Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens to replace paper identification required to (a) open a bank account and (b) access (i) loans, (ii) mortgages, (iii) credit cards, (iv) investment opportunities and (v) other financial instruments.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the widespread benefits of digital identity use.
HM Treasury’s Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) 2017 require banks and other regulated financial firms to verify a customer’s identity to open, access or maintain a bank account or other financial products. The MLRs do not impose a preference in how a regulated firm should verify its customers’ identities, either using traditional paper or digital identity sources.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using Non-Fungible Tokens in the administration of benefits.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP has not made any assessment into the potential merits of using Non-Fungible Tokens in the administration of benefits.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens in the administration of (a) general elections, (b) local elections and (c) land registration.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
No such assessment has been made of the potential merits of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of industrial action on the number of rail cancellations between Shrewsbury and (a) Birmingham and (b) London in 2023.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department does not hold specific statistics on the cancellations caused by industrial action on services between Shrewsbury and either Birmingham or London during 2023. However, such action will undoubtedly have caused severe disruption and inconvenience for passengers on this route throughout the year.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens in the issuing of driving licences.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will continue to monitor any relevant ongoing work within government on non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens in the issuing of (a) birth certificates and (b) marriage licences.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The General Register Office for England and Wales, (part of the Home Office) has made no assessment of the potential merits of using non-fungible tokens for any of its services.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will have discussions with Shropshire Council on the potential impact of the North West Relief Road on (a) levels of (i) congestion in Shrewsbury town centre and (ii) emissions and (b) journey times within Shrewsbury.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport continues to work with Shropshire Council, but has not yet received the Full Business Case (FBC) from them. Once this has been received, then officials will examine the local authority’s proposals before putting any recommendations to Ministers.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential role of non-fungible tokens in the issuing of professional certificates on health and care professional registers.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the recent military action in Yemen on the level of national security risk associated with the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by James Heappey
Our clear aim is the continued full operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in national, regional and global security. Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. The joint UK/US military facility helps to keep people around the world safe, combatting some of the most challenging threats to international peace and security.
We must look at all the risks there could be in any change of circumstances. The UK will only enter into an agreement that protects our national interests and those of our partners.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Hospitals Transformation Programme on the number of beds available for patients.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Expected capacity requirements and patient need was modelled and outlined in the recent Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Hospitals Transformation Programme in Shropshire. The OBC was reviewed and approved by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and HM Treasury in December 2023. The full business case is expected in the coming months.