Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will take steps to restore the level of funding allocated to international development and aid projects to 0.7% of GDP.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government is committed to restoring ODA spending at the level of 0.7 per cent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. The Government will set out its approach to the House in due course.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure the safety and (b) mitigate potential risks posed by the decommissioning of nuclear submarines at Rosyth Royal Dockyard for surrounding residential areas.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether changes to taxation arrangements of furnished holiday lets will apply to purpose-built holiday lodges on sites designated for leisure and tourism purposes.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The Government has announced that it will abolish the Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHL) tax regime from April 2025, equalising the tax treatment of all individual FHL and non-FHL businesses. This will make the taxation of property fairer and simpler while raising revenue for vital public services. The changes will not penalise or prohibit the provision of FHLs more widely.
The status of individual businesses, and so the application of tax rules, will always depend on the specific facts of each case.
The Government keeps all aspects of tax policy under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Government support for women experiencing misogyny in the workplace.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Misogyny is unacceptable in any workplace.
This Government has committed to protect workers from misogyny through a robust legal framework, we made that clear in our response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s Misogyny in Music report, published in April.
We also supported the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 which received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. This will strengthen protections for employees against workplace sexual harassment.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the UK's constitutional arrangements on the strength of the Union.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
In line with the longstanding practice of successive administrations, Cabinet discussions are confidential, and details are not normally disclosed. But I will say that the United Kingdom is one of the world’s most successful political and economic unions. When we work together as one United Kingdom, we are safer, stronger and more prosperous.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish the (a) minutes and (b) conclusions of the meetings of the expert panel for the Government’s BBC funding model review.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The BBC Funding Review is looking at how alternative funding models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers. It is a government-led review, supported by an expert panel that incorporates a broad range of views from across the sector, providing advice and external challenge on the issues set out in the review’s Terms of Reference, which are available on gov.uk.
Stakeholders are submitting evidence on the basis that evidence provided is confidential in nature, especially given potential commercial sensitivities, and there is no intention for these submissions to be made public, either in full or in part.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to publish the evidence and submissions received to inform her Department's BBC funding model review.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The BBC Funding Review is looking at how alternative funding models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers. It is a government-led review, supported by an expert panel that incorporates a broad range of views from across the sector, providing advice and external challenge on the issues set out in the review’s Terms of Reference, which are available on gov.uk.
Stakeholders are submitting evidence on the basis that evidence provided is confidential in nature, especially given potential commercial sensitivities, and there is no intention for these submissions to be made public, either in full or in part.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to enable (a) industry representatives and (b) other relevant stakeholders to make submissions to the BBC funding model review.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The BBC Funding Review is looking at how alternative funding models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers. It is a government-led review, supported by an expert panel that incorporates a broad range of views from across the sector, providing advice and external challenge on the issues set out in the review’s Terms of Reference, which are available on gov.uk.
Stakeholders are submitting evidence on the basis that evidence provided is confidential in nature, especially given potential commercial sensitivities, and there is no intention for these submissions to be made public, either in full or in part.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he (a) has had and (b) plans to have discussions with the Scottish Government on the potential impact of the Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023 on the transport of dogs between England and Scotland.
Answered by Mark Spencer
Defra Ministers have written regularly to Ministerial counterparts in Scotland to encourage a UK–wide approach to the ban on XL Bully type dogs. This included highlighting the implications of the ban in England and Wales on the movement of XL Bully dogs between England and Wales, and Scotland. We also offered several meetings to discuss the XL Bully ban with the Scottish Government.
Defra officials continue to engage with officials from all the devolved administrations on a weekly basis to discuss the implementation of the ban.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What progress her Department has made on improving access to GP appointments.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Thanks to the efforts of superb GPs up and down the country, in England there is now a record additional 50 million appointments per year being made available.
Our Primary Care Recovery Plan for England is focussed on improving access for patients and reducing bureaucracy for GPs.
Health is devolved to Scotland and I’m sure the honourable lady will use our excellent record to challenge SNP Ministers on their performance.