Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from taxing the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from maintaining the Winter Fuel Payment for all citizens except higher-rate taxpayers.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected net revenue gain from restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025/26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners - over three quarters, or 9 million individuals - will benefit this parliament. We estimate that this will save around £450m per year compared to a policy of universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales. Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland and the policy area is devolved in Scotland. Last Autumn, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility certified that targeting Winter Fuel Payments towards pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit would save £1.65bn per year UK-wide by 2029/30, relative to universal Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line is classified as an England and Wales project.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Barnett consequential as a result of funding allocated to the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line for (1) Scotland and (2) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Spending Review 2025, the Barnett formula was applied at department level using departmental comparability factors. This means that Barnett consequentials generated in relation to specific programmes cannot be determined.
The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales and so directly spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula.
This approach applies to our investment in rail in England and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.
As part of the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced at least £445m for railways in Wales over ten years, including new funding for Burns Review stations, North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.
The UK Government continues to work closely with the Welsh Government, including open discussions with HM Treasury to provide clarity on changes that have an impact on their funding, and to ensure the smooth delivery of funding arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Barnett consequential that would have been allocated to Wales if the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line had been classified as an England project, rather than an England and Wales project.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
At the Spending Review 2025, the Barnett formula was applied at department level using departmental comparability factors. This means that Barnett consequentials generated in relation to specific programmes cannot be determined.
The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales and so directly spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula.
This approach applies to our investment in rail in England and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.
As part of the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced at least £445m for railways in Wales over ten years, including new funding for Burns Review stations, North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.
The UK Government continues to work closely with the Welsh Government, including open discussions with HM Treasury to provide clarity on changes that have an impact on their funding, and to ensure the smooth delivery of funding arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average cost of a visa for a scientist from overseas to work in the UK, and whether they have benchmarked this against costs for similar visas provided by other countries.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The cost of a visa for a scientist to work in the UK will vary depending on the visa route they enter the UK through. Visa fees are published on gov.uk and can be viewed through the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data.
Should an applicant wishing to work in the UK as a scientist apply for a skilled worker from overseas the current cost is £719 (up to three-years) or £1,420 (over three-years). Alternatively, should they enter the UK via the Global Talent route the current fee is £716. They could also apply for a 12-month Standard Visitor visa for academics which currently costs £200.
Visa products are difficult to compare because visa offers, including benefits and entitlements gained and duration of stay, vary significantly between countries. However, UK visa fees are broadly competitive when compared with the fees charged by comparative countries globally.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 17 February (HL4749), what are the specific quantities of asbestos found in the Palace of Westminster, and what assessment has been made of the risks of asbestosis.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are present across the Palace of Westminster, to date a total of 1057 items have been identified. The assessment of risks is determined by management surveys that identify and where deemed necessary the ongoing monitoring the condition of any ACMs. The purpose of the management survey is to identify the presence, material score (condition) and proximity risk (e.g. how likely the ACMs are to be disturbed).
Where management surveys identify a significant risk related to the ACMs they are removed by a licenced asbestos removal contractor. Where more invasive works are planned across the Palace such as for construction projects, refurbishment or demolition, a survey is undertaken and where ACMs are identified and where practicable, planning is made for removal.
There is a programme of management surveys conducted by experts who identify the presence of asbestos and update the Parliamentary asbestos register. These surveys inform the asbestos risk assessment which determines how asbestos containing materials are managed or removed where necessary. Detailed processes are in place to support safe invasive works including support from an asbestos analytical consultant and removal of asbestos containing materials via a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Parliament appoints competent internal duty holders to advise on risks, and actions required to make the estate safe, and provides appropriate training and awareness to employees on risks related to asbestos.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the extent of asbestos in the Palace of Westminster; and the danger of anybody working in or visiting the Palace contracting asbestosis.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Ensuring Parliament is safe is a key priority for the administrations of both Houses. Parliament has comprehensive procedures in place to ensure it discharges its duties under The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, mitigating the risks arising from asbestos and ensuring these are effectively controlled. It has a detailed asbestos management plan setting out competencies of duty holders and articulating how asbestos risks are mitigated on the estate.
There is a programme of management surveys conducted by experts who identify the presence of asbestos and update the Parliamentary asbestos register. These surveys inform the asbestos risk assessment which determines how asbestos containing materials are managed or removed where necessary. Detailed processes are in place to support safe invasive works including support from an asbestos analytical consultant and removal of asbestos containing materials via a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Parliament appoints competent internal duty holders to advise on risks, and actions required to make the estate safe, and provides appropriate training and awareness to employees on risks related to asbestos.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many national public inquiries there have been since 2004; and what was the average (1) cost, (2) length, and (3) fee paid to the lawyers involved.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Since 2004, His Majesty’s Government has established 21 non-statutory inquiries, 24 statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005, and one inquiry under other legislation, on a broad range of subject matters. 30 of the total 46 inquiries have formally completed. Several of these statutory inquiries had previously been established as non-statutory inquiries or inquests.
The length of completed inquiries in this period ranges from 1 to 99 months, and published costs vary significantly from between £0.2m and £194m. The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold data on legal costs. Further information can be found on inquiry and departmental websites and in the National Archives.