Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects the HousePapers mobile app to be replaced.
Answered by Nick Smith
The HousePapers mobile app is being replaced by improved web apps for both Houses, offering a seamless way to access all parliamentary business papers on the go.
The new web apps will operate on any device, including desktops, mobiles and tablets, and should ensure that more Members, their staff, and anyone interested in the work of Parliament, are able to access the information they need more readily.
The new web apps will be launched by Tuesday 13 January 2026. They will allow users to access:
There will be no gap in service for existing users of the HousePapers app, which will continue to provide parliamentary papers until after the launch of the new web apps, and all the documents are also available from the Commons Business and Lords Business webpages.
More information will be available at the House Services Fair for Members and their staff on 9 and 10 December, and further communications will follow nearer to the launch.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61223 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.
Through the zero-based review, DCMS carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.
To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.
Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government’s commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61226 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Zero Based Review covered all of RDEL spending which encompassed 75 lines of activity.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61220 on Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
At Spending Review 2025, the Government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85901 on Prisoners' Release, for what reason he did not state how many of the 262 prisoners released in error in 2024-25 were returned to custody.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Ministry of Justice is taking robust action to prevent release inaccuracies. Releases inaccuracy has been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.
On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies.
A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.
The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.
The data requested comes from internal management information and is therefore not fully Quality Assured and does not meet the standard required for public consumption.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85902 on Prisoners, for what reason he did not provide an estimate of the number of prisoners detained beyond their release date in 2024-25.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Ministry of Justice is taking robust action to prevent release inaccuracies. Releases inaccuracy has been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.
On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies.
A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.
The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.
The data requested comes from internal management information and is therefore not fully Quality Assured and does not meet the standard required for public consumption.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
As with all departments, HM Treasury undertook a line-by-line review of all activity within the Department.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on (a) the cost of nature restoration projects at former quarry sites and (b) levels of biodiversity.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill
Tax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on the replenishment rate of permitted reserves of (a) crushed rock and (b) sand and gravel.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill
Tax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on revenue from the aggregates sector from (a) Corporation Tax and (b) other taxes.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill
Tax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.
As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.