Dave Doogan

I met the Health Ministers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ahead of the announcement on 16 August, and officials meet on a regular basis to discuss the progress of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The Scheme will operate across the UK and the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has been set up to deliver compensation payments to people infected and affected, and will work across the whole country as a single point administering compensation. We are committed to working closely with devolved governments and their support scheme administrators as we move forward with this work.

The UK respects the independence of the International Criminal Court in investigating the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We have been clear that all parties must comply with International Humanitarian Law and take every possible step to minimise harm to civilians. The relevant licences remain suspended and the Government’s IHL assessment process continues to gather information from a wide range of sources, including statements from the UN, NGOs, and other organisations.

The Government recognises the importance of a smooth transition for consumers away from Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters. The Government is working closely with Ofgem, industry stakeholders, and energy suppliers through the RTS Taskforce which is working to upgrade all RTS meters before the switch off in June 2025. We will continue to work closely with Ofgem and the RTS Taskforce to tackle this issue and to ensure that consumers get a good deal.

The UK will work closely with international partners to deliver our commitments to transition away from fossil fuels, as agreed at COP28, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, while ensuring our energy security. The Government has also just launched a Global Clean Power Alliance to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

The UK’s international engagement is based on strong domestic leadership. One of the Government’s missions is to deliver clean power by 2030, and the Government will consult later this year on implementing the manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.

GBE will benefit all four nations, creating jobs and building supply chains across the whole of UK. GBE’s funding envelope provides a total amount for it to operate UK-wide.

We are resetting the Government’s approach to working with the devolved nations. We are working with the Northern Ireland Executive, and Scottish and Welsh Governments on the scope and opportunities for GBE’s work across the UK. The vision statement between the Scottish Government and DESNZ is a key step towards progressing this collaboration, including exploring opportunities for GBE to partner with the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme to support local energy in Scotland.

Any developer of electricity network infrastructure projects undertakes an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for individual projects and EIAs for projects in rural areas will almost always include assessment of agricultural impacts. These assessments are then considered in the consenting process for projects. In addition, consultation on proposed projects includes engagement with relevant stakeholders, including farmers.

The Government keeps abreast of the various technologies that can be used to help us achieve clean power by 2030, including the various means of laying cable, but has not yet made an estimate of the relative costs of cabling since it came into power.

Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation. Such compensation is provided by network licence holders, not the Government.

Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation. Such compensation is provided by network licence holders, not the Government.

The maintenance calculation is designed to be affordable and sustainable for paying parents, while ensuring they contribute a reasonable amount to support their children.

Calculations are based on a percentage of the Paying Parent’s gross weekly income received directly from HM Revenue & Customs. This includes taxable income from employment and can take account of certain unearned income, including from dividends, property income and savings.

Where a paying parent’s income reduces due to not returning to work after maternity leave or due to a change in their personal circumstances, and this change means their income decreases by at least 25%, the calculation will then be reassessed.

Whilst the 1991 Child Support Act puts a legal obligation on all parents to support their children regardless of their financial situation. Under the 2012 Child Maintenance Scheme, an individual with income of less than £7 will generally have a “nil” liability.

The threshold for unearned income was originally set at £2,500 to ensure that this represented a significant source of a paying parent’s total annual income. This ensures that minor changes in unearned income do not interfere with the efficiency of the system, increasing costs for the taxpayer.

A review is currently ongoing to look at the child maintenance calculation to ensure it is fit for purpose. Unearned income, including the current threshold, falls within the scope of this review.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) operates on the principle that both parents have financial responsibility for their child, including contributing to their food and clothing, as well as contributing towards the associated costs of running the home that the child lives in. The calculation represents an amount of money that is broadly commensurate with the amount that a paying parent would spend on the child if they were still living with them.

The CMS will assess how much the paying parent should pay the receiving parent, which in most cases is based on a percentage of the paying parent's gross annual income, before tax and national insurance but after pension contributions. This can also include income from certain assets, savings and investment such as dividends or property income. Income from other members of the household is not considered as they have no financial responsibility for the qualifying child.

The income of the receiving parent is not taken into consideration as they are already contributing as the child's primary caregiver and their income should not remove the responsibility of a paying parent to support their child.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) operates on the principle that both parents have financial responsibility for their child, including contributing to their food and clothing, as well as contributing towards the associated costs of running the home that the child lives in. The calculation represents an amount of money that is broadly commensurate with the amount that a paying parent would spend on the child if they were still living with them.

The CMS will assess how much the paying parent should pay the receiving parent, which in most cases is based on a percentage of the paying parent's gross annual income, before tax and national insurance but after pension contributions. This can also include income from certain assets, savings and investment such as dividends or property income. Income from other members of the household is not considered as they have no financial responsibility for the qualifying child.

The income of the receiving parent is not taken into consideration as they are already contributing as the child's primary caregiver and their income should not remove the responsibility of a paying parent to support their child.

Where parents frequently change employment, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) can use alternative powers such as deducting child maintenance directly from their bank account. The CMS has a range of strong enforcement options that are designed to get money flowing quickly, prevent the build-up of arrears and ensure children get the financial support they deserve. Upon changing employer, the child maintenance liability will remain unaffected unless there is also a change to income which is greater than 25%.

The Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023 delivered primary legislation to accelerate the enforcement process. The changes seek to introduce a simpler administrative process to obtain a liability order against those paying parents who actively avoid their responsibilities, enabling the CMS to take faster enforcement action. We will monitor the effectiveness of this.

The CMS has a relatively low percentage of unpaid maintenance. Only 8% of the total maintenance due to be paid since the start of the CMS remains to be collected through the collect & pay service. This was as high as 17% in March 2015.