Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps her Department has made to ensure that the construction sector is represented in the courses supported by the Skills and Growth Levy.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
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 he has had with his Israeli counterpart about recent Israeli military activity in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the budget to fund UK participants at the 2024 Paris (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic games was from 2020; and what the proposed budget is for UK participants at the 2028 Los Angeles (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic games.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many units of accommodation in the (a) private and (b) social housing sector have combustible cladding; on how many such units is work under way to remove such cladding; and how many such units have no such work planned.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring local authorities in their local plans to (a) allocate sites for (i) social housing and (ii) housing for elderly persons and (b) ensure the provision of housing with high-level adaptations for people with disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of preventing second home owners who become subject to a higher council tax charge from switching their home to a business and avoiding council tax altogether.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the tram train pilot between Sheffield and Rotherham, how many similar schemes (a) have been developed, (b) are under construction and (c) are being planned.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
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.
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 hold discussions with the metro mayors on the potential merits of electrifying the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for introducing new trains on the Midland Mainline between Sheffield and London.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
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.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to ensure that companies successful in the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) competition (a) manufacture those SMRs and (b) use supply chains domestically.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The SMR technology selection process is an open and competitive process. The priority is to select the technologies best able to facilitate operational projects by the mid-2030s. As with any Government decision, this will be subject to value for money, relevant approvals, and technology readiness. This is an exciting time for nuclear and the scale of our ambition means there are likely to be significant supply chain opportunities associated with projects going forward.