Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Tanzanian counterpart on alleged reports of (a) forced evictions, (b) excessive use of force and (c) arbitrary detention of Maasai people in Tanzania.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The British High Commission in Dar es Salaam continues to meet with stakeholders on this issue, including the Government of Tanzania, Maasai community leaders and civil society representatives, to better understand the challenges faced by all parties. This is a complex and important matter, and we will continue to encourage all involved to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of alcohol harm; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a national alcohol strategy.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has an action plan to reduce drug and alcohol-related deaths. In light of the recent data, this plan is being revised to ensure that it is grounded in the latest understanding of the drivers of drug and alcohol related deaths and responding to these. Last year, the Department of Health and Social Care published guidance for local authorities and their partnerships on how to review adult drug and alcohol-related deaths to prevent future deaths. Additionally, OHID has published the guidance, Commissioning Quality Standard: alcohol and drug services, for local authorities to support them in commissioning effective alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services.

In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department allocated local authorities £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. An additional £105 million from Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is improving treatment pathways and recovery, housing and employment outcomes for people affected by drug and alcohol use. Future targeted funding for drug and alcohol treatment services beyond 2025 will be announced very shortly.

Under the health mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to enable people to live longer, healthier lives.

The Department of Health and Social Care will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making women with endometriosis eligible for flu vaccinations.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

Eligibility for the seasonal influenza vaccination programme is based, each year, on the expert advice and recommendations of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) with the aim to protect those most at risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. This advice is kept under regular review.

The latest JCVI advice for the 2025/26 flu season is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccines-2025-to-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-influenza-vaccines-for-2025-to-2026

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make Sleepio accessible to NHS patients in Lambeth.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Sleepio is available for local commissioning by integrated care systems should they choose to commission this product, as part of local insomnia care and treatment pathways.

No central assessments relating to funding or availability of this product are currently planned.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support housing association social tenants in rent arrears.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is clear that social landlords should seek to sustain tenancies and should only evict as a last resort.

Landlords will, when managing their social housing schemes, provide advice and assistance to those struggling financially, including signposting to support services.

The Pre-Action Protocol for Possession Claims by Social Landlords sets out the actions social landlords should take to support the tenant before they consider taking legal action for rent arrears. These actions include making early contact with tenants to discuss the cause of the arrears, checking eligibility for housing benefit, assisting with any claim, and agreeing affordable repayment terms for the arrears. The protocol can be found on the justice website here.

Consumer standards, which are set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing, define the outcomes which all registered providers of social housing must deliver. These require that registered providers must support tenants to maintain their tenancy or licence and prevent unnecessary evictions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is preparing reviews on the operation of sections (a) 73 and (b) 74 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 in accordance with those sections.

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

Section 73(5) and Section 74(7) placed a duty on the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a report on the operation of sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

The Government published this report on 17 December 2024. It can be viewed at the following link: Police protest powers, June 2022 to March 2024 - GOV.UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of extending the Financial Conduct Authority's regulatory perimeter so that it can tackle (a) poor and (b) misleading debt advice delivered by insolvency practitioners and IVA firms.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the importance of individuals receiving accurate and reliable information when they are considering an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). When administered well, IVAs provide a debt solution to people who aren’t eligible for a Debt Relief Order, or who want an alternative to bankruptcy. However, if an IVA is unsuitable, it can leave people in debt for longer and result in further financial difficulty. Oversight of Insolvency Practitioners, who administer IVAs, is provided through standards applied by one of three Recognised Professional Bodies and overseen by the Insolvency Service.

The Insolvency Service is taking action to address concerns about the debt solutions market and expects to see swift action from volume IVA firms to eliminate poor practice. To support this, the Insolvency Service are also working with the sector to publish a new simplified IVA Protocol and key facts document to help consumers understand what they are signing up for. New guidance is also being published for Insolvency Practitioners on their control of cases. This is further to the 2023 publication of a new Standard for Insolvency Practitioners (SIP 3.1), making clear their responsibility to ensure consumers have received an explanation of all potential debt relief solutions so that they can make an informed judgement. The Insolvency Service continues to work to address poor practices through its ongoing review of the personal insolvency framework and continued collaboration with other regulators.

Debt advice providers, and debt packager firms which may refer individuals to IVA providers and other debt solutions, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In 2023, the FCA banned referral fees for debt packager firms to remove incentives to recommend debt solutions which may not be in the consumer’s best interest.

The ongoing collaboration between the FCA, the Insolvency Service, and other stakeholders reflects a concerted effort to enhance consumer protection in the debt advice and insolvency sectors. The Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of ending the exemption from Financial Conduct Authority rules on debt advice for IVA providers.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the importance of individuals receiving accurate and reliable information when they are considering an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). When administered well, IVAs provide a debt solution to people who aren’t eligible for a Debt Relief Order, or who want an alternative to bankruptcy. However, if an IVA is unsuitable, it can leave people in debt for longer and result in further financial difficulty. Oversight of Insolvency Practitioners, who administer IVAs, is provided through standards applied by one of three Recognised Professional Bodies and overseen by the Insolvency Service.

The Insolvency Service is taking action to address concerns about the debt solutions market and expects to see swift action from volume IVA firms to eliminate poor practice. To support this, the Insolvency Service are also working with the sector to publish a new simplified IVA Protocol and key facts document to help consumers understand what they are signing up for. New guidance is also being published for Insolvency Practitioners on their control of cases. This is further to the 2023 publication of a new Standard for Insolvency Practitioners (SIP 3.1), making clear their responsibility to ensure consumers have received an explanation of all potential debt relief solutions so that they can make an informed judgement. The Insolvency Service continues to work to address poor practices through its ongoing review of the personal insolvency framework and continued collaboration with other regulators.

Debt advice providers, and debt packager firms which may refer individuals to IVA providers and other debt solutions, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In 2023, the FCA banned referral fees for debt packager firms to remove incentives to recommend debt solutions which may not be in the consumer’s best interest.

The ongoing collaboration between the FCA, the Insolvency Service, and other stakeholders reflects a concerted effort to enhance consumer protection in the debt advice and insolvency sectors. The Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of (a) changes in the number of housing association social tenants in rent arrears and (b) increased rents.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.

We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.

The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.

The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of (a) freezing rents and (b) capping service charges for housing association social tenants.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.

We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.

The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.

The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of challenges brought to the English First-tier Property Tribunal against (a) councils, (b) housing associations, (c) private landlords and (d) intermediary managing agents for the (i) level and (ii) payability of service charges in 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.

Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.

The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent overcharging of service charges by (a) councils, (b) housing associations, (c) private landlords and (d) intermediary managing agents.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.

Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.

The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of a new regulator for service charges.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.

We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.

Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.

The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to enact the recommendations of the Leveson Report on press regulation.

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

The Government has clearly laid out its priorities in the manifesto and in the King’s speech, and the second part of Leveson is not among them.

Funding for the BBC World Service

Refusal of Citizenship to refugees who have made irregular crossings

Proposals to forcibly displace and ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza

Mobile phone theft

Redundancies at TGI Fridays

Grangemouth refinery

Garforth Town AFC and grassroots community football

Imprisonment of Alaa Abd El-Fattah (No. 2)

Found: Mr Paul Kohler; Ben Maguire; Robbie Moore; Margaret Mullane; Chris Murray; Mr Connor Rand; Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Davies; Mr Paul Kohler; Ben Maguire; Robbie Moore; Margaret Mullane; Chris Murray; Joani Reid; Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Eshalomi Sarah Dyke Carla Denyer Liz Saville Roberts Sorcha Eastwood Siân Berry Jess Asato Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Clive Lewis Nadia Whittome Grahame Morris John McDonnell Rebecca Long Bailey Zarah Sultana Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Clive Lewis Nadia Whittome Grahame Morris John McDonnell Rebecca Long Bailey Zarah Sultana Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Creasy Charlotte Nichols Sorcha Eastwood Christine Jardine Abtisam Mohamed Alex Brewer Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: Cat Eccles Chris Webb Richard Burgon Florence Eshalomi Peter Prinsley Sarah Champion Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Found: appointments are: Afzal Khan MP appointed to Türkiye   Alex Sobel MP appointed to Ukraine   Bell Ribeiro-Addy