Julie Minns Portrait

Julie Minns

Labour - Carlisle

5,200 (11.3%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024



Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Julie Minns has voted in 43 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Julie Minns Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op))
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
(4 debate interactions)
Josh MacAlister (Labour)
(3 debate interactions)
Emma Hardy (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Business and Trade
(8 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Great British Energy Bill 2024-26
(1,018 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Julie Minns's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Julie Minns

17th July 2024
Julie Minns signed this EDM on Friday 19th July 2024

Gareth Southgate resignation as England Manager

Tabled by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
That this House notes with sadness the resignation of Gareth Southgate OBE from his role as manager of the England men’s national team on Tuesday 16 July 2024; appreciates Mr Southgate’s commitment, leadership and his steadfast support for grassroots sport; celebrates the brilliant performance of the England squad in the …
35 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Nov 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 24
Independent: 6
Liberal Democrat: 4
Green Party: 1
17th July 2024
Julie Minns signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Tuesday 16th July 2024

Britain’s first black police officer, John Kent

Tabled by: Julie Minns (Labour - Carlisle)
That this House pays tribute to Britain’s first black police officer, John Kent who died on 20 July 1886; notes that John Kent was the son of a freed slave, Thomas Kent; further notes that John Kent began his policing career in Maryport, Cumbria in 1835 before transferring to the …
14 signatures
(Most recent: 7 Oct 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 7
Plaid Cymru: 4
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Independent: 1
View All Julie Minns's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Julie Minns, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Julie Minns has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Julie Minns

Tuesday 12th November 2024

Julie Minns has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Julie Minns has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 34 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve support for kinship carers.

This government recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers play. This government also appreciates that kinship carers often take on this role at a time in their lives when they are least expecting to raise a family.

We have recently announced a £40 million package to trial a new Kinship Allowance in up to 10 local authorities to test whether paying an allowance to cover certain costs, such as supporting a child to settle into a new home with relatives, can help increase the number of children taken in by family members and friends.

This investment could transform the lives of vulnerable children who can no longer live at home by allowing children to grow up within their families and communities, reducing disruption to their early years, so they can focus on schooling and building friendships.

The government also recently announced the appointment of the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador. The Ambassador advocates for kinship children and their carers and works directly with local authorities to help them improve services, whilst sharing good practice across areas.

The department has recently published the updated guidance for local authorities, the Kinship Care statutory guidance, which is available on GOV.UK at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670d3ed5e84ae1fd8592f2fa/Kinship_Care_-_statutory_guidance_for_local_authorities__October_2024.pdf. This guidance outlines the framework for the provision of support for kinship children and kinship families.

This government is also extending the delivery of over 140 peer support groups across England, available for all kinship carers to access, where they can come together to share stories, exchange advice and support each other. We are also delivering a package of training and support that all kinship carers across England can access.

I am determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve, and kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this. This government is considering how to most effectively transform the children’s social care system to deliver better outcomes for children and families, including how best to support kinship families.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of whether floating bus stops are compatible with Rule H1 of the Highway Code.

The Department is fully aware of the concerns raised by some groups, particularly visually impaired people, over the use of floating bus stops and is working with Active Travel England on ways to address these concerns. It is a complex issue and we are carefully considering a wide range of options in developing next steps.

The Hierarchy of Road Users is a well-established concept which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to other road users. It is for local authorities to ensure any infrastructure they place is developed with this in mind.

The Department engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders. The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee provides advice on disability transport issues in their role as a statutory advisory body, including advice on buses and local transport.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with disability organisations on the potential merits of introducing a moratorium on floating bus stops.

The Department is fully aware of the concerns raised by some groups, particularly visually impaired people, over the use of floating bus stops and is working with Active Travel England on ways to address these concerns. It is a complex issue and we are carefully considering a wide range of options in developing next steps.

The Hierarchy of Road Users is a well-established concept which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to other road users. It is for local authorities to ensure any infrastructure they place is developed with this in mind.

The Department engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders. The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee provides advice on disability transport issues in their role as a statutory advisory body, including advice on buses and local transport.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the accessibility of bus services outside of London and combined authority areas for (a) wheelchair users, (b) people who are blind or visually impaired and (c) people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The government wants everyone to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity.

On October 1st, the first phase of Public Service Vehicle Accessible Information Regulations came into force, meaning that local services will provide audible and visible information on stops, destination and diversions by 2026. The government has set out an action plan for improving the bus network, based on giving local leaders the tools they need to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities they serve.

As announced in the King’s Speech, the government will also introduce a new Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session which will help bring to an end the postcode lottery of bus services by giving local leaders the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. As part of this legislation we will be looking at what measures could address accessibility barriers to support disabled passengers to use bus services.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has of made of (a) the adequacy of the process and (b) potential barriers for the adoption of roads in new housing estates by Local Authorities.

The Department has published comprehensive guidance, last updated in August 2022, to help local authorities make informed decisions about how new and existing roads can be adopted by highway authorities so that they become maintainable at public expense, pursuant to the 1980 Highways Act (as amended). The guidance should also be of interest to planning authorities, local highway authorities, developers, people living in private streets, and people planning to purchase property.

Once adopted, a road remains publicly maintainable by the highway authority, so it is right that roads are constructed by the developer to an appropriate standard. The biggest potential barrier is roads that have not been completed to the appropriate standard required by the highway authority for adoption.

It is important that developers submit details that are in accordance with both the approved highway layout (from the planning application) and technical specifications in relation to the construction of the roads. Until that time all the required maintenance and safety issues are the responsibility of the developer or owner.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of average waiting times for driving tests on the economy.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) knows that car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this is having on learner drivers.

DVSA does not record, or hold, information about candidates whose driving licence is a requirement of their current, or potential, employment.

DVSA’s main priority is to uphold road safety standards as it reduces car practical driving test waiting times.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the DVLA is taking to reduce the time it takes to respond to drivers medical referrals.

The following table shows the number of drivers medical cases the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has resolved in each of the last five calendar years.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

All drivers medical decisions made

766,283

556,382

550,773

863,431

723,126

30 working days or more to make a licensing decision

275,615

278,672

368,029

584,226

380,132

Proportion of licensing decisions made over 30 working days

35.97%

50.09%

66.82%

67.66%

52.57%

60 working days or more to make a licensing decision

129,321

167,311

263,084

453,639

213,639

90 working days or more to make a licensing decision

72,897

101,363

191,618

340,712

136,735

Six months or more to make a licensing decision (182 working days)

17,651

19,328

82,895

154,507

55,854

One year or more to make a licensing decision (365 working days)

346

613

4,547

14,105

11,759

To note, cases are classed as “resolved” when a licensing decision is made and the appropriate action is taken. Some cases may have been resolved but remain open for administrative reasons, for example, payments to third parties still needing to be fulfilled before the case can be closed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to make a licensing decision within 90 working days, in 90% of cases where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued.

Medical applications can take longer because the DVLA is very often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.

Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions, or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions, and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

In July 2022, the law changed to widen the pool of registered healthcare professionals who can provide information as part of the DVLA’s medical investigations into a person’s fitness to drive. Previously, this information could only be provided by a doctor. GP surgeries and hospital teams now have greater flexibility to decide how they manage the DVLA’s requests for information.

Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of drivers medical referrals to the DVLA took longer than 30 days to resolve in each year since 2019.

The following table shows the number of drivers medical cases the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has resolved in each of the last five calendar years.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

All drivers medical decisions made

766,283

556,382

550,773

863,431

723,126

30 working days or more to make a licensing decision

275,615

278,672

368,029

584,226

380,132

Proportion of licensing decisions made over 30 working days

35.97%

50.09%

66.82%

67.66%

52.57%

60 working days or more to make a licensing decision

129,321

167,311

263,084

453,639

213,639

90 working days or more to make a licensing decision

72,897

101,363

191,618

340,712

136,735

Six months or more to make a licensing decision (182 working days)

17,651

19,328

82,895

154,507

55,854

One year or more to make a licensing decision (365 working days)

346

613

4,547

14,105

11,759

To note, cases are classed as “resolved” when a licensing decision is made and the appropriate action is taken. Some cases may have been resolved but remain open for administrative reasons, for example, payments to third parties still needing to be fulfilled before the case can be closed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to make a licensing decision within 90 working days, in 90% of cases where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued.

Medical applications can take longer because the DVLA is very often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.

Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions, or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions, and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

In July 2022, the law changed to widen the pool of registered healthcare professionals who can provide information as part of the DVLA’s medical investigations into a person’s fitness to drive. Previously, this information could only be provided by a doctor. GP surgeries and hospital teams now have greater flexibility to decide how they manage the DVLA’s requests for information.

Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Drivers Medical referrals to the DVLA took more than 60 days to (a) resolve and (b) close in (i) 2023, (ii) 2022, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2020 and (v) 2019.

The following table shows the number of drivers medical cases the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has resolved in each of the last five calendar years.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

All drivers medical decisions made

766,283

556,382

550,773

863,431

723,126

30 working days or more to make a licensing decision

275,615

278,672

368,029

584,226

380,132

Proportion of licensing decisions made over 30 working days

35.97%

50.09%

66.82%

67.66%

52.57%

60 working days or more to make a licensing decision

129,321

167,311

263,084

453,639

213,639

90 working days or more to make a licensing decision

72,897

101,363

191,618

340,712

136,735

Six months or more to make a licensing decision (182 working days)

17,651

19,328

82,895

154,507

55,854

One year or more to make a licensing decision (365 working days)

346

613

4,547

14,105

11,759

To note, cases are classed as “resolved” when a licensing decision is made and the appropriate action is taken. Some cases may have been resolved but remain open for administrative reasons, for example, payments to third parties still needing to be fulfilled before the case can be closed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to make a licensing decision within 90 working days, in 90% of cases where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued.

Medical applications can take longer because the DVLA is very often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.

Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions, or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions, and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

In July 2022, the law changed to widen the pool of registered healthcare professionals who can provide information as part of the DVLA’s medical investigations into a person’s fitness to drive. Previously, this information could only be provided by a doctor. GP surgeries and hospital teams now have greater flexibility to decide how they manage the DVLA’s requests for information.

Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Drivers Medical referrals to the DVLA took more than six months to (a) resolve and (b) close in (i) 2023, (ii) 2022, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2020 and (v) 2019.

The following table shows the number of drivers medical cases the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has resolved in each of the last five calendar years.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

All drivers medical decisions made

766,283

556,382

550,773

863,431

723,126

30 working days or more to make a licensing decision

275,615

278,672

368,029

584,226

380,132

Proportion of licensing decisions made over 30 working days

35.97%

50.09%

66.82%

67.66%

52.57%

60 working days or more to make a licensing decision

129,321

167,311

263,084

453,639

213,639

90 working days or more to make a licensing decision

72,897

101,363

191,618

340,712

136,735

Six months or more to make a licensing decision (182 working days)

17,651

19,328

82,895

154,507

55,854

One year or more to make a licensing decision (365 working days)

346

613

4,547

14,105

11,759

To note, cases are classed as “resolved” when a licensing decision is made and the appropriate action is taken. Some cases may have been resolved but remain open for administrative reasons, for example, payments to third parties still needing to be fulfilled before the case can be closed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to make a licensing decision within 90 working days, in 90% of cases where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued.

Medical applications can take longer because the DVLA is very often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.

Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions, or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions, and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

In July 2022, the law changed to widen the pool of registered healthcare professionals who can provide information as part of the DVLA’s medical investigations into a person’s fitness to drive. Previously, this information could only be provided by a doctor. GP surgeries and hospital teams now have greater flexibility to decide how they manage the DVLA’s requests for information.

Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Drivers Medical referrals to the DVLA took more than one year to (a) resolve and (b) close in (i) 2023, (ii) 2022, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2020 and (v) 2019.

The following table shows the number of drivers medical cases the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has resolved in each of the last five calendar years.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

All drivers medical decisions made

766,283

556,382

550,773

863,431

723,126

30 working days or more to make a licensing decision

275,615

278,672

368,029

584,226

380,132

Proportion of licensing decisions made over 30 working days

35.97%

50.09%

66.82%

67.66%

52.57%

60 working days or more to make a licensing decision

129,321

167,311

263,084

453,639

213,639

90 working days or more to make a licensing decision

72,897

101,363

191,618

340,712

136,735

Six months or more to make a licensing decision (182 working days)

17,651

19,328

82,895

154,507

55,854

One year or more to make a licensing decision (365 working days)

346

613

4,547

14,105

11,759

To note, cases are classed as “resolved” when a licensing decision is made and the appropriate action is taken. Some cases may have been resolved but remain open for administrative reasons, for example, payments to third parties still needing to be fulfilled before the case can be closed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to make a licensing decision within 90 working days, in 90% of cases where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued.

Medical applications can take longer because the DVLA is very often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.

Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions, or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions, and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.

In July 2022, the law changed to widen the pool of registered healthcare professionals who can provide information as part of the DVLA’s medical investigations into a person’s fitness to drive. Previously, this information could only be provided by a doctor. GP surgeries and hospital teams now have greater flexibility to decide how they manage the DVLA’s requests for information.

Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were unable to achieve a successful set of mammograms because (a) they were unable to hold the required position for sufficient time and (b) the mammogram machine was not accessible to wheelchair users in each of the last five years.

NHS England does not hold this information centrally. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many breast screening centres in England are (a) static sites and (b) mobile units.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many static breast screening centres have wheelchair accessible mammogram machines.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many mobile breast screening units have wheelchair accessible mammogram machines.

NHS England does not centrally hold the numbers of static and mobile screening units, or those that have wheelchair accessible X-ray machines. However, NHS England is fully committed to modernising the breast screening programme and removing barriers to accessing screening.

Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
5th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to help ensure the perpetrators of genocide and other crimes against Yazidis in 2014 are (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted.

The UK acknowledges acts of genocide were committed by Da'esh against Yazidis. The UK played a leading role in establishing the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD). UNITAD has collated and processed considerable evidence of Da'esh atrocities since 2017. It has contributed to addressing the legacy of Da'esh in Iraq, by generating high-quality evidence which has supported trials in third countries, and building capacity within the Iraqi judicial system. The UK will continue working with Iraq and international partners to ensure that Da'esh are held accountable for the crimes they have committed following UNITAD's closure.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she plans to take through the alcohol duty system to support (a) pubs and (b) breweries in Carlisle.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing draught duty relief for (a) beer and (b) cider served in pubs in Carlisle.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing draught duty relief to 20% on (a) pubs and (b) small independent brewers in Carlisle.

Pubs and breweries make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The current alcohol duty system supports pubs and breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. The duty system also supports small producers by providing a tapered duty discount on products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Supporting our high streets is a vital part of our economic growth mission and the Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses and local communities to deliver this.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many annual fitness tests were cancelled due to the safe temperature being exceeded (a) one (b) two and (c) three hours before the start time in each year since 2013.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold any information of annual fitness tests being cancelled due to the safe temperature being exceeded because this information is not recorded.

Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of service personnel failed their annual fitness test in each year since 2013.

The requested information is provided in the following tables:

Royal Navy

Year Awarded

Failed

Fail rate

2015

982

4%

2016

1,439

5%

2017

1,504

5%

2018

1,682

6%

2019

1,450

5%

2020

1,523

7%

2021

1,412

7%

2022

1,888

8%

2023

1,960

9%

2024

1,083

5%

Table Notes:

  • Data prior to 2015 is incomplete and has been excluded.
  • Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
  • Data for 2024 is up to 21 October 2024.

Army

Year Awarded

Failed

Fail rate

2013

671

2%

2014

758

2%

2015

1,172

3%

2016

1,227

3%

2017

1,211

3%

2018

1,275

3%

2019

1,269

4%

2020

928

3%

2021

1,070

3%

2022

1,218

3%

2023

1,170

3%

2024

710

2%

Table Notes:

  • Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
  • Data for 2024 is up to 18 October 2024.

Royal Air Force

Year Awarded

Failed

Fail rate

2016

854

3.8%

2017

1,360

5.5%

2018

1,624

6.5%

2019

1,488

6%

2020

900

6.9%

2021

2,266

9%

2022

2,199

8.7%

2023

1,687

6.9%

2024

1,320

6.7%

Table Notes:

  • Data prior to 2016 is incomplete and has been excluded.
  • Year awarded represents the year the competence was awarded to the employee.
  • Data for 2024 is up to 18 October 2024.
Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's response to the Coroner report on the death of Corporal Joshua Hoole, dated 27 January 2020, when the common tri-service suite of reporting and investigation forms was completed; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new processes.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has overhauled safety policy beginning in 2020 to provide clear direction that all suspected or confirmed heat illness cases must be reported, and to improve the quality of reporting safety occurrences. The MOD is now moving to a single safety occurrence reporting system known as MySafety.

Individual Defence organisations’ safety occurrence reporting procedures instructs their personnel on ‘how’ to report safety occurrences and the Commanders Guide to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 375 Chapter 41 (Heat Illness Prevention) specifies ‘what’ minimum data is required for reporting heat illness cases, for example: the time, location, Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer reading, Met Office weather forecast, type of activity being undertaken, and a description of the illness or injury.

The MOD has also developed and implemented heat illness prevention training that must be completed by all military personnel at the earliest opportunity (for example in Phase 1 training for new entrants) to reinforce the heat illness prevention policy, including reporting, that is set out in JSP 375 Chapter 41.

While work was undertaken in 2020 to move to a more common set of reporting and investigation forms, several individual Defence organisations continue to use separate reporting systems to report incidents of suspected or confirmed heat illness including exertional heat illness. The Army and UK Strat Com have already adopted MySafety as a unified reporting system. The remaining Front Line Commands are expected to follow suit by April 2025. MySafety has already seen an increase in reporting numbers and quality, but the full benefits will not be realised until Full Operating Capability is reached in October 2025.


Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what improvements have been made to (a) how and (b) what data is reported for heat illness cases following the inquest into the death of Corporal Joshua Hoole in 2019.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has overhauled safety policy beginning in 2020 to provide clear direction that all suspected or confirmed heat illness cases must be reported, and to improve the quality of reporting safety occurrences. The MOD is now moving to a single safety occurrence reporting system known as MySafety.

Individual Defence organisations’ safety occurrence reporting procedures instructs their personnel on ‘how’ to report safety occurrences and the Commanders Guide to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 375 Chapter 41 (Heat Illness Prevention) specifies ‘what’ minimum data is required for reporting heat illness cases, for example: the time, location, Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer reading, Met Office weather forecast, type of activity being undertaken, and a description of the illness or injury.

The MOD has also developed and implemented heat illness prevention training that must be completed by all military personnel at the earliest opportunity (for example in Phase 1 training for new entrants) to reinforce the heat illness prevention policy, including reporting, that is set out in JSP 375 Chapter 41.

While work was undertaken in 2020 to move to a more common set of reporting and investigation forms, several individual Defence organisations continue to use separate reporting systems to report incidents of suspected or confirmed heat illness including exertional heat illness. The Army and UK Strat Com have already adopted MySafety as a unified reporting system. The remaining Front Line Commands are expected to follow suit by April 2025. MySafety has already seen an increase in reporting numbers and quality, but the full benefits will not be realised until Full Operating Capability is reached in October 2025.


Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list every date on which the Health and Safety Executive issued his Department a notification of contravention since 2013.

Health and Safety Notices of Contravention (NOC) can be issued to any organisation within Defence at a local level and this information is not held centrally by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes details of NOC it has issued to organisations including the MOD on its website which can be found at this link - Notices found - Enforcement notices public (hse.gov.uk).

Furthermore, it may be helpful to provide a list of Crown Censures which are served on the department by the HSE for a more serious breach of health and safety law if the HSE deems that, but for Crown immunity, there would have been sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

The MOD and Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations have received the following Crown Censures since 2013:-

Date

Organisation

25/01/2013

Army

02/03/2015

Army

31/03/2016

Joint Forces Command

29/09/2016

Army

09/02/2018

Navy

03/03/2017

Defence Equipment & Support

02/09/2020

Navy

28/09/2020

Joint Forces Command

14/12/2020

East Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

05/05/2022

MOD

11/07/2022

Navy

08/05/2024

Army

03/10/2024

Army


Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel died within 24 hours of completing their annual fitness test in each year since 2013.

Since 2013, two Army personnel have sadly died whilst undertaking the combat fitness test element of the annual fitness test. No other personnel have died within 24 hours of completing their annual fitness test during this period.

Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include proposals to end the inclusion of financially burdensome terms in the deeds of (a) freeholds and (b) leaseholds in planned draft legislation on leasehold and commonhold reform.

Over the course of this Parliament, the Government will further reform the leasehold system. We will enact remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage, tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, reinvigorate commonhold through a comprehensive new legal framework, and ban the sale of new leasehold flats so commonhold becomes the default tenure.

The Government has made clear it intends to publish draft legislation on leasehold and commonhold reform in this session so that it may be subject to broad consultation and additional parliamentary scrutiny. We will announce further details in due course.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, is she will make an estimate of the number of veterans who were turned away from polling stations after attempting to use their veteran's card as photo ID on 4 July 2024.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) review and (b) expand the list of accepted forms of voter identification at polling stations.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include shotgun certificates in the list of accepted forms of voter identification at polling stations.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will include veteran’s cards in the list of accepted forms of voter identification at polling stations.

As our manifesto made clear, the Government will address the inconsistencies in voter identification that prevent legitimate electors from voting, specifically including veterans of HM Armed Forces. We are considering what changes to make in order to achieve this and will bring forward proposals in due course.

The Electoral Commission is the independent electoral regulator and will be reporting on the administration of the May local elections and the recent General Election. This will include the proportion of individuals turned away for lack of accepted identification. We anticipate publication of their initial findings on voter ID in September and their full election report later in the year.

Alex Norris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22nd Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential economic impact of extending the Borders Railway line from Tweedbank to Carlisle.

The UK Government is committed to working with local partners in the Borders to boost economic growth, in line with our growth mission.

The project referred to sits within the Borderlands Growth Deal. Local partners are submitting proposals for a reset to the Deal for review by late autumn, which will set out revised plans to ensure the programme has the greatest possible economic impact.

Ian Murray
Secretary of State for Scotland