Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
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 potential impact of active travel on levels of physical inactivity; and if he will take steps to publish a physical activity strategy.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department’s recent cycling and walking evidence review confirms the positive impacts on reducing levels of physical inactivity. Our evidence shows that integrating physical activity into daily routines through active travel can lead to substantial health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions. The Department of Health and Social Care is currently working with the Department for Transport and Active Travel England on an evidence review, which will further examine active travel’s effects on mental health, physical health, and health inequalities, as well as effective behaviour change techniques. Findings are expected by late-2025 to inform future policy.
Whilst there are no plans to publish a specific physical activity strategy, addressing levels of physical inactivity will be a key part of the shift from treatment to prevention, as part of the Health Mission. Department officials work closely with colleagues across Government and the National Health Service to enable and deliver interventions that support this aim.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential impact of safe walking and cycling routes on rates of economic inactivity.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has carried out an evidence review of the economic impacts of transport interventions that includes evidence on economic inactivity. The research shows a positive relationship between investing in transport and employment in the surrounding areas, but further research is required to measure the effect on economic inactivity. Active Travel England is delivering a national active travel evaluation that will seek to include a proportionate assessment of the impact of active travel investment on employment.
On 12 February, Active Travel England announced £291 million of funding to boost walking, wheeling and cycling across England. It is estimated that the infrastructure funded will lead to 43,000 fewer sick days a year and contribute £9 million every year to the economy by supporting local businesses and making it easier to walk and cycle to work.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of (a) the potential merits of establishing a National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in the UK and (b) the length of time it would take to establish such a commemorative day.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government is committed to supporting victims and survivors of terrorism and understands that recognition and remembrance is an important part of their recovery.
There is currently no single focal point for the nation to come together in reflection and remembrance of those sadly lost and impacted by terrorism.
That is why, on Wednesday 19 March 2025, the Government launched a 12-week public consultation on a National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, helping the country to remember and honour those who have been tragically killed or impacted by terrorism.
The consultation invites the public, including those affected by terrorism, to share their views around introducing a National Day, and ways it could be commemorated.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 4 November 2024 on Olympic and Paralympic Games: Team GB, HL Deb, c1307, what her Department's timetable is for setting out its position on digital rights and listed events.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is currently moving forward with implementation of the Media Act 2024. That Act includes several important reforms to the listed events regime. The Government will set out its position in relation to on-demand (“digital”) rights in due course.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to publish the results of the November 2022 Listed Events: Digital Rights Review.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The previous Government’s “Digital Rights Review” naturally came to an end with the change of Government in July 2024. No results of that review were published.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to tackle tax evasion in hair salons.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises that sometimes businesses do not declare all of their income and thereby conceal their true earnings. We are committed to creating a level playing field for all, by ensuring that everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time, to ensure trust and fairness in the tax system. Most taxpayers pay what they owe, but a small minority fail to register with HMRC or only declare a portion of their earnings. This small minority deprive our vital public services of funding, affect fair competition between businesses, and place unfair burdens on everyone else. It is vital these revenues are collected to fund our essential public services. Closing the tax gap and making sure that more of the tax that is owed is correctly paid, is one of the Government’s top priorities for HMRC.
HMRC is making it increasingly difficult for businesses to hide their earnings and have an extensive range of powers, including information gathering powers, that help build a picture of risk and identify those who are trying to abuse the system. HMRC’s approach to tax evasion aims to tackle current non-compliance and change future behaviours. Their activities include national campaigns and specialist task forces that incorporate intensive bursts of activity in targeted sectors, such as the hair and beauty sector, and locations across the UK. This includes providing customer education highlighting the importance of keeping accurate records.
We recognise that some customers can find it hard to understand their tax obligations, so HMRC are developing and testing new educational material to better explain the rent a chair model. This is planned to be ready for publication on GOV.UK in the spring.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
Seven of the nine recommendations of the review have been previously accepted in full, in part, or in principle. Four of these have been successfully implemented, including:
Work is ongoing in respect of the remaining recommendations, including working across the Government to consider the recommendations in the Hughes Report, which looked into, and provided advice on, redress for those affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the hospitality industry; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending VAT for that sector.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government has extended the current RHL relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier.
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced VAT rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £10 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater.
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in the postcode areas (a) BB1, (b) BB2, (c) BB3 and (d) BL7 are (i) in receipt of pension credit and (ii) waiting for their assessment for pension credit.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data on Pension Credit receipt is not available at a post code level. The Department regularly makes Pension Credit statistics publicly available on Stat-Xplore - with the following geography breakdowns: Region, Local Authority, Parliamentary Constituency, Census Output Area and Ward.
Data on those waiting for their Pension Credit claim to be assessed is not available at a post code level. The latest available data on Pension Credit claims and awards covers England, Scotland and Wales, and was published in November 2024: Pension Credit applications and awards: November 2024 - GOV.UK
Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the requirement for a national insurance number on postal vote registration forms.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The requirement to provide a National Insurance Number when applying for a postal vote acts to ensure that the person making the application is the same individual entitled to apply for the postal vote and mirrors the longstanding practice when registering to vote. There are no plans to change the requirements for an absent vote application.