Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of access do Border Force staff have to the Police National Database.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Border Force does not routinely disclose operationally sensitive information, as to do so has the potential to prejudice law enforcement and the operation of immigration controls.
However, Border Force continue to work closely with law enforcement partners as necessary to share intelligence and protect UK security.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets for Quarter 1 2025 will be published.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on asylum and resettlement in the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release'. Data for the year ending March 2025 was published on Thursday 22 May 2025.
Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Cabinet Ministers have visited Huntingdon constituency and (a) informed and (b) not informed the hon. Member for Huntingdon of that visit in advance.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Hon Member to my previous answer [46065] given on 19 May.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she make it her policy to introduce a new business rates system before the 2026-27 financial year.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament to provide certainty for businesses and local government finance.
Through these reforms, we will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.
In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has visited any private schools since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Huntingdon to the answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 46839.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on the graduate job market.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are already witnessing AI’s impact on the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and changing the landscape. We remain mindful of this impact and its effect on the UK workforce, whilst working to harness the benefits that AI can bring.
As part of our response to the Action Plan, DSIT will be working closely with Skills England to develop a clear assessment of the country’s skills needs for AI, and map pathways by which they can be filled. We expect to publish our first assessment before the autumn and periodic publications thereafter.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people that arrived illegally by small boat since 5 July 2024 have since been removed.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 46190 on Warships: Decommissioning, what ships will take on the role of mine clearance following the decommissioning of the Sandown Class vessels.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the response I provided to Question 47760 to the hon. Member for Suffolk South (James Cartlidge), on 29 April 2025.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51569 on Aircraft Carriers, what factors his Department would consider on balancing funding decisions on aircraft launch and recovery equipment.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence considers numerous factors to ensure a balanced result when making procurement decisions. These include: operational capability enhancement and technical innovation offered by new equipment; alignment with national security and defence strategies; interoperability with allies; industrial benefits; lifecycle costs and affordability; procurement risk; environmental sustainability; and regulatory compliance.
Decisions on future capabilities are subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review which is considering how the UK will meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21st century.