David Jones

The spend on the Office of Speaker’s Counsel for the financial year 2021/22 was £1.85m. The Office of Speaker’s Counsel provides legal advice to the Speaker, the Clerk and all departments of the House of Commons, as well as managing all litigation involving the Commission, the Corporate Officer or the Speaker. It also provides advice to Select Committees of the House.

The Windsor Framework replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, addressing issues in its operation and protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK. We continue to have discussions with the EU on the operation of the Windsor Framework, including through the structures agreed as part of the Windsor Framework.

As the Government set out in its response to HL3547, it remains the case that the Government does not comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received. This is in line with the long-standing policy under successive administrations.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

The UK Government is regularly publishing and updating information and guidance for the public on the Covid-19 outbreak. Where a matter is devolved, UK Government guidance available on GOV.UK is clear that measures apply in England-only and should be considered alongside local public health requirements, guidance and legislation in Wales.

The UK Government continues to work with the Welsh Government and other devolved administrations on decisions and guidance related to the current measures.

Ministers and officials at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have not had any meetings with ministers or officials at the Home Office or Ministry of Justice to discuss retained EU law (REUL) (now known as assimilated law), in the context of the removal of illegal migrants to Rwanda, although DBT officials regularly engage with both departments as a matter of course on their intentions for REUL/assimilated law falling within their areas of responsibility.

DBT is committed to working with any other government department to make the most of our freedoms outside the EU.

At the end of 2023, approximately 700 pieces of Retained EU Law (REUL) were revoked via schedule 1 of the Act (“the revocation schedule”) and subsequent secondary legislation. Unless actively revoked, no REUL was sunset and instead became “assimilated law” after the end of 2023.

The Retained EU Law Dashboard is the government’s public catalogue of each piece of REUL confirmed by government departments, and their status. The dashboard currently features 5020 pieces of REUL and will be updated in January 2024, in line with our statutory commitments in the REUL Act and alongside the forthcoming first REUL parliamentary report.

The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.

Meanwhile, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances in England through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition.

The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.

Meanwhile, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances in England through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition.

The Government remains fully committed to supporting the transition to low-carbon heating. This includes the aim to grow the market to 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028.

A range of measures are supporting this, including schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Energy Company Obligation and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. From 2025, we expect heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes under the Future Homes Standard.

The Government consulted on the role of hybrid heat pumps through the consultation on ‘Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency’ and will set out our response in due course.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports the transition away from fossil fuel heating to a low carbon alternative. Hybrid heat pumps are not currently eligible as the Government want to direct funding available to technologies that offer the greatest carbon savings, rather than those which would continue to involve the burning of fossil fuels for heating.

Heat pumps are suitable for the majority of UK homes, including off-gas grid and will play an important strategic role in decarbonising existing properties. The Government will keep our position on alternative heating technologies under review and make further assessments as supporting evidence develops.

The recent consultation on Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency explored the role hybrid heat pumps could play in supporting the transition to low carbon heat. A response will be published in due course.

In the meantime, the Government is supporting targeted deployment of hybrid heating systems in defined circumstances through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Sustainable Warmth competition. Qualifying hybrid heat pump systems will also be included in the new Clean Heat Market Mechanism scheme from 2024.

The British wholesale electricity market currently has a national pricing structure.

The Government is considering reforms to wholesale electricity pricing under the Review of Electricity Markets Arrangement (REMA). The recently published REMA consultation sets out the Government’s initial considerations on zonal and nodal pricing, which are two potential alternatives to national pricing under consideration.

The findings of Delta-EE’s white paper support existing evidence in demonstrating the potential for reductions in the installed cost of heat pumps. As made clear in the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, published in October 2021, growing the number of heat pump installations to at least 600,000 a year by 2028 is contingent on the market finding ways to reduce the upfront cost of the systems. The Government has commissioned further research on this issue and will publish its conclusions later this year.

The Government’s Heat and Building’s Strategy sets out its ambition to work with industry to reduce heat pump costs by 25-50% by 2025. These ambitions were endorsed by several major industry bodies.

BEIS modelling on homes’ energy efficiency and electrical connections suggests it would be feasible to install heat pumps in around 80% of off gas grid homes, potentially rising to around 90% with fabric upgrades. The Department’s analysis indicates that most commercial and public buildings that use fossil fuel heating systems off the gas grid are technically suitable for a heat pump. For buildings on the gas-grid the Department estimates that around 90% will also be suitable for a heat pump.

Off-grid properties that cannot reasonably practicably install a heat pump will have a viable choice of high performing, commercially available alternative heating technologies that are consistent with net zero, such as high temperature heat pumps or solid biomass.

BEIS modelling on homes’ energy efficiency and electrical connections suggests it would be feasible to install heat pumps in around 80% of off gas grid homes, potentially rising to around 90% with fabric upgrades. The Department’s analysis indicates that most commercial and public buildings that use fossil fuel heating systems off the gas grid are technically suitable for a heat pump. For buildings on the gas-grid the Department estimates that around 90% will also be suitable for a heat pump.

Off-grid properties that cannot reasonably practicably install a heat pump will have a viable choice of high performing, commercially available alternative heating technologies that are consistent with net zero, such as high temperature heat pumps or solid biomass.

Ministers regularly meet with a range of people on a range of issues.

Officials have engaged closely with S4C, including the acting Chair of the S4C Authority, on a range of relevant matters.

Ministers regularly meet with a range of people on a range of issues.

Officials have engaged closely with S4C, including the acting Chair of the S4C Authority, on a range of relevant matters.

There is no data source which enables a direct comparison of higher education (HE) participation for each UK nation due to differences in data coverage and methodology.

The most consistent measure available is the 18-year-old entry rate published by UCAS, which measures the proportion of 18-year-olds in the population that have been accepted to full-time undergraduate HE through UCAS. The data shows changes in the entry rates over time. However, around a third of young full-time undergraduate provision in Scotland (mainly full-time undergraduate provision at further education colleges) are not included in UCAS’s figures and so do not allow for a consistent comparison of HE participation with Scotland.

The latest UCAS data can be found at: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/statistical-releases-daily-clearing-analysis-2023.

Alternative measures of participation which cover all HE are calculated by each of the UK nations. However, there are differences in methodology, such as differing coverage of pupils included in the measure and different age ranges for participation in HE. Data on these measures for each of the UK nations are signposted here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-measures-in-higher-education-2021-to-2022.

The Government encourages local authorities to consider such provision in public toilets to support those with this need but does not have powers to compel the provision of sanitary bins in public toilets. I would encourage the hon. Member to raise the issue locally.

We maintain that it is best practice to keep your dog on a lead around livestock. The Countryside Code advises dog walkers to always check local signs as there are situations where this is already a legal requirement for all or part of the year – for example when on Open Access Land between 1 March and 31 July.

There is a careful balance to be struck between the level of freedom people enjoy when accessing the countryside to walk their dogs, the welfare of those dogs who require regular exercise (including the freedom to exhibit normal behaviours) and the welfare of livestock and interests of their keepers. There is also a public safety consideration. The behaviour of certain livestock species can be unpredictable, especially when they are with their young. That is why the recently refreshed Countryside Code reminds dog walkers to let their dog off the lead if they feel threatened by livestock or horses. Releasing a dog will make it easier for both the dog and walker to reach safety and avoid getting hurt.

The requirement for a “Not for EU” label will not apply to goods produced in Northern Ireland and sold in either Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Yes, sufficient time will be given to Members to consider any forthcoming legislation.

We have engaged closely with industry about these arrangements and will continue to do so in advance of changes taking effect in October 2024. We have met with businesses and trade bodies, through weekly forums along with separate bespoke engagements, to discuss these proposals. We will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements.

The UK has pledged £744 million to support the global humanitarian response to COVID-19. We?have?delivered?additional vital support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories by providing funding to WHO and UNICEF to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of?medical equipment,?treat critical care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing capacity.

The UN assesses that although the current number of detected cases remains relatively low, the capacity of the Palestinian health system to cope with an expected increase in COVID-19 cases is poor. The situation is particularly severe in Gaza, where the health system has shortages in specialised staff, drugs and equipment. We continue to monitor the situation and are working closely with the UN and the international community to ensure a co-ordinated response.

Palestinian goods imported from the Occupied Palestinian Territories benefit from the trade preferences outlined in the bilateral agreement negotiated between the United Kingdom and the Palestinian Authority, which came into force on 1^st January 2021. While the focus of these negotiations is trade with the State of Israel, we value our bilateral trade relationship with the Palestinian Authority too, and will continue to build upon our commercial links through our bilateral agreement.

My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has engaged with the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, most recently on 12 November, to press for a resolution to the Section 232 tariffs. Our preference is the full removal of 232 tariffs, in which case the UK's tariffs on American whiskeys will not be required.

Ministerial colleagues at the Office of Secretary of State for Wales regularly engage with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board on a wide range of policy areas.

The Department for International Trade has established an extensive stakeholder engagement framework consisting of various mechanisms to allow business and civil society stakeholders the opportunity to feed into its trade policy, ensuring the UK position is well-informed and reflects the interests of the whole of the UK.

We want every relevant organisation, in every part of the UK, to feel engaged with our trade policy and we will continue to engage with a range of businesses, industry, civil society and all willing stakeholders in different ways as we continue to seek out the opportunities free trade provides us.

Any trade deal with the US must work for UK consumers, farmers, and companies. A deal with the US can help create opportunities for agricultural producers by opening up new markets for the UK’s high-quality produce.

As set out in our manifesto, we will not compromise our standards as we negotiate new trade deals. At the end of the transition period, all existing EU food safety, animal welfare, and environmental standards will be retained and form part of our domestic law. This includes all existing import requirements.

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys are appointed at the discretion and direction of the Prime Minister.

The position of PM’s Trade Envoy to Libya has been vacant since my former colleague Sir Henry Bellingham stepped down as a Member of Parliament. I would take this opportunity to state my appreciation for all of the work he undertook to advocate UK trade in relation to Libya.

To date, no fees have been paid to Avanti West Coast under the Service Quality Regime (SQR). This is because the first period to be assessed to determine the Performance Fee under SQR relates to the scores achieved between April and October 2023, and the evaluation process for this period is still underway.