Anna Dixon

This Government is committed to ending pay discrimination at work. The plan to Make Work Pay includes clear action to strengthen the right to equal pay. We will put in place measures to ensure that outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay, and improve enforcement by establishing an Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit. As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the upcoming Equality (Race & Disability) Bill will also extend the right to make equal pay claims to ethnic minority people and disabled people. These steps will apply across both the public and private sectors.

The Consumer Protection Act, which contains our product liability legislation, has been in place since 1987 and my department is indeed undertaking a review of it, during which we will consider all aspects, including those claim limits my Honourable friend mentions. Following this review, should we believe changes are needed, we will bring forward the necessary primary legislation to ensure our laws remain up to date and fit for the future.

I pay tribute to the vital efforts of foster carers, who carry out a challenging role that requires skill, dedication and love. The government will ensure more children can receive loving care in foster families.

We will work with councils and fostering services to ensure foster carers receive the support they need and deserve, but there are no plans to give worker status to foster carers.

The Government is investing £1.14 billion over 30 years (£38 million annually) towards West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s local economic priorities, including business support. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund also provides £83 million for West Yorkshire, including support for rural businesses in Shipley.

For small businesses across the country, we will deliver on commitments to boost exports, improve access to finance, stamp out late payment practices and open up competition for public procurement contracts. The department also provides support through Help to Grow Management, the Business Support Service and network of Growth Hubs – including the West Yorkshire Business Support Service.

The Government fully supports the accelerated deployment of rooftop solar panels, which will be critical to achieving clean power by 2030.

From next year, Future Homes and Buildings Standards will ensure that all newly-built houses and commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future. The Government will encourage the installation of solar panels on these developments, where appropriate. The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as they develop these standards.

The Government recently announced the re-establishment of the Solar Taskforce and publication of the Solar Roadmap will follow shortly, setting out recommendations on how we and industry will work together to achieve our ambition to radically increase deployment by 2030. Alongside that, Government recently concluded its latest Contracts for Difference round, where a record 3.3GW of solar capacity was secured.

The Government is committed to the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). The SSEP will support a more actively planned approach to energy infrastructure across England, Scotland and Wales, across land and sea. The Secretary of State and Head of Mission Control also wrote to the ESO on 23rd August to formally commission advice regarding the key requirements for the Government to meet its clean power commitment by 2030.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66cda5c1e39a8536eac0532e/sos-chris-stark-letter-clean-power-2030.pdf

It is the Government’s priority to build support for developments by ensuring communities directly benefit. We are reviewing how to most effectively deliver community benefits for communities living near new energy infrastructure.

The Government is committed to improving mobile coverage across the UK. Ofcom’s recent coverage reporting shows that 99% of Shipley has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators. Non-standalone 5G is available from at least one mobile operator outside 99% of premises.

I am aware that Ofcom’s coverage data does not always reflect consumers’ experience of mobile networks at a local level, and I am intent on ensuring Ofcom takes all necessary steps to improve its accuracy.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have high-quality standalone 5G by 2030, and we are committed to ensuring we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Shipley to the answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18517.

The department has provided funding to Oak National Academy (Oak), a non-departmental public body, to provide free, optional and adaptable curriculum and lesson resources for primary and secondary school teachers. These resources are available on Oak’s website at: https://www.thenational.academy/.

The government has commissioned an independent review of Oak. The review will include an assessment of whether Oak is delivering services that meet the needs of teachers and young people.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the hon. Member directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The department keeps all aspects of apprenticeships policy under review, including the English and mathematics requirements, to make sure it is striking the right balance in equipping apprentices with the right skills, without putting up unnecessary barriers to starting or completing an apprenticeship.

More widely, the government will be transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners and align with the government’s Industrial Strategy. Skills England will be working closely with employers, training providers, unions and other key partners to identify priority skills gaps, helping to ensure that levy-funded training delivers value for money, meets the needs of business and helps kick start economic growth. Details on Skills England engagement plans will be set out in due course.

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector at Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend, the Member for Shipley directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The Government recognises well-managed grouse shooting can be an important part of a local rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment. We also appreciate that many people hold strong views on the issue of grouse shooting and there is evidence to suggest a link between it and crimes against birds of prey as well as potential risks to biosecurity. Work will continue to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between grouse shooting, biosecurity and conservation.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regulators powers to impose penalties on the civil standard of proof, in addition to new automatic penalties. The regulators will also be able to recover costs for a much greater range of enforcement activities.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Defra is continuing to work with His Majesty’s Treasury regarding continued reinvestment of the water company fines and penalties on water environment improvement.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regulators powers to impose penalties on the civil standard of proof, in addition to new automatic penalties. The regulators will also be able to recover costs for a much greater range of enforcement activities.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Defra is continuing to work with His Majesty’s Treasury regarding continued reinvestment of the water company fines and penalties on water environment improvement.

The Government is aware of fake and fraudulent websites relating to Clean Air Zone payments and takes this matter very seriously. We continue to monitor this issue and take appropriate action. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) investigates reports of organisations which act illegally or are actively misleading users about their services. Where appropriate such sites can be and are taken down promptly. The DVLA uses its external communication channels, including social media, to remind motorists that GOV.UK is the only website for government motoring services and provide advice on how to report suspected scams.

The Water Restoration Fund, which launched under the previous Government in April this year, is currently being examined carefully by the relevant Ministers.

My department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

THINK!, the Government’s flagship road safety campaign, aims to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads in England and Wales by changing attitudes and behaviours among those at most risk. The primary audience for THINK! is young men aged 17-24, who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than drivers aged 25 and over. The campaign targets priority issues such as drink driving and speeding, as well as communicating key policy interventions.

The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the potential implications of motor insurance terms allowing providers to retain up to 90 percent of refunds on cancellation, or the potential merits of reforming this practice.

Motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer. The Government does not generally intervene or seek to control the market.

The UK motor insurance market is very competitive and shopping around for the best possible option before making decisions is likely to benefit customers.

The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to our consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. As soon as the Government has decided its preferred way forward, we will announce the next steps and publish our formal response.

Affordability is one of our key objectives – so that prices are kept, wherever possible, at a point that works for both passengers and taxpayers. We are committed to reviewing the overcomplicated fares system with a view to simplifying it and will explore the options for expanding ticketing innovations like digital pay as you go, and digital season tickets across the network.

The Disabled Persons Railcard offers discounts of a third off most rail fares for people with a disability that makes travelling by train difficult. As with other railcards, Disabled Persons Railcards can be purchased with either a one or three-year validity.

The terms and conditions for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) are set out in legislation. This includes a requirement that the maximum expiry date that can be set on ENCTS passes is five years.