Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations she has had from (a) pubs and licensed premises, (b) leisure arenas, (c) community sports clubs and (d) music venues on business rates increases in the next financial year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on business rates in advance of the Budget and continues to do so.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will extend the ‘Respond by’ deadline on the technical consultation on the International Student Levy until after her Department has published the research it commissioned on student price elasticities in Spring 2026.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The international student levy forms part of our wider plan for higher education student finance and funding reform, as set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which puts the sector on a secure financial footing whilst also ensuring it contributes to wider governmental objectives.
The department is continuing to engage with providers on the implementation of the levy, to ensure its effective introduction and operation. Our technical consultation gives stakeholders the opportunity to contribute their views and shape how the levy will be delivered. It is open until 18 February 2026 in line with usual practice for consultations.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues, Football authorities and the Football Association on the potential visa requirements of the US government to provide information about their social media activity in the last 5 years for people travelling to watch the world cup.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working across Government and with sporting bodies to support UK fans travelling to matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The FCDO is in contact with US authorities to ensure we have the latest information on immigration rules, and we encourage those travelling to the US to consult our USA (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements) and World Cup (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/world-cup-2026) travel advice pages before making travel arrangements.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Government-backed social care investment fund to offer low-cost loans to support the development of the (a) infrastructure and (b) services of not-for-profit care providers, including digital approaches to (i) social care services and (ii) back-office functions; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of capital investment in social care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A Government-backed social care investment fund is not an idea that we are currently considering. Funding for adult social care is provided by central Government to local authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local authorities have discretion over how to best use this funding in order to meet the diverse needs of all local people.
We know that digital transformation has the potential to drive improvement in adult social care, improving experiences and outcomes for people seeking and receiving care. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is funding projects that support the adoption and use of advanced technologies in social care settings. DSIT’s £44 million 5G Innovation Regions Programme has funded ten regions across the United Kingdom to demonstrate the benefits of adopting technologies and solutions that rely on advanced connectivity services in a range of sectors, including health and social care.
The Department has not carried out a specific assessment on the adequacy level of capital investment in social care.
To build consensus on plans for a National Care Service, Baroness Casey is chairing an Independent Commission to shape the medium- and longer-term reforms needed, with phase 1 reporting next year. Details about how to engage with the Commission are available at the following link:
https://caseycommission.co.uk/
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of the government’s new ECG scheme with the principle of market competition.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant is fully compatible with the principle of market competition.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her officials have produced an impact assessment on the market of the existing Electric Car Grant criteria; and whether she will publish it.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set out how the electric car grant criteria were determined, including what discussions she had with the car sector.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Electric Car Grant criteria will change when the review of the Science Based Target Initiative is complete; and what time opportunity will her department offer to industry regarding the implementation of the new target.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.
The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.
All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Government have had with Science Based Targets Initiative through the formulation of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance.
The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion.
All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.