Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he plans to take to prevent the spread of divisive content on social media; and what enforcement measures he plans to put in place to encourage the compliance of the (a) owners and (b) managers of these platforms.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Online Safety Act gives social media platforms new duties to protect their users from harmful content and activity. These include extensive duties to protect users from content which stirs up or incites hatred. It also includes duties to protect users from illegal state-backed interference and disinformation. Ofcom is the new regulator for this regime. It will have strong enforcement powers where platforms fail to comply with their duties. This includes powers to impose substantial fines and business disruption measures and also, in certain circumstances, hold senior managers criminally liable.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will commission research into the potential impact of the (a) property price limit and (b) exit penalty on first-time buyers who wish to use Lifetime ISAs to buy a property.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data from the latest UK House Price Index demonstrates that the average price paid by first-time buyers remains below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK.
Any unauthorised withdrawals are subject to a 25% withdrawal charge. This recoups the Government bonus, any interest or growth arising from it, and a proportion of the individual’s initial savings. HMRC is currently undertaking social research on the LISA with existing account holders and those who are eligible but have not opened a LISA.
HMRC commits to publishing all research in their Annual Report and Accounts. The findings from all strands of research on the LISA will be published in due course.
The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will (a) increase the Lifetime ISA property value limit and (b) reduce the early access penalty for Lifetime ISAs at the next Budget.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data from the latest UK House Price Index demonstrates that the average price paid by first-time buyers remains below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK.
Any unauthorised withdrawals are subject to a 25% withdrawal charge. This recoups the Government bonus, any interest or growth arising from it, and a proportion of the individual’s initial savings. HMRC is currently undertaking social research on the LISA with existing account holders and those who are eligible but have not opened a LISA.
HMRC commits to publishing all research in their Annual Report and Accounts. The findings from all strands of research on the LISA will be published in due course.
The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the maximum residue level of 49 pesticide residues between 2022 and 2024 on levels of pesticide residues on food; and what steps his Department is taking to protect the (a) food supply and (b) environment from harmful pesticides.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s first priority with regard to pesticides is to ensure that they will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. We will continue to base decisions on the use of pesticides on careful scientific assessment of the risks. This provides a high level of protection for people and the environment.
The GB pesticide Maximum Residue Level (MRL) regime sets high standards of consumer protection to ensure no harmful effects on human health. GB MRLs are set below, and usually well below, the level considered to be safe for people to eat.
The MRLs apply to both food produced domestically and that imported from other countries. Our ongoing monitoring programme provides assurance that food complies with the rules and is safe to eat. It is led by the Health and Safety Executive with advice from the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
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 ensure the adequacy of the supply of (a) Tegretol and (b) other epilepsy medications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is working hard with industry to help resolve intermittent supply issues with some epilepsy medications. As a result of ongoing activity and intensive work, including directing suppliers to expedite deliveries, some issues, including with some Tegretol presentations, have been resolved. The Department continues to work closely with industry, the National Health Service, and others to help ensure patients continue to have access to an alternative treatment until their usual product is back in stock. This includes working with manufacturers of alternatives formulations to ensure they remain available and can support increased demand.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Building Safety Fund will cover the cost for thermal performance improvements associated with fire safety measures for the external cladding of buildings, where those improvements are (a) required to meet building regulation energy efficiency standards or (b) go over and above building regulation energy efficiency standards.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Fund (BSF) was established to address life safety fire risks associated with cladding on high rise residential buildings. Remediation works must meet Building Regulations requirements, including minimum standards for energy efficiency. BSF applicants may choose to self-fund further energy efficiency measures.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the annual grant-in-aid to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are no plans to reduce the annual grant-in-aid to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help strengthen the UK’s relationship with Europe.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government will reset relations with our European friends and strengthen ties to boost economic growth, enhance our security through an ambitious UK-EU security pact and tackle shared challenges.
The European Political Community Summit at Blenheim Palace on 18 July brought together 46 European leaders to advance this reset. To take forward this work, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Germany, Poland and Sweden in his first weekend in the role and I conducted my first visit to Greece.