Danny Kruger

The Church Commissioners have indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Church Commissioners' are a statutory body corporate and its charitable purposes are set out in a range of statutory provisions. There is no single instrument which specifies each of the purposes for which the Church Commissioners may apply their funds.

The Church Commissioners' was incorporated by the Church Commissioners Measure 1947 which makes provision for the Commissioners to hold a general fund from which it discharges the expenses and obligations which fall to the Church Commissioners' in the due discharge of their functions. Consistent with usual practice in the sector the Church Commissioners' undertakes some of its investment activity through subsidiary entities.

The Church Commissioners’ net asset value is calculated annually, and detailed in the charity’s annual report which is available in the library of the House of Commons, and the most recent report is available here.

The Employment Rights Bill Impact Assessments show that by boosting protections and the quality of work for the lowest paid in the labour market, who are concentrated in more deprived areas of the UK, the package will help to raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. We believe the risk to employment prospects for these groups is small, with the benefits the Bill delivers to them being greater.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England and Wales only.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. That is exactly what we will do, and we will be outlining more detail in due course.

The previous Government made changes to address illegal hare coursing through a package of measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This broadened the circumstances in which police can investigate and bring charges for hare coursing related activity.

We plan to work with the police to ensure they can enforce the laws set out in the legislation.

HM Treasury have published distributional analysis showing the estimated impact of tax, welfare and public service spending decisions on household incomes, across the household income distribution. This can be found here Impact_on_households.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The Department is committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to and meeting our objectives of making work pay and tackling poverty. We have already begun this work with the introduction of the new fair repayment rate announced in the Budget. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the review progresses to seek views on proposed areas of focus and untapped opportunities in UC. Parliament will be updated on progress and future changes accordingly.

A consultation on proposed reforms to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) was published by the previous Government on 8 May 2024. These proposed reforms included removing Direct Pay and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster, as well as exploring how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported. This consultation followed the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act which received royal assent in July 2023.

The consultation was extended by this Government at the end of July and ran until 30 September 2024. We are analysing the responses we have received, and the Government will publish a response in due course.

The call for evidence was launched under the previous government to seek views on how the current fit note process works and the support required to facilitate meaningful work and health conversations. It closed on the 8 July 2024 and received around 1,900 responses. We are still in the process of thoroughly analysing the responses received. These responses will play a crucial role in shaping our ongoing policy development.

The Department for Work and Pensions is currently conducting an evaluation of the Household Support Fund that ran from April 2023 to March 2024, to understand the benefits of the awards made across England during this period. This will be published in due course.

Management information on the Household Support Fund from April 2023 to March 2024, including details of how funding was spent is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-4-management-information-for-1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024

The announcement of a ceasefire agreement to end hostilities between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah offers hope. The UK was the first G7 country to call for an immediate ceasefire in September and we have worked relentlessly since, with our allies and partners, to apply pressure to end this conflict. We strongly urge all parties to use this agreement to open a pathway to a lasting peace. A long-term political settlement, consistent with UN Security Council resolution 1701, is the only way to restore security and stability for the Lebanese and Israeli people. The UK will continue to support the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) essential role in maintaining peace along the Blue Line and the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the only legitimate military force in Lebanon.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from Israel, Lebanon and the US in recent weeks. Any deliberate attack against UNIFIL contravenes International Humanitarian Law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL plays an essential role in Southern Lebanon and all parties must ensure freedom of movement for UNIFIL personnel.

UK living standards, as measured by Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) per capita, have not grown at the pace many would have hoped for over recent years. If RHDI per capita had grown at the same rate between 2010 and 2023 as it did between 1997 and 2010, people’s incomes would have been over £4,000 higher in 2023.

The 2019-2024 parliament was the worst for living standards growth since ONS records began in the 1950s, with average annual growth of just 0.2%.

In their October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the OBR forecast living standards to grow by an annual average of 0.5% over this parliament. This is more than double the pace of living standards growth observed in the 2019-2024 parliament.

GDP per capita, an alternative measure of living standards that captures higher spending on public services, is set to grow even faster, at an annual average of 1.1% over this parliament. This compares to a 0.1% annual average decline in GDP per capita over the 2019-2024 parliament.

Through the growth mission, the government is restoring stability, increasing investment, and reforming the economy to drive up prosperity and living standards across the UK.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police-led collaboration governed by the NPAS National Strategic Board (NSB), which is made up of Chief Constables and PCCs representing each policing region. The NSB sets the direction for the National Police Air Service and reviews its effectiveness on behalf of the other police bodies of England and Wales.

Representatives from West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recently met with the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention to discuss policing’s air service requirements, including both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

The Home Secretary has regular discussions with both Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, which cover a wide variety of subject areas.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police-led collaboration governed by the NPAS National Strategic Board (NSB), which is made up of Chief Constables and PCCs representing each policing region. The NSB sets the direction for the National Police Air Service and reviews its effectiveness on behalf of the other police bodies of England and Wales.

Representatives from West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recently met with the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention to discuss policing’s air service requirements, including both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

The Home Secretary has regular discussions with both Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, which cover a wide variety of subject areas.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police-led collaboration governed by the NPAS National Strategic Board (NSB), which is made up of Chief Constables and PCCs representing each policing region. The NSB sets the direction for the National Police Air Service and reviews its effectiveness on behalf of the other police bodies of England and Wales.

Representatives from West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recently met with the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention to discuss policing’s air service requirements, including both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

The Home Secretary has regular discussions with both Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, which cover a wide variety of subject areas.

There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.

Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.

The Challenger 3 programme is an important programme and is on schedule to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2027 and Full Operating Capability in 2030.

The Strategic Defence Review will guide future capability development priorities, to ensure the United Kingdom is both secure at home and strong abroad - now and for the years to come.

The Reviewers will report regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence and will make their final report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Defence Secretary - with recommendations - in the first half of 2025.

There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.

Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.

During his visit to Army HQ on 19 September, the Secretary of State for Defence met members of the Army Board and discussed a range of issues including the Army's Equipment Plan supporting the Army's modernisation.

The Challenger 3 programme remains an important programme and remains on schedule to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2027 and Full Operating Capability in 2030.

There is not, and has never been, a dedicated Hydra 400 programme in the Army. The capability was assessed in early 2024, and the Army has no current plans to pursue it further.

Work continues to develop the Army's strike capabilities. As part of this ongoing work, the Army will refine the concept for a layered approach to deliver strike capabilities at the Battlegroup, Brigade and Divisional levels.