bill which is currently at Final Stages in the Lords. The Act was unworkable for public transport when it was passed.

The Department for Transport passed the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London. Following Royal Assent of the Act, Transport for London (TfL) undertook a public consultation earlier this year seeking views on high level policy proposals to regulate pedicabs in London. The consultation closed on 7 March 2025 and TfL is currently analysing the responses with a view to publishing the consultation report and next steps in due course. An impact assessment was published on 7 February 2024 when the Bill was introduced into the House of Commons which assessed the impact of pedicabs on London alongside likely effects of the legislation.

Transport for London (TfL) are currently preparing to consult on their plans to regulate London’s pedicab industry. Department for Transport officials regularly meet with their counterparts at TfL on this matter, who have indicated that this consultation process will now begin in early 2025.

The new hospital scheme for the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust at St Mary’s Hospital is in the scope of the review into the New Hospital Programme.

We are finalising the outcome of the review so we can be honest and upfront with everyone on when we expect the new hospitals to be delivered. As is standard practice, a Public Sector Equality Duty impact assessment will also be completed as part of this process.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will set out further details on the outcome of the review, which will include a new and realistic delivery schedule for the programme, at the earliest opportunity.

The UK pledged an initial £10 million worth of life saving support to Myanmar in response to the earthquake. This package will be delivered via long standing UK-funded local partners and through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which will fund life-saving support to some of the most urgent humanitarian needs. The UK also supports the Disaster Emergency Committee and will match public donations up to £5 million. The UK is providing consular assistance to the small number of British nationals in Myanmar and Thailand affected by the earthquake. On 4 April, we announced a further £10m of funding, bringing our total response to up to £25 million.

The Government has taken a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability after the situation we inherited from the previous government.

One of the toughest decisions we made was to raise the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from 13.8% to 15%, whilst reducing the per-employee threshold at which employers start to pay National Insurance (the Secondary Threshold) from £9,100 to £5,000.

The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change this year.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, we intend to introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000, which will include many properties used by the night-time economy sector. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of the new multipliers coming into force, we recognise that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, we have extended the RHL business rates relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025.

Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme and will be set out in legislation later this year. Eligibility for the RHL relief scheme is set out in guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and includes many night-time economy businesses.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK.

VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater.

The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax changes at the Budget, in the context of the overall public finances.

The Government has no plans to introduce a new tax-free shopping scheme in Great Britain. Visitors to Great Britain can continue to claim VAT relief where the items purchased are shipped directly to their home country as exports.

In March 2024, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) conducted a review of the previous Government’s 2020 costing of removing tax-free shopping. The OBR’s updated estimate is that the withdrawal of the VAT Retail Export Scheme will save the Exchequer around £540 million per year by 2025-26. Reintroducing tax-free shopping would therefore likely come at significant cost to the Exchequer.
 
The Government has also noted recent ONS data, which shows that tourism numbers and spending for the UK has recovered at a similar rate following the pandemic to other European economies that offer tax-free shopping.

The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market, including products that are based on a tenant’s history of rental payments. Any prospective first-time buyer should speak to a mortgage broker, who will be able to assist them in finding the best possible product for their circumstances.

The pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. Lenders need to balance the risk of default and losses when making their decisions, which is why mortgage affordability assessments consider a range of factors.

It is crucial that police have the powers they need to tackle anti-social behaviour.

New Respect Orders, introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill, will give police stronger powers to enforce against the most persistent adult offenders.

Respect Orders will be behavioural orders, issued by the civil courts. They will enable courts to ban offenders from engaging in harmful anti-social behaviours and can also require perpetrators to take action to address the root cause of their behaviour.

Failure to comply with a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, enforceable by arrest and tried in the criminal court. Penalty for breach will include community sentences, unlimited fines, and prison time for the most serious breaches.

Updated statutory guidance will be provided to forces on Respect Orders, to ensure they are being used as effectively as possible.

We are also delivering on our commitment to restore and strengthen neighbourhood policing, ensuring thousands of additional police officers and police community support officers are out patrolling in our town centres and communities to make our streets safer.

The Home Office does not currently collect data centrally on suicides or attempted suicides by police workers.

Data on suicides by occupation have previously been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention and Postvention in policing has been launched, which aims to reduce rates among the police workforce as well as enhancing data recording. The plan, which includes ensuring adequate training for the police workforce, emphasises a supportive environment that promotes mental health and combats stigma to ensure that those affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts can access appropriate and timely support.

On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK

The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.

On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK

The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.

On 1 August, the Home Secretary announced that the Government has accepted the PRRB’s recommendations in full, including a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for police officers (up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent), effective from 1 September 2025. This decision reflected the PRRB’s assessment of the economic context, recruitment and retention data, and the specific challenges facing the police workforce. The full PRRB report and related Government response can be found here: Police Remuneration Review Body report: 2025 England and Wales - GOV.UK

The Government is carefully considering the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) recommendations for Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and will set out its decision in due course.

There are strict criteria in place to control the sale of statutory allotments – these are sites covered by the Allotment Act 1925. Councils have to seek approval from the MHCLG Secretary of State and a legal threshold must be met before approval. This includes: the allotment to be surplus to requirements, any waiting lists to be considered, public consultation to have occurred, and other local policies to have been considered.

We are content with the effectiveness of this clearly defined legal process and there is no current government plan to change policy regarding allotment site sales by councils. The eight approvals granted between July 2024 and July 2025 represented a slight decrease in allotment disposals compared to recent years. The National Allotment Society stated that it had not challenged any of those applications as they had all met the legal threshold with either low take-up of plots or alternative allotment space provided elsewhere.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024, for far too many leaseholders, the reality of home ownership has fallen woefully short of the dream. As set out in our manifesto, we are determined to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end, reinvigorate commonhold and take the first steps towards making it the default tenure by the end of this Parliament.

Draft legislation and a consultation on the best approach to banning new leasehold flats will be published later this year.

The Vagrancy Act 1824 does nothing to tackle the root causes of homelessness, which is why we will be the government which repeals this punitive legislation.

At the same time, homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.

The government have already taken the first steps to getting back on track to ending homelessness, including making a £1 billion investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year (2025/26), a £233 million increase on the previous year.

The government has set a target of 88,000 new homes per year in London through the new standard method and remains committed to working in partnership with the London Mayor, boroughs, and wider stakeholders to achieve a step change in building in the capital.

The proposals in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 are subject to consultation and decisions have yet to be taken that will determine final allocations and the design of transitional arrangements. These proposals will target central government grant where it is needed most and we expect that the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement.

We are also inviting views on a package of transitional arrangements available over the multi-year Spending Review period. For those councils who would see their funding fall as a result of these changes, our intention is to protect the vast majority of these councils’ income through a ‘flat cash’ (or 0%) funding floor. The consultation is live until 15th August. We will publish further information in the consultation response in autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.