Question

To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the condition of the Church estate in that constituency.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

My responsibilities relate to the work of the seven National Church Institutions, and I can give best-practice advice about diocesan and parish activity. I would be happy to meet with the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss his constituency and any specific concerns he may have. However, he may find a discussion with the Bishop of Lichfield and the team in the Diocese of Lichfield, who are responsible for the condition of the church estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, more productive. I will write to him to arrange an introduction.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with representatives from the Church Urban Fund since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My officials are in regular contact with the Church Urban Fund and I am pleased to say that my department has recently agreed to fund the Church Urban Fund up to £515,000 in this financial year to deliver the Near Neighbours programme. This funding is subject to clearance through the department’s internal finance and due diligence processes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to designate misogyny as a hate crime.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we are committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

The Government is carefully considering how best to tackle hate crime. We will set out next steps in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the use of photo ID issued by the Ministry of Defence by veterans when voting in elections.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On the 15^th of October the government laid the statutory instrument required to add the Veteran Card to the list of photographic identifications accepted in polling stations as voter ID, thereby fulfilling a key manifesto commitment.

The Ministry consulted with the Electoral Commission on this statutory instrument in August this year – the Commission supported the amendments proposed.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Northern Ireland Executive on appointing a new Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The appointment of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Office officials worked with Whitehall colleagues on a recruitment process for a new Commissioner, which was launched on 16 October.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the release of HS2 compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, would gladly meet the Honourable Member to discuss land and property related compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury’s buildings are managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA are responsible for the provision of catering services across our sites and the disposal of food waste.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

In line with the Greening Government Commitments the Home Office has committed to measure and report on food waste.

Over the period 2017 to 2024, Home Office food waste arisings increased from 183 to 207 tonnes (13% increase) an increase primarily driven by an increase in food waste collection across the estate, from 7 facilities in 2017 to up to 20 facilities in 2023/24.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of crimes reported on West Coast Mainline trains between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly in each of the last five years.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in Great Britain including the West Coast Mainline. They have provided the following figures, covering all types of crime, reported between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly on Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway trains and stations operated by them on this route.

2020: 1,248

2021: 1,363

2022: 1,894

2023: 2,210

2024 (to August 31^st): 1,590

It is important to note that for the reporting years 2020 and 2021, overall passenger numbers on the rail network were significantly reduced due to travel restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Passenger numbers continue to increase across the entire rail network - in 2023/24, there was a 16% increase on the previous year.

The BTP is committed to tackling crime across the rail network and they work closely with the Train Operating Companies to target offenders on a daily basis.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of (a) people and (b) children living in temporary accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. Local authorities report their statutory homelessness statistics on a quarterly basis and these can be accessed: here.

The Government is taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) will chair, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.

More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including:

• Delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.
• Abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

As a tenant for each of our offices including our London and Manchester HQs, DCMS does not manage food provision or waste in our offices. For our London HQ this service is provided by our landlords, the Government Property Agency.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government is committed to improving its own impact upon the environment. The Greening Government Commitments requires departments and agencies to measure and report to Defra on food waste for estates with over 50 full time equivalent staff and or over 500m2 floor area offering a food service.

The Department is taking a number of steps to measure and reduce food waste. At our London headquarters building the catering provider is a signatory to the industry-wide WRAP Courtauld 2030 commitment, which includes reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

At our other site where we have onsite catering arrangements we work with food charities to donate surplus food items at the end of each day (as required). On site staffing forecasts are also provided in order to determine daily food quantities required. This minimises the risk of over-ordering and reduces food waste.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with domestic manufacturers on complying with dual labelling requirements for water efficiency in the UK and EU; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of aligning new labelling requirements with existing international standards.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. The label will be informed by the international standard ISO’s 31600:2022.

We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse has been of developing a new water efficiency labelling scheme; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of existing labels that comply with ISO31600 as an alternative.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. The label will be informed by the international standard ISO’s 31600:2022.

We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to mandate the display of water efficiency labels for products such as taps and showers; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of accepting the Unified Water Label as a route to comply.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. The label will be informed by the international standard ISO’s 31600:2022.

We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Department continues to closely monitor the implementation and impact of the grant scheme through the regular reporting of the grant administrator, EMB. Since 2010, the Government has returned over £350 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples through the grant scheme. This has helped protect our listed places of worship and enabled them to continue their work as centres of worship and community assets.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the implementation of existing free trade agreements.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK Government continually assesses the implementation of free trade agreements in order to maximise their benefit for business and support economic growth. We exploit opportunities to protect and secure further access to these markets, and will align our implementation approach with the upcoming Trade Strategy that will consider how to use every lever available to drive growth, including FTAs.

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