Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years in each (i) nation and (ii) region.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Two National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years in each (i) nation and (ii) region.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years by income decile.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Two National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years by income decile.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid Class Four National Insurance contributions in each of the last five years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) class two and (b)) class four National Insurance payees there were in (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21, (iii) 2021-22, (iv) 2022-23 and (v) 2023-24.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) class two and (b) class four National Insurance payees in the 2024-25 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what income HMRC has derived from (a) class two and (b) class four National Insurance contributions in each of the past five years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) men and (b) women paid class two National Insurance contributions in each of the past five years.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not routinely publish estimates of the number of Class 2 or Class 4 National Insurance payees in total or any of the subsets asked for in the series of questions.

HMRC only publishes total National Insurance Contributions receipts across all classes and the OBR only publishes Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contribution receipts combined together for projections years and one year of outturn.

To produce a set of reliable estimates of all the different data requested would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the National Security Unit for Procurement plans to publish guidance for contracting authorities.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The National Security Unit for Procurement (NSUP) will support the implementation of new powers to protect public procurement from suppliers that pose a threat to national security. It will become operational on commencement of the Procurement Act on February 24th 2025 and we plan to publish guidance for contracting authorities on the application of the national security exclusion grounds ahead of that date. This is being complemented by more general training and engagement on the act run by the Cabinet Office’s Transforming Public Procurement Programme, and the wider suite of guidance which is already available.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to increase awareness of the changes to the hierarchy of road users in Highway Code Rules H1 to 3.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Following a review of the Highway Code in 2022, the Department introduced a hierarchy of road users, which ensures that those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others.

Communications to raise awareness of the changes were launched via a factual awareness raising campaign in 2022. This was followed by broader behaviour change campaigns in the summers of 2022 and 2023, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Over £2.4 million has been spent on media across the campaign, utilising channels such as radio, digital audio, video on demand and social media advertising.

Campaign outcomes included 86% of road users having heard of the changes by September 2023, and 9 in 10 of those who recognised a campaign advert saying they had taken action as a result.

We continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels and via our partner organisations. We continually review allocation of communications spend across road safety issues based on the latest insights and evidence.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.

The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the formula used by the Child Maintenance Service to calculate the Flat Rate of child maintenance was last reviewed.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.

The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

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 adequacy of the Flat Rate of Child Maintenance awarded by the Child Maintenance Service.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.

The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to ensure the Flat Rate of Child Maintenance reflects changes in the cost of living.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service believes that both parents have a financial responsibility to contribute towards the cost of bringing up their child, regardless of their financial situation.

The level of flat rate maintenance for non-resident parents was last reviewed in 2012 as part of the Child Maintenance Calculation Regulations. The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

Non-resident parents receiving benefits (including Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit without earnings) or who have gross weekly income between £7 and £100 are required to pay the flat rate of £7 a week. This rate ensures that parents meet their financial responsibility in paying towards their children's upbringing while protecting the welfare of the paying parent to maximise the likelihood of regular payments being made.

In the July 2024 General Election, a record six independent candidates were elected to the House of Commons. In September 2024, five of those MPs informed the Speaker that they were forming an independent grouping in Parliament as a ‘technical group’, rather than a political party.  This letter has given rise to questions about the status of parliamentary groupings under House of Commons procedures, and the status of independent MPs as a whole.

Call lists, or speakers lists, exist in many legislatures around the world, and were employed in the House of Commons during the Covid-19 pandemic to regulate the flow of debates in virtual/hybrid proceedings. Call lists can be a helpful tool in giving Members an indication of when they will be called to speak in a debate, and thus to plan their days more effectively, and in enabling the chair of a debate to decide time limits. However, there are also concerns about their impact on the flow of the debate.

Reforms introduced following the publication of the 2009 Report of the Reform of the House of Commons Committee, Rebuilding the House (‘the Wright Report’, so named after the Chair of the Committee, Tony Wright MP) included the election by the whole House for positions such as some select committee chairs and the Deputy Speakers.

Found: Brian Whittle MSP, South Scotland [Redacted - Regulation 11(2)] Scottish Labour Party Graeme Downie