Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the cost of car insurance for drivers aged between 17 and 25.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for insurers based on their underwriting experience. Age and experience are factors that insurers use to price policies and there is evidence to suggest that younger drivers and those with less experience carry a higher risk.
However, the motor insurance market is competitive, and we recommend consumers shop around to get the best deal.
This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The taskforce is supported by a separate stakeholder panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.
This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums. It will look at the increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with sporting bodies on the affordability of ticket prices for major sporting events.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is keen to see as many people as possible benefit from and enjoy the spectacle of live sport. Ultimately, the matter of ticket prices is a commercial decision for individual clubs, leagues, and governing bodies to take. However, the Government remains in ongoing conversation with many of these stakeholders on a variety of issues, including fan engagement and access.
In relation to those events that benefit from Government and/or UK Sport funding to facilitate, the Gold Framework guidance on bidding for and staging major sporting events is clear that any bids to host such events should provide evidence that accessibility in all its forms has been considered from the earliest stage. Whilst the ticket pricing strategy for individual major sporting events is a matter for the respective organisers of those events, particularly their international rights’ holders, the Government will always seek to work with partners to ensure that ticketing is as accessible as possible, and balances the need to ensure audience reach and commercial viability. For example, England is hosting the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup this summer, which has an inclusive and affordable range of tickets available, with tickets starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to support affordable access to sporting events for young people.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is keen to see as many people as possible benefit from and enjoy the spectacle of live sport. Ultimately, the matter of ticket prices is a commercial decision for individual clubs, leagues, and governing bodies to take. However, the Government remains in ongoing conversation with many of these stakeholders on a variety of issues, including fan engagement and access.
In relation to those events that benefit from Government and/or UK Sport funding to facilitate, the Gold Framework guidance on bidding for and staging major sporting events is clear that any bids to host such events should provide evidence that accessibility in all its forms has been considered from the earliest stage. Whilst the ticket pricing strategy for individual major sporting events is a matter for the respective organisers of those events, particularly their international rights’ holders, the Government will always seek to work with partners to ensure that ticketing is as accessible as possible, and balances the need to ensure audience reach and commercial viability. For example, England is hosting the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup this summer, which has an inclusive and affordable range of tickets available, with tickets starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to consult (a) community groups and (b) local authorities on the design and implementation of the strengthened Community Right to Buy.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to giving communities real power to secure assets that are important to them and will introduce Community Right to Buy as part of the English Devolution Bill. We are currently finalising the policy and have consulted a range of groups including community organisations and local authorities on its design. We will continue this engagement as the powers are implemented.
The Government appreciates that securing funding to purchase community assets can be challenging and we want to ensure that community groups have the right support to do this under Community Right to Buy.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
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 made an assessment of the adequacy of the funding requirements for community organisations to make effective use of the proposed Community Right to Buy.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to giving communities real power to secure assets that are important to them and will introduce Community Right to Buy as part of the English Devolution Bill. We are currently finalising the policy and have consulted a range of groups including community organisations and local authorities on its design. We will continue this engagement as the powers are implemented.
The Government appreciates that securing funding to purchase community assets can be challenging and we want to ensure that community groups have the right support to do this under Community Right to Buy.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made in preparing the strengthened Community Right to Buy proposals ahead of the introduction of the English Devolution Bill.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to giving communities real power to secure assets that are important to them and will introduce Community Right to Buy as part of the English Devolution Bill. We are currently finalising the policy and have consulted a range of groups including community organisations and local authorities on its design. We will continue this engagement as the powers are implemented.
The Government appreciates that securing funding to purchase community assets can be challenging and we want to ensure that community groups have the right support to do this under Community Right to Buy.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning a formal review into the historical handling of (a) thalidomide and (b) the long-term support provided to people affected by thalidomide.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Thalidomide Health Grant exists to meet the health and wellbeing needs, present and future, of thalidomide survivors living in England.
In 2023, the Department put in place a new four-year grant agreement with the Thalidomide Trust, to administer the grant of approximately £40 million over four years. The agreement was made in recognition of the complex and highly specialised needs of people affected by thalidomide in England, particularly as they approach old age. The funding helps beneficiaries to maintain control over their own health, enabling them to personalise the way their health and care needs are met, maintain independence, and minimise any further deterioration in their health.
To understand how well the current grant agreement operates, the Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Thalidomide Health Grant through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The evaluation began in October 2024 and aims to understand the health and care needs of people affected by thalidomide, particularly as they age, what funded resources produce the most tangible benefits to this group, how best to distribute financial support to them, and the extent to which their needs are met by the current grant.
This independent, external research will help us to ensure that the Government supports the needs of people affected by thalidomide as they age. Funding beyond the current grant agreement will be subject to the outcome of future spending reviews.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered (a) alternative and (b) long-term funding models for supporting people affected by thalidomide after the current health grant period has ended.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Thalidomide Health Grant exists to meet the health and wellbeing needs, present and future, of thalidomide survivors living in England.
In 2023, the Department put in place a new four-year grant agreement with the Thalidomide Trust, to administer the grant of approximately £40 million over four years. The agreement was made in recognition of the complex and highly specialised needs of people affected by thalidomide in England, particularly as they approach old age. The funding helps beneficiaries to maintain control over their own health, enabling them to personalise the way their health and care needs are met, maintain independence, and minimise any further deterioration in their health.
To understand how well the current grant agreement operates, the Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Thalidomide Health Grant through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The evaluation began in October 2024 and aims to understand the health and care needs of people affected by thalidomide, particularly as they age, what funded resources produce the most tangible benefits to this group, how best to distribute financial support to them, and the extent to which their needs are met by the current grant.
This independent, external research will help us to ensure that the Government supports the needs of people affected by thalidomide as they age. Funding beyond the current grant agreement will be subject to the outcome of future spending reviews.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Thalidomide Health Grant in meeting the health and care needs of survivors as they age.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Thalidomide Health Grant exists to meet the health and wellbeing needs, present and future, of thalidomide survivors living in England.
In 2023, the Department put in place a new four-year grant agreement with the Thalidomide Trust, to administer the grant of approximately £40 million over four years. The agreement was made in recognition of the complex and highly specialised needs of people affected by thalidomide in England, particularly as they approach old age. The funding helps beneficiaries to maintain control over their own health, enabling them to personalise the way their health and care needs are met, maintain independence, and minimise any further deterioration in their health.
To understand how well the current grant agreement operates, the Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Thalidomide Health Grant through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The evaluation began in October 2024 and aims to understand the health and care needs of people affected by thalidomide, particularly as they age, what funded resources produce the most tangible benefits to this group, how best to distribute financial support to them, and the extent to which their needs are met by the current grant.
This independent, external research will help us to ensure that the Government supports the needs of people affected by thalidomide as they age. Funding beyond the current grant agreement will be subject to the outcome of future spending reviews.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve public transport access to sports stadia for young people.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that public transport is vital to keeping communities connected, and able to access venues including sports stadia.
The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council have been allocated £5.4 million and £5.8 million of this funding respectively. This funding can be used in whichever way local authorities wish to improve services for passengers, including improving bus services connecting sports stadia.
Rail services are supported by requirements on train operators to plan services and design timetables to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. The government commitment to public ownership through Great British Railways will also help to deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high-quality, and efficient transport services, whilst also ensuring safety and accessibility. Under public ownership, passenger services can be operated in the interests of passengers, not shareholders, including by helping to improve access to sports stadia.