Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to food bank referral slips on levels of food poverty since February 2024.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Under the previous administration, DWP introduced a new food charity signposting slip to replace the one previously used, removing personal data to better comply with obligations, including GDPR responsibilities, and to improve our process. The new slip does not change our DWP policy, and our Jobcentres continue to provide customers with guidance to find additional support, including to emergency food support when appropriate.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to bring forward the Industrial Strategy Bill.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We will introduce an Industrial Strategy Bill to implement measures within the White Paper that require primary legislation when parliamentary time allows. This will include provisions to put the Industrial Strategy Council on a statutory footing, underlining our commitment to policy stability, continuity, and delivery of our 10-year plan. We will also use the Bill to legislate for wider measures, such as supporting businesses with their electricity costs.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses were ordered from British bus manufacturers with (a) full and (b) partial financial support from (i) the Government and (ii) devolved English authorities between 2011 and 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
HMG does not hold specific data on buses ordered by devolved English authorities during the period between 2011 and 2025.
However, it is estimated that since 2011, approximately 1,494 buses were ordered from UK-based bus manufacturers with full or partial support. This estimated total accounts for the following funding schemes: Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme, Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programmes, Transforming Cities Fund, City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements and All Electric Bus City (Coventry). It is estimated that 60% of Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA)-supported buses will be procured from UK-based bus manufacturers.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the £200m allocation to Grangemouth from the National Wealth Fund is restricted for investment proposals contained fully or partially within the boundaries of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Wealth Fund stands ready to provide £200 million of investment to finance projects in the Grangemouth area, subject to investible propositions meeting the National Wealth Fund’s criteria. Beyond Grangemouth, the National Wealth Fund is capitalised with £27.8 billion to invest in projects across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) modernise and (b) simplify gender recognition legislation.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
As set out in the King’s Speech, our priorities in this session are to bring forward our draft Bills on banning conversion practices and on race and disability equality, alongside strengthening protections from hate crime for LGBT people and improving trans people’s healthcare.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage bus manufacturers to produce zero-emission buses.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The full transition to zero emission buses (ZEBs) is a vital part of the Government’s plan to make buses better for passengers and to realise the benefits of lower running costs, cleaner air and smoother, quieter journeys.
The Department has supported the bus sector with almost £500m in direct funding support for ZEBs in recent years, including £38m announced in April to deliver an additional 319 ZEBs through the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programme.
We also continue to support the sector with funding. The recent announcement of £15.6bn over five years, to improve local transport in some of our largest city regions, allows local leaders to play a more active role in the delivery of local bus services and allocate some funding toward decarbonising their local fleets.
To support the domestic ZEB industry, the Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, was launched earlier this year. This Panel regularly brings industry experts and local leaders together to discuss ways to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing. A key Panel outcome will be the development of a pipeline of future bus orders to give better planning certainty to the sector.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds on business competitiveness.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) is globally recognised as a transformative health intervention. After SDIL was announced, the average sugar content of soft drinks in scope of the levy fell 46% between 2015 and 2020. These positive health impacts have been achieved without a negative impact on soft drink sales, with sales of drinks subject to the levy increasing by 21% between 2015 and 2020.
Given SDIL’s success, the Chancellor announced at Autumn Budget 2024 her intention to review the levy to enhance its impact. The ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, published on 28 April 2025, follows this commitment. Specifically, it sets out proposals to reduce the minimum sugar threshold at which the levy applies from 5g to 4g sugar per 100ml, and to remove the current exemptions for milk-based and milk substitute drinks with added sugar.
The government takes potential business impacts seriously, continues to engage with businesses, and welcomes further feedback as part of the consultation, which is open until 21 July 2025.
The government expects to confirm any changes to the levy at the upcoming Budget, and will publish a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the confirmed policy. This will set out the expected impact of any changes on businesses and civil society organisations.
The Competition and Markets Authority is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices. As an independent authority, the CMA has discretion to investigate competition cases which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers most appropriate.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of changes to annual revenue received from a single Remote Betting and Gambling Duty.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the financial year 2023-24, betting and gaming duties raised around £3.4 billion in tax revenue.
The Government is currently consulting on a single remote betting and gaming duty and we welcome responses to the consultation.
Should the government proceed with these reforms, the rate of the new tax will be set as part of the Budget process, and the OBR will update its forecast then, based on the final policy design.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the potential cost per year of universally restoring the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Paying Winter Fuel Payments on a universal basis in England and Wales is estimated to cost an additional £1.3 billion in 2025/26 and £1.4 billion in 2026/27.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to suspend the remaining arms licences to Israel, in the context of remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu on control of Gaza made on 19 May 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's position is clear. This conflict has had a devastating impact on civilians and more bloodshed is in no-one's interest. One of our first actions in government was to review and suspend export licences which might be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. As the Foreign Secretary set out in Parliament, that was a complex decision, which the Foreign Secretary took extremely seriously and stands by.