Clive Betts

UK Sport has invested £385 million of Exchequer and Lottery funding to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the Paris cycle. More detail of awards is set out here www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/current-funding-awards.

We are fully committed to multi-year funding for our elite sport system and enabling our athletes to excel on the world stage. This means supporting them financially to match and build on their success in Paris, helping them to deliver at LA 2028.

We will set out further details at the Spending Review.

The department is working across government and in partnership with industry, including through the Construction Skills Delivery Group (CSDG), to ensure that our skills offer meets the needs of the sector.

This includes transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy. The new levy will build on the apprenticeships programme to create opportunities for learners of all ages, and give employers of different sizes greater flexibility to address critical skill shortages in their workforces and drive economic growth.

The department will set out more detail in due course, including further information on the role of Skills England in ensuring that levy-funded training delivers value for money and meets the needs of businesses.

There are currently no other tram-train examples in England. The Department is currently working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority as they develop their business case for their “Pathfinder” project in the North East Quadrant of Greater Manchester, where tram-train is being considered as a potential technology option.

In addition, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is considering the expansion of the Sheffield Supertram, which might include tram-train, and the Department is working closely with SYMCA as they continue to develop those plans.

Under East Midlands Railway’s plan, the new Class 810 ‘Aurora’ Bi-mode trains will commence passenger service operation during 2025, with phased introduction continuing into 2026.

The Secretary of State is committed to working closely with metro mayors, and understands the important relationship between them and the Department. This commitment to collaboration includes on projects such as Midland Main Line electrification. Discussions on transport issues with regional and local leaders have already begun.

The UK is concerned by the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ongoing military operation in the occupied West Bank. We recognise Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are very worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions.

The latest data on remediation progress of 11m+ buildings identified with unsafe cladding is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-remediation-monthly-data-release-july-2024.

This shows that as of 31 July 2024, in the private housing sector, 2,127 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 416 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,119 buildings. In the social housing sector, 2,405 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 528 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,210 buildings.

The National Planning Policy Framework outlines that it is for local authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, people with disabilities, older people, and to reflect this in their planning policies. In 2019, we published guidance to help local planning authorities implement this policy.

We are consulting on our approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. This includes proposed changes designed to support the delivery of affordable homes including social rent, alongside securing a mix of types and tenures including housing for specific groups including older people. The consultation began on Tuesday 30 July and closes on Tuesday 24 September.

From April 2025 councils have discretionary powers to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. Properties available for commercial short-term letting may be eligible for business rates where they have been available to let for at least 140 days in the past year, are available to let for at least 140 days in the next year and can demonstrate at least 70 days of actual letting activity in the last year. The Government will continue to keep all tax policy under review.