Anthony Browne Portrait

Anthony Browne

Conservative - South Cambridgeshire

First elected: 12th December 2019

Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

(since November 2023)

Public Accounts Commission
9th Jun 2021 - 5th Jul 2023
Treasury Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 26th Jun 2023
Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill
8th Feb 2023 - 21st Feb 2023
Treasury Committee Sub-Committee on Financial Services Regulations
20th Jun 2022 - 20th Jun 2022
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill
9th Nov 2021 - 25th Nov 2021
Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill
30th Jun 2021 - 5th Jul 2021
National Insurance Contributions Bill
16th Jun 2021 - 22nd Jun 2021


Department Event
Thursday 14th December 2023
09:30
Department for Transport
Oral questions - Main Chamber
14 Dec 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Transport (including Topical Questions)
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Department Event
Tuesday 19th December 2023
11:30
HM Treasury
Oral questions - Main Chamber
19 Dec 2023, 11:30 a.m.
HM Treasury (including Topical Questions)
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Note: This event involves a Department with which this person is linked, and does not guarantee their actual attendance.
Division Votes
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
voted Aye - in line with the party majority
One of 267 Conservative Aye votes vs 1 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 52
Speeches
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Draft Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023
I beg to move,

That the Committee has considered the draft Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023.

It is a …
Written Answers
Tuesday 11th July 2023
NHS: London Allowance
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits …
Early Day Motions
None available
Bills
Tuesday 7th March 2023
Pension Contributions Bill 2022-23
A Bill to require employers to pay pension contributions into a pension scheme of the employee’s choosing; and for connected …
MP Financial Interests
Monday 30th October 2023
2. (b) Any other support not included in Category 2(a)
Name of donor: George Robinson
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: …
Supported Legislation
Wednesday 20th July 2022
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill 2022-23
A Bill to make provision about the extension of pensions automatic enrolment to jobholders under the age of 22; to …

Division Voting information

During the current Parliamentary Session, Anthony Browne has voted in 880 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

17 Jun 2020 - Health and Personal Social Services - View Vote Context
Anthony Browne voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 104 Conservative Aye votes vs 124 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 253 Noes - 136
View All Anthony Browne Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Alan Whitehead (Labour)
Shadow Minister (Climate Change and Net Zero)
(15 debate interactions)
Rishi Sunak (Conservative)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(13 debate interactions)
James Murray (Labour (Co-op))
Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(124 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(24 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Act 2022
(8,406 words contributed)
Finance Act 2023
(3,060 words contributed)
Finance Act 2020
(2,695 words contributed)
Environment Act 2021
(2,454 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Anthony Browne's debates

South Cambridgeshire Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petitions with highest South Cambridgeshire signature proportion
Petition Debates Contributed

After owning nurseries for 29 years I have never experienced such damaging times for the sector with rising costs not being met by the funding rates available. Business Rates are a large drain on the sector and can mean the difference between nurseries being able to stay open and having to close.

For the UK government to provide economic assistance to businesses and staff employed in the events industry, who are suffering unforeseen financial challenges that could have a profound effect on hundreds of thousands of people employed in the sector.

If nurseries are shut down in view of Covid-19, the Government should set up an emergency fund to ensure their survival and ensure that parents are not charged the full fee by the nurseries to keep children's places.

The prospect of widespread cancellations of concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions due to COVID-19 threatens to cause huge financial hardship for Britain's creative community. We ask Parliament to provide a package of emergency financial and practical support during this unpredictable time.

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak there are travel bans imposed by many countries, there is a disastrous potential impact on our Aviation Industry. Without the Government’s help there could be an unprecedented crisis, with thousands of jobs under threat.

The cash grants proposed by Government are only for businesses in receipt of the Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Relief, or for particular sectors. Many small businesses fall outside these reliefs desperately need cash grants and support now.

To extend the business rate relief to all dental practices and medical and aesthetics clinics and any small business that’s in healthcare

Zoos, aquariums, and similar organisations across the country carry out all sorts of conservation work, animal rescue, and public education. At the start of the season most rely on visitors (who now won't come) to cover annual costs, yet those costs do not stop while they are closed. They need help.

As we pass the COVID-19 Peak, the Government should: State where the Theatres and Arts fit in the Coronavrius recovery Roadmap, Create a tailor made financial support mechanism for the Arts sector & Clarify how Social Distancing will affect arts spaces like Theatres and Concert Venues.


Latest EDMs signed by Anthony Browne

Anthony Browne has not signed any Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Anthony Browne, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Anthony Browne has not been granted any Urgent Questions

2 Adjournment Debates led by Anthony Browne

Monday 9th January 2023

2 Bills introduced by Anthony Browne


A Bill to require employers to pay pension contributions into a pension scheme of the employee’s choosing; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 7th March 2023
(Read Debate)

A Bill to create an offence of killing, injuring or taking hares at certain times of the year.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 20th June 2022

105 Written Questions in the current parliament

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
14th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to update the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution in advance of COP27.

The UK is encouraging all countries to revisit and strengthen their 2030 targets as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal by the end of 2022, following the agreement reached in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
25th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's financial investment in (a) cancer research and (b) dementia research has been per year since 2015.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a partner organisation of BEIS, funds research relating to cancer and dementia across all UKRI councils.

Spend data is presented instead of commitment data to avoid misrepresenting grants that are subject to multi-year funding that are allocated in a single year but spent across several years. This results in uneven distribution of the funding allocations data with apparent spikes and certain years followed by no funding allocation being recorded in subsequent years.

Cancer research

Year

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

UKRI spend £m

1.9

120.7

113.1

116.0

121.3

3.7

Dementia research

Year

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

UKRI spend £m

65.5

44.0

39.8

53.2

47.4

7.3

Notes on cancer research figures

  1. Spend figures include data provided by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC).
  2. Spend data for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK (IUK), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Research England (RE) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are not provided.
  3. MRC and BBSRC spend data for 2015/16 is unavailable.
  4. MRC and BBSRC spend data for 2020/21 is not currently available.
  5. MRC and BBSRC spend is provided by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI). Spend is based on the percentage of each research project that is relevant to cancer research.
  6. ESRC total spend for each relevant grant is included in the data above.
  7. The many funding mechanisms involved reflect a range of investments into projects, institutions and infrastructures. Currently, investment figures are calculated differently across UKRI councils. As such, the data provided across the UKRI Councils is collected from a range of measurement criteria.

Notes on dementia research figures

  1. Spend figures include data provided by BBSRC, ESRC and MRC.
  2. Spend data for AHRC, EPSRC, IUK, NERC, RE and STFC are not provided.
  3. BBSRC spend data for 2019/20 is based on an estimate of spend for that period.
  4. MRC and BBSRC spend data for 2020/21 is not currently available.
18th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has any plans for regulation by Ofgem of energy providers' purchase price from private solar export systems under the Smart Export Guarantee scheme.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), introduced in January 2020, ensures that small-scale generators have a guaranteed access to the market while enabling electricity suppliers and other market participants to innovate in this area. To provide space for this small-scale export market to develop and to promote innovation, the legislation sets out no specified minimum tariff rate, other than that a supplier must provide payment greater than zero at all times of export.

The SEG has been successful in bringing forward a range of competitive and innovative offerings to the market, with small-scale renewable generators having several tariffs to choose from, including several that are higher than the fixed export rate mandated by the previous Feed-in Tariffs scheme.

Ofgem are to publish their first report on the provisions made by suppliers for smaller scale exports in the summer. We will review this to monitor whether the market is delivering an effective, competitive and innovative range of options.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
18th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has any plans to mandate a reduction in (a) plastic and (b) other non-degradable content in fireworks sold in the UK.

Fireworks placed on the market must be safe. The Government welcomes the reduction of the use of plastics in fireworks and initiatives underway by the fireworks industry. We are not at present planning any other action to mandate a reduction in the use of plastic or other non-degradable content in fireworks sold in the UK.

30th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that PhD students from the EU wish to study in the UK after the increase in student visa costs from January 2021.

The UK will continue to be a welcoming and world-class destination for all students, including international and European PhD candidates who will be treated equally under the new system. The UK has an internationally recognised higher education system attracting high quality students, a strong research base, excellent research across disciplines, entrepreneurs, practitioners and a high level of international collaboration and investment.

From the start of 2021/2022 academic year, all international students, including those from the EU, EEA and Switzerland, will be able to apply for UK Research and Innovation funded studentships. This will allow international students access to the same level of financial support as a home student in the same programme.

The new Graduate Route allows international students who complete a PhD in the UK from summer 2021 to stay in the UK for three years after study to live and work. The Graduate Route also enables students who have successfully completed undergraduate and master's degrees to stay for 2 years after study. This will make it easier for some of the best, international graduates to secure skilled jobs in the UK. We will continue to make this route simpler and faster.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
22nd Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding each university in the UK has received from (a) the Chinese Government, (b) other Chinese state authorities and (c) companies based in China.

Universities in the UK are independent organisations. The Government does not collect data of this sort.

Higher education providers in the UK are required to submit certain categories of data to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This is published annually at https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances. This includes their overall income from a variety of sources and for a range of different activities, including teaching, research and commercial. This includes research grant and contract income from business. However, HESA data does not indicate the individual businesses concerned.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Ofsted to disclose the evidence on which it bases its decisions.

Ofsted, as part of the wider school accountability system, has been central to the Department’s success in raising school standards. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, is committed to ensuring a high quality inspection system that works for pupils, teachers, headteachers and parents. As part of this, Ofsted is continuing to evolve and build teachers’ and headteachers’ confidence in inspection. It is right that the system responds where concerns arise, and the Department welcomes Ofsted’s announcement today of plans to make a series of improvements.

Supporting the mental and physical health of school staff is crucial to the Department’s commitment to help create a supportive culture in schools and to encourage teacher retention. The Department is working proactively with the sector to understand the drivers behind workload and wellbeing issues, and to improve policies and interventions. The Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, published by the Department, sets out commitments from Government, Ofsted, and schools and colleges to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff. The Charter is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter. The Department is also funding the UK charity, Education Support, to provide professional supervision and counselling to headteachers. Over 1,000 headteachers have benefitted from the support. Today, the Department has announced the programme’s expansion by doubling the number of places available this year, so that more headteachers can have access to this valuable support.

Our thoughts are with Ruth Perry’s family, friends and colleagues at this distressing time. The Secretary of State for Education and officials have been meeting with Ruth’s family and colleagues to talk about and understand Ruth’s experience. The Department has committed to continuing its work on improving the way we inspect schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry, following her tragic death.

As matters concerning Ofsted’s framework and inspection practice are for the Chief Inspector, I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to monitor the impact of Ofsted inspections on teachers' (a) mental wellbeing and (b) physical health.

Ofsted, as part of the wider school accountability system, has been central to the Department’s success in raising school standards. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, is committed to ensuring a high quality inspection system that works for pupils, teachers, headteachers and parents. As part of this, Ofsted is continuing to evolve and build teachers’ and headteachers’ confidence in inspection. It is right that the system responds where concerns arise, and the Department welcomes Ofsted’s announcement today of plans to make a series of improvements.

Supporting the mental and physical health of school staff is crucial to the Department’s commitment to help create a supportive culture in schools and to encourage teacher retention. The Department is working proactively with the sector to understand the drivers behind workload and wellbeing issues, and to improve policies and interventions. The Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, published by the Department, sets out commitments from Government, Ofsted, and schools and colleges to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff. The Charter is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter. The Department is also funding the UK charity, Education Support, to provide professional supervision and counselling to headteachers. Over 1,000 headteachers have benefitted from the support. Today, the Department has announced the programme’s expansion by doubling the number of places available this year, so that more headteachers can have access to this valuable support.

Our thoughts are with Ruth Perry’s family, friends and colleagues at this distressing time. The Secretary of State for Education and officials have been meeting with Ruth’s family and colleagues to talk about and understand Ruth’s experience. The Department has committed to continuing its work on improving the way we inspect schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry, following her tragic death.

As matters concerning Ofsted’s framework and inspection practice are for the Chief Inspector, I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

2nd Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review Ofsted's inspection (a) framework and (b) practices.

Ofsted, as part of the wider school accountability system, has been central to the Department’s success in raising school standards. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, is committed to ensuring a high quality inspection system that works for pupils, teachers, headteachers and parents. As part of this, Ofsted is continuing to evolve and build teachers’ and headteachers’ confidence in inspection. It is right that the system responds where concerns arise, and the Department welcomes Ofsted’s announcement today of plans to make a series of improvements.

Supporting the mental and physical health of school staff is crucial to the Department’s commitment to help create a supportive culture in schools and to encourage teacher retention. The Department is working proactively with the sector to understand the drivers behind workload and wellbeing issues, and to improve policies and interventions. The Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, published by the Department, sets out commitments from Government, Ofsted, and schools and colleges to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff. The Charter is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter. The Department is also funding the UK charity, Education Support, to provide professional supervision and counselling to headteachers. Over 1,000 headteachers have benefitted from the support. Today, the Department has announced the programme’s expansion by doubling the number of places available this year, so that more headteachers can have access to this valuable support.

Our thoughts are with Ruth Perry’s family, friends and colleagues at this distressing time. The Secretary of State for Education and officials have been meeting with Ruth’s family and colleagues to talk about and understand Ruth’s experience. The Department has committed to continuing its work on improving the way we inspect schools with Ofsted and the family of Ruth Perry, following her tragic death.

As matters concerning Ofsted’s framework and inspection practice are for the Chief Inspector, I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

6th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that iGCSEs are assessed to the same standard as GCSEs.

International GCSEs were introduced to serve the large international market for British qualifications. They are also offered by some independent schools. GCSEs and International GCSEs differ in a number of ways, including subject content and assessment arrangements, which are determined by the awarding organisations that offer these qualifications.

Unlike GCSEs, International GCSEs are not developed by the Department, regulated by Ofqual or funded for use in state schools. International GCSEs have not been included in school performance tables since reformed GCSEs were introduced from 2017 onwards. The Department therefore has no role in the setting grading standards for these qualifications.

12th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what date his Department plans to withdraw the requirement on schools to complete the daily Educational Settings Status Form required by covid-19 regulations.

The request that schools complete the daily educational settings status form is kept under continuous review. The information supplied by schools has been valuable in enabling the Government to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. There is no requirement on schools to complete the daily educational settings status form in COVID-19 regulations – it is a voluntary collection. The Government is grateful to the large proportions of schools and colleges who respond every day to help us understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the education sector, both at a national and local level.

2nd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is the Government's policy that nannies should return to work to care for the children of (a) key workers who cannot work from home and (b) parents who remain at home.

Nannies are able to provide paid childcare in a child's home subject to meeting public health principle's set out in Annex A of 'Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy':

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy#annex-a-staying-safe-outside-your-home

7th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Ending the retail sale of peat in horticulture in England and Wales, which closed on 18 March 2022.

The Government has always been clear about the need to end the use of peat and peat-containing products in horticulture in England. The Government therefore published a full consultation on banning the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the amateur sector by the end of this Parliament in England and Wales.

The Government also asked for any evidence stakeholders can provide on the impacts of ending the use of peat and peat-containing products. We received over 5000 individual responses to the consultation, many of which contained detailed data and supporting evidence. We are aiming to publish our formal response to the consultation as soon as possible.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that bonuses paid to senior water company management are aligned with their company’s requirements to meet environmental objectives.

The Board Leadership, Transparency and Governance principles issued by Ofwat set out expectations on transparency of executive pay (see link here: Board leadership, transparency and governance – Ofwat). Water companies are now required by their licence conditions to meet the objectives of the principles, and to demonstrate the link between their performance and performance-pay for executive teams.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the level of farming income lost as a result of (a) illegal hare coursing and (b) damage to farmlands resulting from illegal hare coursing.

The Government has not made an estimate of the level of farming income lost as a result of hare coursing.

The Government recognises the problems and distress which hare coursing causes for rural communities. The Hunting Act 2004 bans all hare coursing in England and Wales, including both organised and unregulated events, and all participation in or attendance at such events.

We are working with the police and stakeholders to look at further ways this issue can be addressed.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will increase the fines permissible within Section 30 of the Game Act 1831 for hare coursing offences.

There are no current plans to amend the penalties in the Game Act 1831 for hare coursing offences.

The Government takes wildlife crime seriously and is committed to ensuring the protection this legislation offers wildlife is effectively enforced. It recognises the problems and distress which hare coursing causes for rural communities. Poaching (including hare coursing) is one of the UK’s six wildlife crime priorities, which are set by the UK Wildlife Crime Tasking and Co-ordination Group, supported by the Wildlife Crime Conservation Advisory Group, chaired by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The National Wildlife Crime Unit, funded partly by Defra and the Home Office, assists regional police forces in tackling these crimes by gathering and analysing intelligence, sharing this with the police and assisting police investigations.

A hare coursing roundtable meeting was held on 3 September between Defra, Home Office, police, National Farmers Union and other rural organisations to bring parties together to establish a shared understanding of the barriers to tackling hare coursing effectively and identify potential ways forward.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of a gateway test for carbon emissions to ensure that future transport schemes, with only rare exceptions, contribute to a reduction in emissions as opposed to a negligible or insignificant increase in emissions when compared with the national carbon budget.

Transport schemes are assessed against a wide range of impacts as part of developing business cases. These assessments include carbon and other environmental impacts, and our underpinning models and methodologies are regularly enhanced and updated to take into account the latest data and evidence.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to (a) commence and (b) publish the review of the national policy statement for national networks.

The Secretary of State for Transport announced in July 2021 that the National Policy Statement for National Networks (NNNPS) would be reviewed, and that review has commenced. The Secretary of State intends to publish a draft of a revised NNNPS for consultation soon.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on mandating disability awareness training for all private hire vehicle drivers.

Effective disability awareness training can help ensure that taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers have the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide passengers with appropriate assistance, so that they can travel independently and with confidence.

The Department wants every local licensing authority to require taxi and PHV drivers to complete this training and will make this clear in updated best practice guidance, due to be published for consultation later in the year.

The Government also remains committed to introducing mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and PHV drivers through new National Minimum Standards for licensing authorities when Parliamentary time allows.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to mandate the netting or sheeting of open (a) pick-up trucks and (b) small lorries to minimise litter on the highways.

When transporting loads, it is the operator’s and driver’s responsibility to make sure the vehicle’s load is secured safely. There is already legislation in place to ensure that vehicle loads are secure and do not cause a danger to other road users, but if a vehicle’s load is found to be unsafe, then the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the police can take enforcement action where appropriate.

The action taken will vary from encounter to encounter but generally will result in the driver receiving a prohibition preventing the continuation of a journey until such time as the load has been satisfactory secured. Where the driver is culpable of the offence, they will receive a fixed penalty (£100) or, in the most serious cases, can be prosecuted for using a dangerous vehicle. The DVSA will also follow up these incidents with the vehicle’s operator to establish the cause of the problem and to ensure that it does not happen again.

Guidance outlining the responsibilities of operators and drivers to ensure loads are secure, and further information about the use of netting and sheeting can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/load-securing-vehicle-operator-guidance/load-securing-vehicle-operator-guidance

12th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the deadline for compliance with the obligation in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 for coaches over 7.5 tonnes to have been fully accessible by 1 January 2020.

Operators, local authorities and education establishments have had almost twenty years to comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000.

Government has offered temporary exemptions for certain statutory and school procured services whilst compliant vehicles are procured, which will ensure that children are still able to get to and from their place of education.

We are currently liaising with stakeholders to understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the ability of operators to comply and what further support might be required.

2nd Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending to all employers irrespective of staff numbers the obligation to undertake a work-related risk assessment.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires all employers (irrespective of staff numbers) to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work. They also require employers to assess the risks to the health and safety of persons not in their employment arising out of the conduct of their undertaking, in order to identify the measures that are needed to comply with relevant health and safety regulations. Employers with five or more employees are required to record the significant findings of their assessment.

Mims Davies
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
6th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the boundaries for the High Cost Area allowance.

As per paragraph 4.8 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, it will be open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements (HCAS) and on the value of such supplements. As such, no assessment has been made by the Department with regards to a review of HCAS boundaries.

7th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of public information campaigns on (a) safety relating to ticks and (b) tick-bite prevention measures in (i) GP surgeries and (ii) outdoor spaces.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), along with local authority partners, developed a Tick Awareness Toolkit, available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1149305/Be_tick_aware_toolkit.pdf

The toolkit can be used by local authorities and other organisations to deliver tick awareness messaging, including safety relating to ticks and the promotion of tick-bite prevention behaviours. This can be deployed in a variety of settings, including general practitioner surgeries and outdoor spaces. The toolkit also encourages local authorities to evaluate the impact of any campaign work.

UKHSA have also used the Tick Surveillance Scheme and Lyme Disease Fingertips datasets to identify potentially higher risk locations in England. This information has been shared with local authorities, along with the resources in the Tick Awareness Toolkit, to enable them to produce more targeted campaigns.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
7th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve (a) treatment and (b) support for chronic lyme disease patients.

Research shows that the vast majority of patients with Lyme disease will experience a full recovery. A minority of patients may experience more protracted symptoms, known as Post-treatment Lyme disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Why some patients experience PTLDS and others do not is unclear. There is no current proven treatment for PTLDS, however research is looking at the best way to manage patients.

Specific training for general practitioners (GPs) and infection specialists on Lyme disease is held regularly. Lyme Disease Action has an e-learning module for GPs, recommended by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Guidelines for Healthcare professionals and providers, and people with Lyme disease, their families and carers, are published by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Apr 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the appointment of a clinical women’s health lead for NHS England.

NHS England are continuing to work with the Women’s Health Ambassador and the Department with the aim of appointing a Women’s Health lead in due course.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of compensating the national governments of countries on the WHO’s Workforce Support and Safeguard List when the doctors trained in those countries register to work for the NHS.

No specific assessment has been made.

The Government’s Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health and Social Care Personnel prohibits active recruitment from the countries identified by the World Health Organization’s Workforce Support and Safeguard List. However, individuals in these countries retain the right to migrate and can make direct applications for vacancies in the United Kingdom.

2nd Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the potential additional annual cost to the public purse of using locum rather than directly employed doctors in the NHS.

In 2020/21, expenditure on agency doctors was £918,879,984 or 6.6% of the substantive spending on doctors that year. Maximum hourly rates for agency staff are governed by NHS England’s price cap which is calculated at 55% above substantive rates. For agency medical consultants, this is £80.61 or £107.47 for unsocial hours, defined as those outside of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday and bank holidays. Exceptions exist, including for circumstances concerning patient safety. The suitable rates for extra-contractual working hours are agreed locally. The agency rates include worker pay, holiday pay, National Insurance and pension contributions and an agency fee.

For doctors employed on nationally agreed terms and conditions, the highest hourly pay is for a medical consultant. The hourly basic pay rate based on 40 hours per week for a consultant at the maximum of the pay scale is £57.12 per hour. This does not include enhancements for working unsocial hours or National Insurance and pension contributions. Locum medical staff provide a flexible resource when demand is high or during times of sickness or other absences. We are reducing the cost of flexible staffing through price caps, procurement frameworks, expenditure ceilings and working with National Health Service trusts to develop staff banks.

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many participants were recruited to industry sponsored clinical trials supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

2017/18

24,073

2018/19

29,416

2019/20

15,006

2020/21

28,560

2021/22

18,425

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of participants recruited to interventional studies supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network were recruited to non-covid-19 clinical trials in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

2019/20

99.5%

2020/21

10%

2021/22

42%

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of clinical trial participants were recruited to industry sponsored clinical trials supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20, (d) 2020-21 and (e) 2021-22.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

2017/18

3%

2018/19

3%

2019/20

2%

2020/21

1%

2021/22

1%

‘The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery’, published in March 2021, sets out the ambition to increase participation of patients to clinical trials, including industry sponsored trials. ‘The Future of Clinical Research Delivery: 2022 to 2025 implementation plan’, published on 30 June 2022, summarises progress to date and the actions which will be taken over the next three years to increase participation in clinical trials.

15th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Food Standards Agency has had recent meetings with representatives of international peer regulators in relation to novel foods.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly meets with its counterpart food safety regulators and discusses novel foods and food innovation.

In March 2022, the FSA’s Chief Executive participated in the third meeting of the International Heads of Food Agency Forum attended by food agency leaders and representatives of international food organisations. The meeting discussed new food sources and production systems and included novel food regulation. At working level, the FSA has participated in meetings with international peers, including with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, Thailand, and Republic of Ireland.

15th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Food Standards Agency approvals process for alternative proteins.

The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) has committed to review the novel foods regulations. This will include identifying opportunities to streamline processes to support industry innovation, without detracting from the safeguards which support the United Kingdom’s food safety standards. The FSA is engaging with businesses, including the alternative proteins industry, on how the regulations could be improved.

15th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Food Standards Agency approvals process for novel foods.

The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) has committed to review the novel foods regulations. This will include identifying opportunities to streamline processes to support industry innovation, without detracting from the safeguards which support the United Kingdom’s food safety standards. The FSA is engaging with businesses, including the alternative proteins industry, on how the regulations could be improved.

23rd May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to extend the obligation to provide calorie labelling on menus to catering venues with fewer than 250 employees.

Regulations on out-of-home calorie labelling for out of home food sold in large businesses of 250 or more employees, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, came into force on 6 April 2022. We committed to review the policy within five years and will consider whether to extend the requirement to smaller businesses. We encourage smaller businesses to voluntarily comply with the calorie labelling requirements.

21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department assesses whether an area qualifies for a High Cost Area Supplement based on (a) travel to work area, (b) county council, (c) NHS commissioning authority or (d) another geographic basis.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) methodology and (b) data his Department uses to determine whether an administrative region qualifies for a High Cost Area Supplement.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how often his Department reviews which administrative regions qualify for High Cost Area Supplements.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which categories of NHS staff in administrative areas that qualify for the Fringe High Cost Area Supplement receive an uplift.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will confirm that NHS staff in Cambridgeshire do not receive any level of the High Cost Area Supplement.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
21st Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS staff in (a) Royston, (b) Basildon, (c) Harlow, (d) Watford, (e) Brentwood and (f) Thurrock receive the Fringe High Cost Area Supplement at 5 per cent of basic salary.

High cost area supplements are included in Section 4 of the NHS Terms and Conditions, jointly agreed by employers and the National Health Service trade unions. Royston, Basildon, Harlow, Watford, Brentwood and Thurrock are all defined as fringe areas, therefore NHS staff working in these areas receive the fringe high cost area supplement at 5% of basic salary. Cambridgeshire is not defined as a zone for high cost area payments.

The high cost area zones are based on 2005 primary care trust geographical boundaries. It is open to the NHS Pay Review Body to make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements and on the value of such supplements. NHS employers or staff organisations in a specified geographic area can propose an increase in the level of high cost area supplement for staff in that area, or in the case of areas where no supplement exists, to introduce a supplement.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
25th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which modifiable risk factors the Health Promotion Taskforce will focus on in the development of the forthcoming strategy for dementia in England.

The Department will set out our future plans on dementia for England later this year. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is contributing to the development of the new strategy, which will include a focus on prevention and risk reduction. The concept of brain health in encouraging people to reduce their dementia risk is also being explored. Officials are engaging with a range of stakeholders on the new strategy including members of the Dementia Programme Board and other Government departments.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
25th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role the Health Promotion Taskforce will have in the development of the forthcoming strategy for dementia in England.

The Department will set out our future plans on dementia for England later this year. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is contributing to the development of the new strategy, which will include a focus on prevention and risk reduction. The concept of brain health in encouraging people to reduce their dementia risk is also being explored. Officials are engaging with a range of stakeholders on the new strategy including members of the Dementia Programme Board and other Government departments.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
23rd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS England data from March 2020 to September 2021 which shows that urgent suspected urology cancer referrals were at 83.5 per cent of the pre-covid-19 outbreak baseline, what steps his Department is taking to (a) raise awareness of prostate cancer amongst higher risk men and (b) help ensure that those missing from the treatment pathway are identified before their cancer has progressed to be non-curable.

The ‘Help us help you’ campaign has raised awareness of abdominal and urological symptoms and urged people to consult their general practitioner (GP). A new phase of campaign is planned for early 2022 to address some of the barriers which prevent people coming forward. The National Health Service is working with Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of prostate cancer risk and encourage men to use Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker.

Primary Care Networks are working with GP practices to implement the 2021/22 Early Cancer Diagnosis Directed Enhanced Service Specification, to optimise suspected cancer referral practice, support earlier diagnosis of cancer, and identify people before their cancer has progressed to non-curable. The NHS is focusing on reducing the number of people waiting over 62 days on cancer pathways, particularly rescheduling diagnostic procedures or treatments for those whose care was delayed by the pandemic. An additional £1 billion has been made available to the NHS in 2021/22 to support the recovery of elective activity and cancer services.

Maria Caulfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
22nd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to investigate the potential (a) acceptance of and (b) need for regulation on cultured meat as a food source.

In 2019, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned a study on consumer views towards emerging technologies including cultured meat. The FSA also plans further work on consumer perceptions of cultured meat, with the findings due in early 2022. Cultured meats would require pre-market authorisation as they are likely to be novel foods and any applications would need to be assessed for safety under the process required by the Novel Food Regulations 2015/2283. This authorisation process will take consumer views into account in any recommendations to the Government.

14th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government announcement in April 2018 of £75 million funding over five years for prostate cancer research, how much of that funding has been disbursed, broken down by project.

The Department funds research into all aspects of human health, including prostate cancer, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) at the level of £1 billion per year. The following table shows the NIHR’s programme expenditure specifically prostate cancer since April 2018:

Award title

Total award budget

A randomised controlled trial of Partial prostate Ablation versus Radical Treatment (PART) in intermediate risk, unilateral clinically localised prostate cancer

£ 2,677,446

Enzalutamide for treating non-metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer [ID1359]

£ 65,625

A randomised controlled trial of TRANSrectal biopsy versus Local Anaesthetic Transperineal biopsy Evaluation (TRANSLATE) of potential clinically significant prostate cancer

£ 1,072,414

Darolutamide with androgen deprivation therapy for treating non-metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer [ID1443]

£ 65,625

Olaparib for previously treated, hormone-relapsed metastatic prostate cancer (ID1640)

£ 131,250

Perineal biopsy devices for diagnosis of prostate cancer in people with suspected prostate cancer

£ 175,219

A miniature tethered drop-in laparoscopic molecular imaging probe for intraoperative decision support in minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery

£ 869,105

Prostate Liquid Biopsy Test for Risk Stratification of Prostate Cancer, preparation for CE marking.

£ 205,098

Transforming management of advanced prostate cancer: Increasing clinical productivity and capacity and empowering men through digital health

£ 149,168

Further development of and evidence generation for a precision dosing tool for optimising chemotherapy dosing in advanced prostate cancer

£ 150,000

GlycoScore: Superior prostate cancer diagnosis using a simple blood test

£ 150,000

Integrating genetic testing into the prostate cancer pathway to more precisely guide care, treatment and accelerate clinical trials

£ 3,001,779

SUrvivors' Rehabilitation Evaluation after CANcer (SURECAN)

£ 2,447,636

Supported exercise TrAining for Men with prostate caNcer on Androgen deprivation therapy – STAMINA

£ 2,497,723

Endoscopically-delivered Purastat for the treatment of haemorrhagic radiation proctopathy: a randomised feasibility study

£ 225,720

Improving self and clinical management of comorbid diabetes during cancer treatments: a qualitative interview study with patients and clinicians to identify theory-based intervention targets, strategies and implementation options

£ 149,784

A multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a self-help cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention to reduce the impact of hot flush and night sweat (HFNS) symptoms in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT): MANaging symptoms during prostate CANcer treatment (MANCAN2)

£ 348,659

The Prostate Cancer Androgen Receptor Splice Variant 7 Biomarker Trial (The VARIANT trial) - A multicentre feasibility study of biomarker-guided personalised treatment in advanced prostate cancer.

£276,230

Improving outcomes for men undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. A study to evaluate the feasibility of a multicentre randomised controlled trial of frozen section technology to improve oncological and functional outcomes at robotic radical prostatectomy.

£ 249,302

Multimodal treatment for patients with prostate cancer: a national study using existing electronic data.

£ 257,830

Total

£15,165,614

The NIHR also supports the delivery in the health and care system of prostate cancer research funded by research funding partners in the charity and public sectors. The NIHR Clinical Research Network has supported over 90 prostate cancer related studies since April 2018, totalling £20.3 million.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
25th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether funding is available for the costs of (a) covid-19 testing and (b) quarantine for children who are required to travel internationally by custody order.

The Government does not provide funding for travel costs. We offer deferred payment plans and hardship support for people who cannot afford to pay for the cost of managed quarantine and testing up front. In some circumstances this may be available to those who are not in receipt of income related benefits.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
24th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on introducing the flexible training for healthcare professionals seeking to switch discipline announced on 9 February 2020.

The Department continues to work with Health Education England and other partners on a range of initiatives to reform the medical and nursing training systems to ensure that the National Health Service workforce aligns with patient and service need. This includes taking action to widen access into healthcare professions and increase the flexibility of training pathways.

As part of this work, the Government is considering opportunities as a result of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union to support healthcare professionals to switch disciplines. Any changes to training for regulated healthcare professions would be developed in conjunction with stakeholders and would be subject to full public consultation where appropriate. Approved education providers would need to consider prior learning to assess the flexibility of programmes or entry requirements and any individual training courses that arose from this work would need to be approved by the relevant regulator.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
12th May 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering mammography screening on a biennial basis instead of a three-year interval.

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is not currently considering the potential merits of offering mammography screening on a biennial basis instead of the current three-year interval. The NHS Breast Screening Programme is currently focussed on inviting all eligible women to participate in breast screening for screening that may have been delayed due to COVID-19.

A proposal to change the current screening interval from three yearly to biennial would be for the UK NSC to consider through its programme modification proposal process, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-evidence-review-process

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether funding is available for the costs of (a) covid-19 testing and (b) quarantine for children who are required to travel internationally by custody order.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
14th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the difference between the Public Health England and the World Health Organisation's classification of deaths from covid-19, if he will publish figures for deaths from covid-19 in the UK according to the WHO definition that Covid-19 should be recorded on the medical certificate of cause of death for all decedents where the disease caused, or is assumed to have caused, or contributed to death.

Public Health England (PHE) uses two definitions of a death in a person with COVID-19 in England. Firstly, the total number of deaths of people who received a positive test result for COVID-19 and died within 28 days of the first positive test reported on or up to the date of death or reporting date. People who died more than 28 days after their first positive test are not included, whether or not COVID-19 was the cause of death. Secondly, the total number of deaths of people who received a positive test result for COVID-19 and either died within 60 days of the first positive test or where COVID-19 was mentioned on their death certificate.

Data for both definitions of a COVID-19 death are available in PHE’s National COVID-19 surveillance reports which are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-covid-19-surveillance-reports

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
15th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the (a) promotion and (b) sale of (i) unofficial and (ii) potentially harmful (A) thermography scans and (B) other diagnostics and treatments to people diagnosed with cancer.

Any equipment or diagnostic test that fits the definition of a medical device or in vitro diagnostic medical device must meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (the MDR).

Thermography scanning equipment for a medical purpose would be likely to meet the definition of a medical device and as such the manufacturer must hold clinical and scientific evidence to demonstrate the safety and performance of the device in relation to the claims being made for it. The manufacturer must CE mark the device in accordance with the MDR.

The MDR do not contain specific provisions dealing with promotion or advertising of medical devices. The general United Kingdom legislation for advertising applies to medical devices. In addition, the provisions of the Cancer Act 1939 prohibit the advertising of products to treat cancer. There are currently no plans to review the provisions around promotion of products laid down in the Cancer Act.

26th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to establish a study into the treatment and care of patients experiencing prolonged symptoms of covid-19 infection.

The Department invests over £1 billion a year in health and care research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call is currently open to researchers to submit proposals on the treatment and care of patients experiencing prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call will fund research to better understand and manage the health and social care consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic beyond the acute phase. The research will focus specifically on health outcomes, public health, social care and health service delivery and to mitigate the impact of subsequent phases and aftermath.

This follows on from the UK Research and Innovation-NIHR Rapid Response Rolling Call for COVID-19 research that closed on 30 June which funded projects that could make a significant contribution to the understanding, prevention and/or management of the COVID-19 outbreak within 12 months.

Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
8th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospital beds the NHS has reserved in the private sector; and what the occupancy data for those beds was at 8 June 2020.

National Health Service patients are benefitting from an unprecedented partnership with private hospitals in the United Kingdom as we battle the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have worked with the independent sector to secure all appropriate inpatient capacity and other resource across England. This has increased NHS capacity and ensured that more facilities are available for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

It is not currently possible to provide data on the occupancy of those beds for the time frame asked for.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
8th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospital beds the NHS has reserved within the private sector; and if he will publish the occupancy data for those beds as at 8 June 2020.

National Health Service patients are benefitting from an unprecedented partnership with private hospitals in the United Kingdom as we battle the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement have worked with the independent sector to secure all appropriate inpatient capacity and other resource across England. This has increased NHS capacity and ensured that more facilities are available for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

It is not currently possible to provide data on the occupancy of those beds for the time frame asked for.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
17th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to support UK participation in any international observation mission for the Colombian presidential elections in 2022.

The UK is committed to building a Network of Liberty that will put us at the heart of economic, diplomatic and security partnerships. Promoting democratic values is a key part of this, and election observation allows us to support democracies and strengthen democratic electoral processes around the globe.

We are considering our approach for the Colombian Presidential elections, and will continue to support ongoing work by existing international election observation organisations, such as the Mission for Electoral Observation (MOE) in Colombia. We are clear that independent election monitoring is vital for credible and inclusive elections.

4th Jun 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has plans to support the safeguarding of historical British military artefacts, including the only surviving cannon of the Commonwealth of England, currently in Oman.

The UK and Oman enjoy a deep and historical relationship. We are committed to working together on areas of shared interest and common causes, including to protect and safeguard our shared heritage. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will engage with their Omani counterparts about the British military artefacts.

James Cleverly
Home Secretary
19th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has plans to arrange a repatriation flight from Venezuela for UK residents that have been unable to secure a commercial flight to the UK via Mexico.

Helping British travellers who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. Additionally we have brought home over 32,000 people on 155 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 29 countries and territories.

The remaining British travellers in Venezuela have access to intermittent commercial flights via Mexico. In addition, our Embassy in Caracas has supported the return of British travellers requiring assistance through additional charter flights via Europe and Mexico operated by our international partners. Our travel advice and social media pages are also regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/venezuela.

12th May 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of capital flight resulting from the application of carried interest to income tax treatment in all cases.

The Government believes its approach to the taxation of Carried Interest, which is consistent with that taken in comparable jurisdictions, is a balanced one.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
12th May 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential cost of applying carried interest to income tax treatment in all cases.

The Government believes its approach to the taxation of Carried Interest, which is consistent with that taken in comparable jurisdictions, is a balanced one.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
12th May 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was received from capital gains tax raised on carried interest gains in the 2021-22 financial year; and what the post-behavioural costings are for subjecting carried interest to income tax treatment in all cases in each financial year to 2025-26.

The Government believes its approach to the taxation of Carried Interest, which is consistent with that taken in comparable jurisdictions, is a balanced one.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
24th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of pension allowances on factors that may incentivise doctors to retire early.

The Government is committed to ensuring that hard-working NHS staff do not find themselves reducing their work commitments due to the interaction between their pay, their pension, and the relevant tax regime. On 22 September, the Government announced it will change elements of the NHS Pension Scheme to help retain doctors, nurses and other senior NHS staff, to increase capacity. These changes include:

  • Changing pension rules regarding inflation
  • Encouraging NHS Trusts to explore local solutions for senior clinicians affected by pension tax charges, such as pension recycling
  • Implementing permanent retirement flexibilities and extending existing temporary measures to allow our most experienced staff to return to service or stay in service longer.

The Government keeps under review how to ensure pension allowances do not penalise those making provisions for their retirement.

Andrew Griffith
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
24th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the impact of Stamp Duty Land Tax on the annual number of property transactions.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) continues to be an importance source of Government revenue, provisionally raising £14.1 billion in 2021/22.

In September 2022, the Government doubled the level at which purchasers of residential property start paying SDLT from £125,000 to £250,000. The nil-rate threshold under First Time Buyers Relief was also increased from £300,000 to £425,000 with the maximum purchase value for which relief can be claimed increased from £500,000 to £625,000. This will ensure around 43 per cent of purchasers will pay no SDLT.

This measure will remain in place until 31 March 2025 to boost mobility and support the property market during a difficult economic period.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
24th Jan 2023
VAT
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an estimate of the additional VAT collected from an average household on expenditure related to a property purchase including (a) home improvements, (b) decoration and (c) furniture purchases.

HMRC does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services. Businesses are not required to provide HMRC with figures at a product level on their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of business rates tax on online shops.

At Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced a package of changes and tax cuts worth almost £13.6 billion over the next five years, including:

  • a freeze to the business rates multiplier for 2023-24, a tax cut worth £9.3 billion over the next 5 years, meaning all bills are 6 per cent lower than without the freeze;
  • an Exchequer funded Transitional Relief scheme worth £1.6 billion to protect an estimated 700,000 ratepayers facing bill increases due to increases in rateable value. The Government has announced that it will permanently scrap ‘downwards caps’ which had restricted falling bills in previous schemes. This will benefit around 300,000 ratepayers who will see their full bill decrease from April 2023.
  • an increased 75 per cent relief for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2023-24. This is a tax cut worth over £2 billion for around 230,000 RHL businesses, to support the high street and protect small shops.
  • providing over £500 million of support over the next three years with a new Supporting Small Business. This will cap bill increases to £50 per month (£600 per year) for businesses losing some or all of their Small Business or Rural Rate Relief due to the revaluation.

Together with the revaluation, this package ensures bills will more accurately reflect current market values whilst protecting businesses from large bill increases.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the reduction in the business rates multiplier from 2016-17 to 2017-18 on total income received.

The business rates multiplier is adjusted at each revaluation to offset changes in aggregate rateable value in England. This process is revenue neutral and ensures that business rate revenue remains fixed in real terms.

At the 2017 revaluation the multiplier was reduced to 46.6p in 2017-18 from 48.4p in 2016-17. The reduction in the rate of the multiplier reflected an aggregate increase in rateable value in England of 9.6 per cent.

Business rates raise over £20 billion a year in England to fund vital local services - there is no alternative with widespread support that would raise sufficient revenue to replace them.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses are paying (a) higher and (b) smaller multiplier rates.

The small business multiplier for 2022-23 is 49.9p and the standard multiplier is 51.2p. These rates will remain the same for 2023-24.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities publishes statistics on the numbers of businesses that pay each multiplier. These statistics are available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1060753/NNDR1_2022-23_Supplementary_table_ecomms.xlsx

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
18th Jan 2023
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of business rates revenue came from (a) higher and (b) smaller multiplier rates bands in each of the last ten years.

The Government does not collect data on total business rates yield disaggregated by ratepayers paying the small and large multiplier multipliers.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
7th Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the sunset clause stipulated in s. 261(3) (za) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (as amended by the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 6 para. 2(2)), whether his Department plans to extend income tax relief through venture capital trusts to subscriptions made on or after 6 April 2025.

Venture Capital Trusts, which were introduced in 1995, are designed to encourage individuals to invest indirectly in a range of unquoted smaller, higher-risk, trading companies.

The Government keeps this scheme under review to ensure that it continues to meet its policy objectives in a way that is fair and effective.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
1st Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to increase the competitiveness of the financial services sector.

In his Mansion House statement last July, the Chancellor set out the Government’s vision an open, competitive, green, and technologically advanced financial services.

A sweeping set of reforms to sharpen the UK’s competitive advantage in financial services is already underway; and in November the Government published the second consultation in its Future Regulatory Framework review, which provides a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that the UK maintains a coherent, agile, and internationally respected approach to financial services regulation.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
1st Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made in response to the recommendations of the Kalifa Review of UK Fintech.

The Government responded to the Kalifa Review of UK Fintech on 26 April 2021, setting out actions alongside regulators to ensure the UK remains at the global cutting edge of technology and innovation in financial services.

These actions include improved regulatory support for new and growing fintechs; initiatives to supercharge commercial support for UK fintechs seeking to expand internationally; and a new visa ‘scale up’ stream to attract global talent and boost the fintech workforce.

The Government’s full response is available at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-04-26/hcws938.

On 29 October the Government announced £5 million of seed funding for a new Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) as part for Spending Review 2021. CFIT was a central recommendation of the Kalifa Review, and it will focus on creating the right conditions for firms to scale, encouraging the mainstream adoption of fintech solutions, and fostering collaboration between growing regional fintech hubs.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
26th Oct 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the £450,000 maximum home purchase price allowed via a Lifetime ISA in line with the UK average year-on-year increase in house prices.

The Lifetime ISA is intended to support younger people saving for their first home or for later life by offering a generous government bonus of 25% on up to £4,000 of savings each year.

The Government maintains that the 25% bonus should be focused on those that need it most and who may find it more difficult to get onto the property ladder, while ensuring sustainable public finances. First-time buyers who can purchase a home valued over £450,000 are likely to have an income significantly above that of the average household in the UK and are therefore more likely to be able to purchase a first home without the support of this scheme.

The Government considers a property price cap of £450,000 appropriate to support the majority of first-time buyers across the UK. However, the Government keeps all aspects of savings policy under review.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
15th Apr 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the £50,000 maximum limit of investment in Premium Bonds to provide an additional incentive to invest and support the post-covid economy.

The current Premium Bond investment limit is £50,000, which is also set out in UK legislation. In line with NS&I’s operating framework, when setting the Premium Bond investment limit, HM Treasury and NS&I must strike a balance between the differing needs of savers, taxpayers and the wider financial sector. While some customers may wish to invest more than the current limit in Premium Bonds, raising the limit can lead to the scheme becoming dominated by a small number of people with large investments. Customers are sensitive to taking part in a prize draw in which some people hold a very large number of bonds. NS&I offer a number of other savings products with a higher investment limit than that of Premium Bonds.

John Glen
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the exemption in relation to the multiple dwellings relief for property transactions of six or more separate dwellings FA03/S116(7) was used in 2018-19; and what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone to the public purse as a result of that relief.

Information on multiple dwellings relief is available; this information available relates to two or more properties. The cost of this relief and the number of people claiming the relief was published in the publication ‘Estimated cost of structural tax reliefs’ in October 2019.

Specific information for six or more properties would only be available at disproportionate cost.

28th Aug 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the exemption in relation to the multiple dwellings relief for property transactions of six or more separate dwellings FA03/S116(7) was used in 2017-18; and what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone to the public purse as a result of that relief.

Information on multiple dwellings relief is available; this information available relates to two or more properties. The cost of this relief was published in the publication ‘Estimated cost of structural tax reliefs’ in October 2019. The number of cases claiming that relief is available in the Annual Stamp Taxes Publication which was also published in October 2019.

Specific information for six or more properties would only be available at disproportionate cost.

15th Jul 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the exemption in relation to the multiple dwellings relief for property transactions of six or more separate dwellings FA03/S116(7) was used in 2019-20; and what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone to the public purse as a result of that relief.

This information on the number of relief claims will be published in the Annual Stamp Taxes publication at the end of September and the revenue forgone figure will be published in the Tax Relief publication in Autumn 2020.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
16th Jun 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to publish weekly statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for each (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are published on GOV.UK. The latest publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-june-2020. This includes a breakdown of the total number of employments furloughed by local authority and by parliamentary constituency. HM Revenue and Customs are continuing to develop statistics on the CJRS and plan to publish monthly updates.

12th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund to coach operators.

The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by Covid-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund is intended to help small businesses in this situation.

On 1st May the Government that it would allocate up to an additional £617 million to Local authorities to enable them to make discretionary grants to businesses which have been excluded from the existing grants schemes because of the way they interact with the business rates system. Local Authorities can also choose to make discretionary grants to other kinds of businesses, such as coach operators, if they feel there is a particular local economic need. However, the priority of all the grants schemes continues to be to help the smallest businesses, and small businesses which are facing significant property-related costs and operate in sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the steep decline in customer footfall.

Businesses that are not eligible for grants should still be able to benefit from other measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of economic support, including:

  • An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;
  • The Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the Government;
  • The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;
  • The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bill; and
  • The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-employed.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
12th May 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that pub tenants are supported in meeting rent obligations and other payments to their landlords whilst they are unable to trade normally during the imposition of longer-term social distancing measures in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government recognises the current challenges facing commercial tenants and the significant impact on our communities, town centres and businesses. The Government will continue to work with and engage the sector to ensure that we are supporting the businesses that make our high street and town centres successful including pubs. The Chancellor has announced unprecedented support for businesses affected by Coronavirus such as pub tenants. This package includes grants for those occupying properties for retail, hospitality and leisure as well as business rates holidays. Building on this, the Government have also taken steps to protect commercial tenants from eviction as well as to safeguard UK high streets against aggressive debt recovery actions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
29th Jan 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which City Deal areas fall wholly or in part within Combined Authority areas.

The Greater Cambridge City Deal was signed in 2014 to boost growth by investing in local infrastructure, housing and skills as one of the 26 City Deals agreed up to 2014. Since then, the government has also signed a number of Devolution deals, including with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in 2016. A full list of city and devolution deals is given on the Gov.uk website.

27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential changes in the level of employment in the hotel industry as a result of service changes related to the housing of asylum seekers.

Hotels are under no obligation to contract with our providers. We cannot comment on any changes made to staffing levels as it is up to the hotel owner to deal with these.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide additional funding to (a) local authorities, (b) support services and (c) NHS and healthcare providers for the operation of hotel asylum accommodation in South Cambridgeshire.

Our accommodation providers are experienced and have a strong record of running these types of sites with minimal impact on local communities. All providers have the required policies and procedures in place around security, safeguarding, critical incident management, and health and safety. Security officials and support staff are also on site 24 hours a day and are obliged to immediately report any security incidents to the Home Office. If required, we work with the provider to put additional measures in place.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has a target date for decommissioning hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.

The rise in the number of small boat crossings has placed significant pressures on local authorities and the asylum system. The use of contingency accommodation is only ever a short-term solution to ensure that we meet our statutory obligation to house destitute asylum seekers.

We are taking a range of steps to reduce our dependency on hotels to support those already in the asylum system. All local authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales became an asylum dispersal area by default in April 2022. This is increasing the number of suitable properties that can be procured for destitute asylum seekers across the UK, ensuring a fair spread across the country and reducing our reliance on hotels.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
27th Feb 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the criteria used by her Department to assess the cost of providing contingency accommodation for asylum seekers.

The rise in the number of small boat crossings has placed significant pressures on local authorities and the asylum system.

The Home Office is accommodating more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels at a cost of £5.6 million a day. The Home Office is working tirelessly, alongside other government departments, to reduce the Government’s dependency on hotels for contingency accommodation through a package of long-term and short-term measures.

All local authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales became an asylum dispersal area by default in April 2022. This is increasing the number of suitable properties that can be procured for destitute asylum seekers across the UK, ensuring a fair spread across the country and reducing our reliance on hotels. We also intend to bring forward a range of alternative sites at reduced cost to hotels.

Robert Jenrick
Minister of State (Home Office) (Immigration)
25th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has a process for hon Members to forward cases for consideration by her Department under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) commenced on 6th January and will provide up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.

The scheme will prioritise those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech and rule of law; and vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups (including ethnic / religious minorities and LGBT+).

Representations from Members of Parliament have raised the plight of a great number of people from Afghanistan who would wish to relocate to the UK.

These representations have helped to inform the design of the ACRS as a scheme that will help those in need who are particularly vulnerable, including women and children at risk, and minority groups; as well as those who have supported the UK mission in Afghanistan.

All referrals onto the ACRS will be through the three pathways set out in the statement to Parliament of 6 January, which is a fair and equitable way to identify those most in need.

As an additional verification step, we shall check names of eligible British Council and GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni against the names of people referred to us by MPs during the evacuation.

Further detail on the three referral pathways can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
25th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans for a process for hon Members to forward cases for consideration under the third referral pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme when eligibility widens after the first year of operation.

The third referral pathway will focus on those most at risk who supported the UK and international community effort in Afghanistan.

In the first year of this third referral pathway, the Government will offer ACRS places to the most at risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will be in touch with those eligible to support them through the next steps. Beyond the first year of the ACRS, we will work with international partners and NGOs to welcome wider groups of Afghans most at risk.

Representations from Members of Parliament have raised the plight of a great number of people from Afghanistan who would wish to relocate to the UK.

These representations have helped to inform the design of the ACRS as a scheme that will help those in need who are particularly vulnerable, including women and children at risk, and minority groups; as well as those who have supported the UK mission in Afghanistan.

All referrals onto the ACRS will be through the three pathways set out in the statement to Parliament of 6 January, which is a fair and equitable way to identify those most in need. As an additional verification step, we shall check names of eligible British Council and GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni against the names of people referred to us by MPs during the evacuation.

Further detail on the three referral pathways can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme.

Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
28th Aug 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable magistrates to issue bans to individuals being on (a) certain lands and (b) county jurisdictions for the duration of the hare coursing season.

The Government supports the Rural Affairs Strategy, published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council in July 2018, which sets out operational policing priorities in respect of tackling crimes that predominantly affect rural communities.

22nd Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to close Bassingbourn Barracks.

Following the update to the House by the Secretary of State for Defence on 25 November, I am pleased to confirm that there are no plans to close Bassingbourn Barracks, and the Mission Training and Mobilisation Centre (MTMC) will continue to be based there.

18th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill on local authority powers regarding empty high street properties with owners and leaseholders residing overseas.

This Government is committed, through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, to empower local authorities to reinvigorate their high streets and town centres.

High Street Rental Auctions will seek to increase cooperation between landlords and local authorities to make town centre tenancies more accessible and affordable for tenants, including SMEs and community groups.

Through the Register of Overseas Entities which is being developed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, local authorities will be able to gather information on overseas landlords. If overseas landlords own UK property via an overseas entity in scope of the Register of Overseas Entities, they will be required to register details with Companies House, including about their beneficial owners.

29th Nov 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to South Cambridgeshire District Council not signing off its 2018-19 accounts and not publishing audited accounts for 2019-20 and 2020-21, what steps he is taking to help ensure that local councils are required to resource and prioritise the production of annual accounts within statutory deadlines.

It is vital that local authorities continue to fulfil their responsibilities in the timely completion of audits to maintain transparency and assurance of local authority accounts.

It is for local authorities to do all they can to clear the backlog of delayed audits. In the meantime, the Department continues to prioritise measures to improve timeliness of completed audits, and have taken several steps to improve the situation, including extending the publication deadline for 2019/20 accounts from July to November to ease pressures on councils and audit firms as a result of COVID19. We are also making available an additional £15 million in 2021/22 to help affected bodies meet the growing cost pressures in the audit market and will consider in due course funding arrangements for future years. In October 2021, we laid regulations to allow for greater flexibility around fee-setting and fee variations.

In its capacity as interim system leader for local audit, the Department recently wrote to s151 officers of local authorities to stress the need for local authorities to prioritise clearing outstanding audits and the timely completion of draft accounts going forward in preparation for external audit.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
14th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.124 of the Budget 2021 Red Book, if he will provide an update on when the (a) bidding prospectus for the Community Ownership Fund will be published and (b) first bidding round is due to open.

The bidding prospectus for the Community Ownership Fund was published on 15 July and the first bidding round is now open. Applicants will be able to complete the online application form from 30 July and the first bidding round will close on 13 August. There will be future bidding rounds in December 2021 and May 2022.

26th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure developers contribute financially to environmental and biodiversity improvements in the districts in which they are building.

The Planning for the Future White Paper sets out our intention to bring forward a quicker and simpler framework for assessing environmental implications which encourages opportunities for environmental enhancements to be identified and pursued early in the development process. The Environment Bill includes measures to make biodiversity net gain mandatory, requiring developers to ensure habitats for wildlife are enhanced.

Contributions from developers play an important role in delivering the infrastructure that new homes, and local economies, require. Local authorities can currently obtain these contributions by charging a Community Infrastructure Levy on new development, and by negotiating section 106 planning obligations with a developer. In 2018/19, local authorities negotiated over £150 million towards open space and the environment through section 106 planning obligations. The Planning for the Future White Paper proposes to reform the current approach to developer contributions by creating a new, single system, the Infrastructure Levy, which local authorities will be able to use towards open space and environment. The consultation on Planning for the Future closed on 29 October 2020, and we will be responding formally.

19th Apr 2021
What steps he is taking to increase the supply of new homes.

This Government cares deeply about building more homes. We are working tirelessly with industry to keep the sector open safely through every level of restriction to continue building the new homes this country needs, support home movers, and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs. I would like to pay tribute to the sector for their support.

We are investing in supply, with over £12 billion in affordable housing over five years, the largest investment in a decade; and £7.1 billion in the National Home Building Fund, including much-needed new homes on brownfield land.

22nd Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.129 of the Budget 2020 Red Book, what progress has been made on the development of a further new town in South Cambridgeshire.

The new town being proposed in South West Cambridgeshire is a private initiative being promoted by the developers Thakeham, and is a matter for the local planning authority. The Government has no plans for an additional new town in this location or elsewhere in South Cambridgeshire beyond the commitment we announced in 2020 to explore opportunities at Cambourne and the sustainable and sensitive expansion of Cambridge. Government has not yet made any decision to take forward opportunities at Cambourne or Cambridge as part of this work and any potential future plans would be subject to all necessary and appropriate public consultation.

30th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in relation to the property developer Thakeham's proposal for a new town in South West Cambridgeshire, whether (a) Ministers or (b) officials in his Department have held a (i) meeting or (ii) discussions with the developer; whether his Department has engaged with Thakeham’s proposal for a new town in South West Cambridgeshire; and whether the responsibility for a planning decision on Thakeham’s proposal for a new town in South West Cambridgeshire would rest solely on South Cambridgeshire District Council.

There have been no Ministerial discussions and no involvement related to this proposal at any stage and Ministers have not had any contact with the developer. Following the announcement of the proposed new town, one MHCLG official has since attended a meeting between the developer and Homes England as an observer. There has been no engagement between the Department and the developer. Should an application for planning permission come forward it will be dealt with in the usual way.

11th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for proposals in Planning for the Future White Paper, published on 6 August 2020 to tackle the issue of developers obtaining planning permission but not proceeding to build within a reasonable timeframe.

New homes should be built out as soon as possible once planning permission is granted. We are clear that where sites are stalled or experiencing delays to delivery, it is for local authorities and developers to work closely together at a local level to overcome these barriers.

To support build out through planning, we propose to make it clear in the revised National Planning Policy Framework that the masterplans and design codes for sites prepared for substantial development should seek to include a variety of development types by different builders which allow more phases to come forward together.

We will be exploring further options to support faster build out as part of our proposed planning reforms as outlined in the Planning White Paper.

11th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Planning for the Future White Paper, published on 6 August 2020 will take account of the limitations set by the availability of natural resources such as water in the allocation of growth zones.

The National Planning Policy Framework and its accompanying planning practice guidance expects local planning authorities to plan for the development and co-ordination of the infrastructure required in their area, including infrastructure for water. They should work with providers, such as water companies, to assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure and its ability to meet forecast demands. The water companies are already statutory consultees on local plan development and can be consulted on a non-statutory basis for individual planning applications.

In addition, the Building Regulations already provide a water use standard and a lower optional standard for water stressed areas, which a local planning authority can impose for new homes as a condition of planning permission. DEFRA led a consultation on measures to reduce personal water use in 2019, which included this standard. A formal government response will be published by the end of 2020.

The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals to ensure that all local development plans are assessed against a sustainable development test to ensure there is the right balance between environmental, economic and social objectives. Plans should be informed by appropriate infrastructure planning, and sites should not be included in the plan where there is no reasonable prospect of any infrastructure that may be needed coming forward within the plan period. Plan-making policies in the National Planning Policy Framework will make this clear.

10th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications have been granted through the Permission in Principle application route to date.

We do not currently collect data on Permission in Principle applications. However, from April 2020 local planning authorities will be required to provide data on Permission in Principle applications which will be published as part of the national planning quarterly statistical release.

29th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many city deal areas that fall (a) wholly and (b) partly within combined authority areas are (i) controlled by a combined authority, (ii) controlled by a local enterprise partnership and (iii) not controlled by a combined authority or a local enterprise partnership; and how those city deals not controlled by a combined authority or a local enterprise partnership are governed.

City Deals were bespoke negotiations between Government and Local Enterprise Partnerships conducted in England between 2011 and 2014. The only area at this time to have a Combined Authority in place was Greater Manchester, although Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Combined Authorities were all established in 2014. City Deals aimed to help drive the growth of cities across the country: identifying barriers to growth and also investing to drive future economic growth on the basis of the specific economic strengths, assets and opportunities of places.

A list of all English City Deals and their relevant Local Enterprise Partnership and Combined Authority is available below:

City Deal

Local Enterprise Partnership

Combined Authority

Wave 1

Greater Birmingham

Greater Birmingham and Solihull

West Midlands (established 2016)

Bristol

West of England

West of England (established 2017)

Leeds

Leeds City Region

West Yorkshire (established 2014)

Liverpool

Liverpool City Region

Liverpool City Region (established 2014)

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester (established 2011)

Newcastle

North East

North East (established 2014)

Nottingham

Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2)

Sheffield

Sheffield City Region

Sheffield City Region (established 2014)

Wave 2

Black Country

Black Country

West Midlands (established 2016)

Greater Brighton

Coast to Capital (C2C)

Greater Cambridge

Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (established 2017)

Coventry and Warwickshire

Coventry and Warwickshire

West Midlands (established 2016)

Hull and Humber

Humber

Greater Ipswich

New Anglia

Leicester and Leicestershire

Leicester and Leicestershire

Greater Norwich

New Anglia

Oxford and Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Plymouth and the South West Peninsula

Heart of the South West LEP and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP

Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire

Lancashire

Southampton and Portsmouth

Solent

Southend-on-Sea

South East

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

Sunderland and South Tyneside

North East

North East (established 2014)

Swindon and Wiltshire

Swindon and Wiltshire

Tees Valley

Tees Valley

Tees Valley (established 2016)

Thames Valley Berkshire

Thames Valley Berkshire