Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults
Gov Responded - 3 Feb 2022 Debated on - 4 Jul 2022 View 's petition debate contributionsThe Government should bring forward legislation to allow assisted dying for adults who are terminally ill and have mental capacity. It should be permitted subject to strict upfront safeguards, assessed by two doctors independently, and self-administered by the dying person.
I request a full public inquiry into death of my son, Matthew Leahy. (20 yrs.)
Gov Responded - 2 Aug 2019 Debated on - 30 Nov 2020 View 's petition debate contributionsMatthew was taken to, ‘a place of safety’, and died 7 days later.
24 others died by the same means, dating back to the year 2000. An indicator that little was done to address the growing problems.
Something went terribly wrong with the NHS Mental Health Services provided to my son.
These initiatives were driven by Kevin Hollinrake, 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.
Kevin Hollinrake has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to make provision about leave and pay for employees whose children have died.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 13th September 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the property and affairs of missing persons; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on 27th April 2017 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make the offence of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug aggravated when the person to whom the drug is supplied or offered is under 16; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to abolish business rates; and for connected purposes.
Non-Disclosure Agreements (No. 2) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Maria Miller (CON)
Whistleblowing Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Mary Robinson (CON)
Disposable Barbecues Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Largan (CON)
Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021
Sponsor - Mike Amesbury (LAB)
Banking Services (Post Offices) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Duncan Baker (CON)
National Health Service Reserve Staff Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Alan Mak (CON)
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (LAB)
Ground Rents (Leasehold Properties) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Eddie Hughes (CON)
Freehold Properties (Management Charges) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Preet Kaur Gill (LAB)
Banking (Consumer and Small Business Protection) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Charlie Elphicke (IND)
Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Chalk (CON)
Parental Rights (Rapists) and Family Courts Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Louise Haigh (LAB)
Planning (Appeals) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - John Howell (CON)
Minimum Service Obligation (High Street Cashpoints) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Huw Merriman (CON)
National Health Service (Prohibition of Fax Machines and Pagers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Mak (CON)
Construction (Retention Deposit Schemes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (CON)
Banking and Post Office Services (Rural Areas and Small Communities) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Luke Graham (CON)
Child Maintenance (Assessment of Parents' Income) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Heidi Allen (LDEM)
The number of referrals the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Specialist Fraud Division (SFD) has received from the National Crime Agency (NCA) for charging decisions under the Money Laundering Regulations for the last three years are as follows:
CPS data is available through its Case Management System (CMS) and associated Management Information System (MIS). The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not break down figures that constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
However, the CPS is not able through either CMS or MIS to breakdown referrals to differentiate whether they were made by the police or other investigative organisations in England and Wales. On this occasion we have been able to provide the data because of a recent manual review, so whilst we have endeavoured to produce figures that are as accurate as possible, this data is subject to human error.
The official statistics relating to crime and policing are maintained by the Home Office and the official statistics relating to sentencing, criminal court proceedings, offenders brought to justice, the courts and the judiciary are maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) receives a large number of reports and referrals from multiple different sources relating to a wide range of offences. Whistleblower referrals have been routinely published in the SFO Annual Report on Whistleblowing Disclosures since 2017. The figures are set out below:
The SFO does not hold a detailed breakdown of the number of referrals within each of the other categories requested. However, the total number of all other referrals made to the SFO within the time period requested are set out below:
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has robust assurance processes in place to ensure effective decision-making on whether to open, continue, or close a criminal investigation into a corporate entity. This includes the SFO’s Case Evaluation Board (CEB) and Case Review Panels (CRPs), both of which are chaired by the SFO General Counsel.
The CEB reviews intelligence submissions against the Director’s Statement of Principle and assesses strategic and tactical risks, costs, and resource implications to make an informed recommendation to the Director on whether to initiate or decline an investigation. CRPs seek to scrutinise all cases at least twice a year to ensure that sound judgement and appropriate investigative and legal expertise are being used in cases, and that cases are progressing appropriately and comply with all relevant legal and operational guidance.
While the SFO exercises independence in its individual casework decisions, I am regularly updated by the Director and her senior leadership team on the SFO’s casework.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), by its specialist nature, takes on a relatively small number of large, complex economic crime cases which can take several years to investigate. This means that small changes in case numbers can lead to significant fluctuations in in the SFO’s conviction rate.
Against this context, in 2020-21 the SFO’s conviction rate for individuals was 67 percent, which included three convictions in the $1.7bn Unaoil bribery case and one guilty plea in the Petrofac bribery case. No corporations were brought to trial in 2020-21. The SFO also secured two Deferred Prosecution Agreements against corporates in 2020-21, returning £47.4m in fines and penalties to the UK taxpayer and compelling these organisations to reform.
I have had no discussions with the Director of the Serious Fraud Office on a renewal or extension to the five-year appointment to that post, which is not due to come to an end until August 2023.
The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold data on the number of UK-based businesses with an annual turnover at the intervals provided in the question.
The Office for National Statistics publishes annual data on UK-based business with an annual turnover of between (a) £0-£49,000, (b) £50,000-£99,000, (c) £100,000-£249,000 etc.[1]
[1] ONS, UK Business: Activity, Size and Location (Table 11)
The Department already supports the British Business Bank (BBB) in its counter fraud activities and will continue to do so.
We work in partnership with BBB to support their compliance with the Government Functional Standards in Counter Fraud including the:-
Further, we are working to strengthen the future approach to fraud. The department is currently working with BBB on an updated fraud strategy to address the challenges associated with the Bounce Back Loan and which for instance includes:-
Lenders accredited to deliver the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme are subject to the terms of Guarantee Agreements, which they must abide by to be eligible to make a claim under the Government guarantee.
The recovery principles outlined in these agreements are no less stringent than those applied to standard commercial lending.
All lenders continue to be subject to a robust audit and assurance process by the British Business Bank. If lenders don’t meet their obligations in the Guarantee Agreement the Bank can take remedial action including cancellation of the guarantee.
The Government has already committed to introduce identity verification for all directors at the point of incorporation with Companies House. Third parties that seek to form companies are already required to be supervised for anti-money laundering purposes. Under the reforms announced by the Government in September 2020, third parties will be required to register with Companies House and have their supervision confirmed before they will be permitted to request company formations.
The Government’s White Paper on “Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance: Proposals for Reform” was published in March this year and proposed the introduction of managed shared audit as part of a package of measures, which together aim to improve corporate governance, quality of accounting, auditing and their regulation, and competition and resilience in in the FTSE 350 audit market, for the UK’s largest companies.
The Government is currently considering all submissions from stakeholders, in response to the White Paper and will publish a Government response to the consultation in due course.
The Government’s White Paper on “Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance: Proposals for Reform” was published in March this year and proposed the introduction of managed shared audit as part of a package of measures, which together aim to improve corporate governance, quality of accounting, auditing and their regulation, and competition and resilience in in the FTSE 350 audit market, for the UK’s largest companies.
The Government is currently considering all submissions from stakeholders, in response to the White Paper and will publish a Government response to the consultation in due course.
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has since December 2019 been undertaking a transformation programme to prepare for its transition to the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA). As part of this, the FRC has established a dedicated stakeholder engagement team to enable more extensive engagement and dialogue with investors, boards, auditors and other stakeholders on how the UK’s corporate governance and stewardship frameworks can continue to improve and embed good practice. Further details of this expanded outreach programme can be found in section 6 of the regulator’s latest Annual Report published in July 2021:
The new ARGA will take forward this dialogue and partnership working in line with new statutory objectives, as set out in the Government’s White Paper on ‘Restoring Trust in Audit and Corporate Governance’: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/restoring-trust-in-audit-and-corporate-governance-proposals-on-reforms.
The Government is planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course. The strategy will set out the immediate actions we will take for reducing emissions from buildings, as well as our approach to the key strategic decisions needed to achieve a mass transition to low-carbon heat.
The Government has conducted a call for evidence on Insolvency Practitioner regulation, which included seeking evidence and views on possible reforms of the regulatory framework. The Government will publish its response in due course.
The Government remains committed to reviewing the UK whistleblowing framework and will carry this out once sufficient time has passed for there to be the necessary evidence available to assess the impact of the most recent reforms. The scope and timing of such a review will be confirmed in due course.
The most recent change introduced in 2017 was a new legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures made to them by workers.
The Government aims to deliver up to double the renewable electricity capacity at the next Contracts for Difference round at end of this year compared to AR3, while spending an estimated £1billion in 2020/21 to encourage the deployment of low carbon heating in homes and businesses through the Renewable Heat Incentive. We have also announced the Clean Heat Grant, the Green Heat Network Fund and will launch the Green Gas Support Scheme later this year.
While the Post Office is publicly owned, it is a commercial business that operates independently of the Government. With a network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, it is inevitable there will be variations in the number of branches open at any one time. Where branches do temporarily close, the Post Office strives to find solutions, like mobile vans and other types of outreach services, before reinstating a bricks-and-mortar service offer.
I am committed to ensuring that everyone in the country can access essential services via the Post Office conveniently and locally. That is why Post Office Limited must ensure Network Access Criteria are met. These ensure that 99% of the population are within three miles of their nearest post office and 90% are within one mile, with additional requirements set for rural, urban and deprived urban customers.
The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers are prepared to shine a light on wrongdoing and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recrimination. We have also been clear that there will be no reduction in workers’ rights.
The Government remains committed to reviewing the UK whistleblowing framework and will carry this out once sufficient time has passed for there to be the necessary evidence available to assess the impact of reforms. The most recent change introduced in 2017 was a new legislative requirement for most prescribed persons to produce an annual report on whistleblowing disclosures made to them by workers.
This year, the eyes of the world will be on the UK as we host the G7 and COP26. Business action on climate is vitally important to achieving a successful summit and presidency and meeting net zero emissions by 2050. Together these provide an excellent opportunity to showcase businesses as global leaders in tackling climate change in the year leading up to COP26.
The Government has appointed my Hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Andrew Griffith) as the UK Net Zero Business Champion for COP26. Andrew will drive the action needed to encourage UK businesses to sign up to the Race to Zero. This sends the strongest signal to markets, supply chains, governments and consumers that businesses are committed to the Net Zero transition.
We have met our emissions reductions targets to date, and to monitor emissions across all sectors of the economy, BEIS publishes an annual assessment of projected emissions, including those from business and industry, as part of the department’s Energy and Emissions Projections (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections).
The independent GB regulator, Ofgem, defines a microbusiness as - employing 10 or fewer full-time employees with an annual turnover of 2m Euros or less OR typically spending £10,000-£12,000 per year on gas or electricity.
An energy supply licence obligates suppliers to proactively identify their microbusiness customers and provide information on their formal complaints process. If microbusinesses cannot resolve their complaints in this way, they can complain to the Energy Ombudsman.
Ofcom, the independent UK telecommunications services regulator, has put in place general conditions, which all communication providers must follow, that offer protections to businesses of any size relating to specific provisions on contracting, tariff information, billing procedures and number porting. Ofcom's rules also provide additional protections to businesses with fewer than 10 employees, including access to alternative dispute resolution and protections against mis-selling. All providers must be registered with either the Consumer Ombudsman or the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
The Government takes the view that larger businesses are better able to represent their interests by negotiating contracts for supply, and to make use of approved dispute resolution procedures where necessary.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
Details on the terms of the successor loan scheme will be announced in due course.
The Government takes very seriously the economic impact of Covid-19 on charities and social enterprises.
However, I can confirm that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme does not feature different guarantee levels (either for individual loans or at the portfolio level) for charities and social enterprises.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to help businesses that have been affected by Covid-19. This package includes the small business grants, the coronavirus loan schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, as well as deferral of income tax payments.
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, and business representative organisations to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. This will include consideration of how payments for deferred VAT and loan repayments will impact businesses from March 2021.
We are developing a consistent industry-wide approach to the collections and recoveries of Bounce Back loans. This will ensure that lenders understand the full range of support they can provide to borrowers struggling to repay their loans. The British Business Bank has created the online Finance Hub[1] which details potential types and sources of business finance and guidance.
Firms can access wide variety of government free support and advice online and in person on .gov.uk, the Business Support Helpline and the network of 38 Growth Hubs in England. The devolved administrations have their own business support service.
The Recovery Advice for Business scheme, supported by the government and hosted on the Enterprise Nation website[2], offers small firms access to free, one-to-one advice with an expert adviser to help them through the coronavirus pandemic and to prepare for long-term recovery.
In addition, Government has brought forward £5 billion of capital investment projects, supporting jobs and the overall economic recovery. £111million has been announced to triple the scale of traineeships, ensuring that more young people have access to high quality training needed for future jobs.
The Historical Shortfall Scheme was designed for postmasters and companies who had or have a direct contract with Post Office, and therefore the individual or company had potential contractual liability for shortfalls found under previous versions of Horizon. On this basis, companies such as McColls and Co-Op were eligible to apply for the scheme. Claims could include consequential losses where appropriate. Assistants of postmasters or employees of other companies are not be eligible, as they had no contract with or contractual liability directly to the Post Office.
The Historical Shortfalls Scheme was designed for postmasters or companies who were not part of the group litigation and have had issues with historical shortfalls recorded in Horizon and want these to be investigated and addressed. Claimants in the settled litigation were therefore not eligible for the Historical Shortfalls Scheme.
The Government recognises the critical role that post offices play in communities and for small businesses across the UK.
While the Government sets?the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. As such, the number of postmasters employed by McColls and who were subsequently removed as managers on grounds of alleged Horizon shortfalls are an?operational matter for?Post Office Limited.
?I have asked Nick Read, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the Hon. Member about this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.??
Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement the EU State aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period. The rules are an exclusive competence of the European Commission and it is not within the power of the United Kingdom or any EU Member State to unilaterally vary or suspend them.
The Government has announced that following the end of the Transition Period, a new domestic subsidy control regime will replace the EU State aid rules. The treatment of firms in difficulty will be considered as part of the work to develop the new regime, which will also take into account, amongst other factors, the arrangements agreed under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Announcements on the new regime will be made in due course.
We are in regular discussions with businesses about their investment plans for hydrogen projects, including those that are ready for very near-term deployment. In addition we are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy.
We recently published the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) for hydrogen and fuel cells which identified that up to 15,000 jobs per annum by 2050 could be created through domestic hydrogen opportunities.
We are also looking to formalise regular engagement between Government and industry to discuss and drive development if the UK hydrogen economy. This will consider how we can best work together to retain and expand jobs and skills in hydrogen and related sectors; as well as developing the UK supply chain.
We are in regular discussions with businesses about their investment plans for hydrogen projects, including those that are ready for very near-term deployment. In addition we are undertaking extensive stakeholder engagement as we develop new policy to help bring forward the technologies and supply chain we will need to grow the UK hydrogen economy.
We recently published the Energy Innovation Needs Assessment (EINA) for hydrogen and fuel cells which identified that up to 15,000 jobs per annum by 2050 could be created through domestic hydrogen opportunities.
We are also looking to formalise regular engagement between Government and industry to discuss and drive development if the UK hydrogen economy. This will consider how we can best work together to retain and expand jobs and skills in hydrogen and related sectors; as well as developing the UK supply chain.
The Government is currently considering a broad package of reforms to Companies House to ensure it is fit for the future and continues to contribute to the UK’s business environment. This would amount to the most significant reform of the UK’s company registration framework since a?companies?register was first introduced in 1844, and it is important, therefore, to take the time to get it right.
The consultation received a significant number of responses and an official government response with proposals for the way forward will be published in due course.
Companies House ensures it has the appropriate amount of resources to effectively manage the register. Staffing levels are made available in the Companies House Annual Report which is published after the end of the financial year.
The Department’s consultation received a significant number of responses and an official government response with proposals for the way forward will be published in due course. An assessment of the staffing levels required to implement the recommended reforms will be finalised as the proposals are finalised.
As proposals under the consultation have not yet been finalised, the staffing levels required have not been finalised.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
The Government wants all consumers to pay a fair price for their energy. In 2019 Ofgem launched a Strategic Review of the Microbusiness Retail Market to better understand the customer journey for microbusinesses and consider what solutions may be necessary to safeguard them as consumers. The regulator plans to publish a consultation this spring setting out its detailed policy solutions in response to the Review’s findings.
Microbusinesses display similar characteristics to domestic consumers when buying energy. Therefore, where they have exhausted their energy company’s own complaints procedure, businesses with up to 10 employees can make a complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Energy.
Larger businesses are more likely to be able to effectively procure their energy supply, as they procure other commodities for their businesses.
The Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom to ensure that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures are available for domestic and small business customers (defined as up to 10 employees). All communications providers must be a member of an approved scheme, Ofcom currently approves two ADR Schemes: Ombudsman Services: Communications (OS) and the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS).
In 2019 Ofcom published an independent review of the two approved ADR schemes. The review found that both schemes show a high level of decision-making accuracy with regard to case acceptance or rejection, and Ofcom is satisfied that both ADR Schemes are following the requirements set out in the ADR regulations and the Communications Act.
It is for Ofgem and Ofcom to review the evidence and to work with Government to determine whether further regulatory intervention, or other steps, are necessary to assist SMEs.
Though there are currently no plans to offer joint guidance between Ofcom, Ofgem and the FCA, they continue to cooperate on dealing with issues affecting SMEs in their respective sectors.
Low carbon electricity, including solar – whether at the household level or the national level – is central to the transition to the smart and flexible energy systems of the future.
Since 2010, we have quadrupled the electricity we generate from renewables – installing 99% of the UK’s solar capacity and over 800,000 installations – exceeding our historic projections on solar PV deployment. We now have over 13.3GW of solar capacity installed in the UK, which is enough to power over 3 million UK homes.
The Smart Export Guarantee, which came into force on 1 January 2020, gives small scale low-carbon electricity generators, such as homes with solar panels, the right to be paid for the renewable electricity they export to the grid. Renewable generators now have a several competitive tariffs to choose from, in some cases even higher than the FIT export tariff.
Permitted development rights have been introduced allowing the installation of solar panels up to 1 megawatt on domestic properties, schools, businesses and farm buildings without any need for planning permission.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides grant funding to innovative businesses in many different ways, including Innovate UK‘s SMART grants, which deliver ambitious R&D innovations that can make a significant impact on the UK economy.
Through the Clean Growth Strategy, BEIS has committed £900 million of public funds to innovation, which includes £177 million to further reduce the cost of renewables.
We are also investing over £3 billion to support low carbon innovation in the UK up to 2021, to ensure that the UK continues to reap the benefits from the transition to a low carbon economy.
The Government recognises the impact that sport and physical activity has on physical and mental health, and the importance of welfare and wellbeing for everyone participating in sport at all levels.
The Government's role in the support of bidding for and hosting major sporting events is set out in the Gold Framework. The Gratitude Games do not meet the criteria as set out in the Gold Framework and therefore would not be within scope for support. We encourage all organisations to continue to work together to support mental health through sport and physical activity.
The Gambling Act Review is wide-ranging and aims to ensure that the regulation of gambling is fit for the digital age. We will publish a white paper setting out our conclusions and next steps in the coming months.
Ministers and officials have meetings with various stakeholders to support ongoing work and policy development. There has also been a wide-ranging series of meetings to support the Gambling Act Review, including with representatives of the racing industry. Records of ministerial meetings are published quarterly and are available on GOV.UK.
It is up to the individual (including professional athletes) to check the rules of each country they intend to travel to ahead of time, whether an EU member state or non-EU country, in case they need to apply for a visa, work permit, or provide other documentation. UK nationals are able to travel visa-free to the Schengen Area for short-term visits (up to 90 days in 180) for a limited number of activities, including attending sporting events, tourism and short-term study. For those undertaking longer-term stays (exceeding the 90 days limit), a visa and/or work permit may be required directly from the host nation.
The ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ published 22 February advises that indoor entertainment and visitor attractions can resume at Step 3, which will commence no earlier than 17 May. This includes indoor play centres.
The timings outlined in the roadmap are indicative, and the Government will be led by data, rather than fixed dates. Before taking each step, the Government will review the latest data and will only ease restrictions further if it is safe to do so. The indicative, ‘no earlier than’ dates in the roadmap are all contingent on the data and subject to change.
Each full step of the roadmap will be informed by the latest available science and data and will be five weeks apart in order to provide time to assess the data and provide one week’s notice to businesses and individuals.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Review of the Gambling Act 2005. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions was 9 February.
The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December with a Call for Evidence, which runs until 31 March. The Review aims to strike the right balance between preventing harm and respecting consumers’ freedom of choice. More information about the Call for Evidence and how to make a submission is available here:
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) remains the starting point for our new relationship. The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter of the TCA puts in place a framework that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade.
We are open to discussions with the EU on steps we can take to reduce trade friction; however, these cannot be on the basis of dynamic alignment with EU rules, as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.
Defra is working with the Canal and River Trust on the current review of the Government’s annual grant funding for the Trust, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review will inform a decision about any future grant funding from 2027.
We remain committed to making packaging producers responsible for the costs of managing packaging waste. We are reviewing responses to the consultation on Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging, and will publish a Government response in early 2022. This will detail our final policy positions, including on the approach to managing packaging deposited in bins and littered on the ground.
The Impact Assessment, that was published alongside the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging consultation, provides details on our estimates of the costs associated with managing binned waste and ground litter. That is available here: (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/extended-producer-responsibility/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging/supporting_documents/Extended Producer Responsibility Impact Assessment.pdf), and will be updated as part of the Government response to the consultation.
We remain committed to making packaging producers responsible for the costs of managing packaging waste. We are reviewing responses to the consultation on Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging, and will publish a Government response in early 2022. This will detail our final policy positions, including on the approach to managing packaging deposited in bins and littered on the ground.
The Impact Assessment, that was published alongside the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging consultation, provides details on our estimates of the costs associated with managing binned waste and ground litter. That is available here: (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/extended-producer-responsibility/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging/supporting_documents/Extended Producer Responsibility Impact Assessment.pdf), and will be updated as part of the Government response to the consultation.
The UK’s seabirds are an important part of our natural heritage, and their protection is a high priority for this Government. Forage fish such as sandeels play a crucial role in the health of the wider marine ecosystem.
Defra and the UK Fisheries Administrations recently published a call for evidence on sandeels and Norway pout to help inform decision making and to consider possible measures to manage these stocks more sustainably in the future. The responses are currently being analysed.
ICES releases its annual scientific advice about the condition of sandeel stocks in the North Sea on 25 February. We will carefully consider this advice, as well as the advice given in response to the call for evidence, in developing a UK position ahead of the negotiation with the European Union of a total allowable catch for North Sea sandeel in 2022.
Defra is also working with Natural England to develop a comprehensive and ambitious English Seabird Conservation Strategy. The Strategy will aim to assess the vulnerability of each seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing and propose actions to address them.
Great Britain's (GB) plant health regime is risk-based, and the history of compliance of specific trades (where the ‘trade’ is the combination of a specific commodity from a specific origin), is a significant factor in determining biosecurity risk. Consequently, trades with a proven track record of compliance and meeting prescribed eligibility criteria may be subject to a reduced frequency and/or intensity of checks. While the biosecurity risk of imported goods is largely trade based, there are areas where trader considerations may also play a role. For example, as the phased introduction of EU-GB plant health import controls is completed in 2022, Defra is enabling the performance of plant health controls away from the border, including through increased uptake in the use of designated plant health Control Points. Eligibility criteria to be designated as a Control Point include elements consistent with a trusted trader model.
Defra officials are actively exploring with stakeholders other options for minimising the regulatory burden on individual traders in a way which maintains the high biosecurity standards the United Kingdom enjoys.
The Secretary of State and I will be meeting with pig processors on Thursday 16 December to discuss various issues including the take up of measures that the Government announced on 14 October 2021.
The Agriculture Act 2020 contains powers to introduce statutory codes of contractual practice which would apply to businesses when purchasing agricultural products directly from farmers. We are in close touch with key representatives from the pig sector and we want to explore how best to tackle any contractual unfairness.
The Secretary of State and I will be meeting pig processors on Thursday 16 December to discuss various issues including the take up of measures that the Government announced on 14 October 2021.
The UK’s seabirds, including puffins, are an important part of our natural heritage, and their protection is a high priority for this government.
We are working with Natural England to develop a comprehensive and ambitious English Seabird Conservation Strategy which we are aiming to publish in summer 2022. This strategy will aim to assess the vulnerability of each seabird species in light of the pressures they are facing and propose actions to address them.
Forage fish such as sandeels play a crucial role in the health of the wider North Sea marine ecosystem. Seabirds and other sensitive marine species rely on sandeels as a food source. Sandeel stocks are highly sensitive to changing environmental conditions and this is affecting the resilience of the seabird populations. Defra and the UK Fisheries Administrations recently concluded a call for evidence on Sandeels and Norway pout to help inform future decision making to ensure these stocks are managed sustainably in the future. The responses are currently being analysed to feed into next steps.
We are also developing a UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative which we will be publishing early next year. This document will outline actions to tackle the bycatch of sensitive marine species, including seabirds, in UK waters.
Trichomonosis in garden birds is not a notifiable disease in the UK, but has caused a significant decline in greenfinch populations since it was first detected here in 2005. The disease has unfortunately also been documented in other garden bird species, including chaffinches, house sparrow, dunnock, great tit and siskin.
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) provides advice about keeping bird feeders and water baths clean to prevent transmission between birds. The public can report any concerns to the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) programme. Defra supports the GWH, which is a collaborative project between the BTO, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Froglife. The project aims to monitor the health of British wildlife and identify new disease threats. It focuses on garden birds, amphibians, reptiles, and hedgehogs. Members of the public can submit reports of sick or dead wildlife and send in samples to the GWH for analysis.
We are committed to the recovery of species, including wild birds, in England and that is why within the Environment Act 2021 we have a requirement for a new legally binding target halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. Furthermore, we plan to publish a Green Paper soon which will consider further actions that Defra can take to assist nature's recovery.
Our Agri-environment schemes continue to be the principal means of improving habitat provision for farmland birds and the wider environment on farmland in England. We were delighted to see a 40% uplift in Countryside Stewardship applications this year which will help drive immediate action to support birds and other species.
In the longer term we will transition to three new environmental land management schemes which will further this work. In the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, participants can select from an initial set of eight standards to build their own agreements. Several of these standards contain actions to support birds. For example, the Arable and Horticultural Land Standard aims to support increased farmland biodiversity, including wild bird and pollinator populations through specific actions that will provide year-round resources for farmland birds and insects.
In addition, the Government continues to support specific conservation action for birds. For example, supporting the establishment of the National Recovery Partnership for curlew in England, which brings together a range of organisations with a desire to protect and conserve this species, and funding a trial translocation and recovery project in the east of England. We have also supported successful reintroductions, including the white-tailed eagle to southern England.
Defra took the decision to delay the introduction of fees for import checks of high-priority plants from the EU for 5 months to give businesses more time to prepare and adjust to the new charging arrangements. This has enabled an accurate calculation of the fees and allowed businesses more time to successfully implement the change. During this time, Defra communicated extensively with industry and stakeholder groups to ensure they were prepared for the new fees coming in.
The methodology used to calculate fees for plant health services was agreed with trade following a fees review and consultation in 2017.
It has long been UK Government policy to charge for many publicly provided goods and services. The standard approach is to set fees to recover the full costs of service delivery. This relieves the general taxpayer of costs, so that they are properly borne by users who benefit from a service. This allows for a more equitable distribution of public resources and enables lower public expenditure and borrowing. Defra plant health services operate in line with that principle and have done for many years. Plant health fees are reviewed regularly and adjusted to ensure no under, or over, recovery of costs and amended as necessary.
GB's plant health regime is risk-based, and the history of compliance of specific trades (where the trade is the combination of a specific commodity from a specific origin), is a significant factor in determining biosecurity risk. Consequently, trades with a proven track record of compliance and meeting prescribed eligibility criteria may be subject to a reduced frequency or intensity of checks.
While the biosecurity risk of imported goods is largely trade based, there are areas where trader considerations may also play a role. For example, as the phased introduction of EU-GB plant health import controls is completed in early 2022, Defra is exploring possible options for performing plant health controls away from the border on a longer-term basis, such as increased uptake in the use of designated plant health Control Points. Eligibility criteria to be designated as a Control Point may include elements consistent with a trusted trader model.
Defra officials have been looking at a wide range or measures to make the import of plants and trees as efficient as possible, without compromising our high biosecurity standards. There is regular dialogue between our plant health services and those of our key trading partners in the EU, including on e-certification most recently, which will streamline the exchange of phytosanitary certificates for the benefit of businesses and regulators alike.
As to checks at point of embarkation, there are legal limitations with locating GB officials in a different jurisdiction to perform statutory functions, and whilst internationally there are precedents for locating inspectors in other countries, these staff typically perform an audit and assurance role rather than performing pre-import checks. Consequently, we are not actively pursuing this option with trading partners now, but Defra officials will continue to work with stakeholder organisations and those that import regulated plants and plant products from the EU to ensure GB plant health controls work as effectively and efficiently as possible.
We have not made any assessment of the potential merits of permitting driven shoots on moorland in North Yorkshire on specified days during the current Covid-19 restrictions. Organised events are not permitted during the National Lockdown.
We have made great progress in negotiations and are in an excellent position to strengthen the economic partnership between our two countries through a Free Trade Agreement. We congratulate Katherine Tai on her nomination to be appointed United States Trade Representative by the incoming administration and look forward to working with her.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is engaging with UK suppliers from the hydrogen industry, sector specific research centres and trade associations to understand the UK’s capability across hydrogen technologies. Officials have been raising awareness of the UK’s capability to our domestic and overseas networks, to enable the promotion of the hydrogen sector and support discussions with potential buyers.
DIT undertakes a range of activities to support exports from the renewable energy sector, including in hydrogen. For example, earlier this year the Department participated in HyVolution in Paris, with a departmental representative giving a speech to attendees on UK capabilities in Hydrogen.
Total exports to Saudi Arabia from the United Kingdom last year were up £1.0bn from 2018 and we want this growth to continue. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade recently engaged with her counterpart to remove trade barriers during this difficult period, and we continue to identify ways of opening up more opportunities in the country to businesses in the United Kingdom.
My Hon. Friend for Thirsk and Malton will also be aware that we are carefully considering the implications of the Court of Appeal Judgement for export licence decision-making and are working to enable the re-taking of decisions on the correct legal basis, which I understand is a process which will have a bearing on businesses in his constituency.
The Department’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Guidance version 2020, Part One and Part Two, still provides that “derogation c.” applies. The Department has no current plans to remove the derogation, but it is now in Part One, paragraph 3.43, of the guidance.
Non-fossil fuels, including renewable hydrogen, are incentivised under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), a certificate trading scheme. Renewable hydrogen is categorised as a development fuel, which potentially benefits from a higher tradeable certificate value.
At the end of March, we published a document “Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge”, kicking off our work on preparing a Transport Decarbonisation Plan. This holistic and cross-modal approach to decarbonising the entire transport system, including public transport, will set out a credible and ambitious pathway to delivering transport’s contribution to carbon budgets and meet net zero by 2050.
In February, the Government announced a £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling, which includes support for the purchase of at least 4,000 zero-emission buses. The details of these programmes will be announced in due course.
The United Kingdom’s antimicrobial national action plan aims to reduce the need for and unintentional exposure to antimicrobials by lowering the burden of infection; optimise the use of antimicrobials; and invest in innovation, supply and access of new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines.
Diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship leads have been appointed in NHS England regional teams and national toolkits, decision aids and guidelines to support the appropriate use of antimicrobials have been developed and published. Commissioning for Quality and Innovation schemes for management of urinary tract infection and reducing antimicrobial use in secondary care have also been implemented.
As part of the United Kingdom’s national action plan for antimicrobial (AMR) resistance, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s AMR programme is examining the adoption of innovations in diagnostics, improving clinical best practice and applying point-of-care testing for urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, surgical site infections and acute deterioration, including sepsis.
This aims to identify any gaps in diagnostic pathways and practices with a focus on improving patient outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship in National Health Service and community care settings. Optimising the potential use of point-of-care multiplex testing in primary care is also being considered. NHS England and NHS Improvement supports the appointment of diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship leads in each regional team in England. Additionally, national guidelines and national toolkits such as TARGET in primary care and ‘Start SMART then focus’ in secondary care, support antimicrobial stewardship, including the appropriate use of diagnostic tests and tools.
As part of the United Kingdom’s national action plan for antimicrobial (AMR) resistance, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s AMR programme is examining the adoption of innovations in diagnostics, improving clinical best practice and applying point-of-care testing for urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, surgical site infections and acute deterioration, including sepsis.
This aims to identify any gaps in diagnostic pathways and practices with a focus on improving patient outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship in National Health Service and community care settings. Optimising the potential use of point-of-care multiplex testing in primary care is also being considered. NHS England and NHS Improvement supports the appointment of diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship leads in each regional team in England. Additionally, national guidelines and national toolkits such as TARGET in primary care and ‘Start SMART then focus’ in secondary care, support antimicrobial stewardship, including the appropriate use of diagnostic tests and tools.
As part of the United Kingdom’s national action plan for antimicrobial (AMR) resistance, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s AMR programme is examining the adoption of innovations in diagnostics, improving clinical best practice and applying point-of-care testing for urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, surgical site infections and acute deterioration, including sepsis.
This aims to identify any gaps in diagnostic pathways and practices with a focus on improving patient outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship in National Health Service and community care settings. Optimising the potential use of point-of-care multiplex testing in primary care is also being considered. NHS England and NHS Improvement supports the appointment of diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship leads in each regional team in England. Additionally, national guidelines and national toolkits such as TARGET in primary care and ‘Start SMART then focus’ in secondary care, support antimicrobial stewardship, including the appropriate use of diagnostic tests and tools.
NHS England requires English hospital providers through the National Health Service Standard Contract to submit data detailing hospital activity relating to NHS-provided or NHS funded care. This data is collated and published by NHS Digital. It includes hospital admissions where the patient was diagnosed with urinary tract infection. This can be found in the annual Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Admitted Patient Care (APC) dataset at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity
Separately, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency undertakes surveillance of bloodstream infections in hospital and community settings, including information on the infection source through NHS acute trusts reporting infection cases.
NHS safety thermometer data collection was stopped in March 2020 due to emerging evidence that the data collected was incomplete and not being used as intended to support safety improvement and in part to support the COVID-19 response by freeing up nursing time.
NHS England has provided £10 million to fund over 40 pioneering ‘long COVID-19’ specialist clinics including seven in the North East and Yorkshire region. The plans for these clinics were published on 15 November and commissioning guidance was made available on 6 November.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have committed to ensuring clinics will be available from early December 2020. In response, each integrated care system is working towards the provision of at least one such service, although the exact location for each is yet to be provided.
A number of these clinics are already established, and new clinics will start to accept patients at the end of November. More details will be made available shortly.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have no plans to replace the National Health Service safety thermometer. The data generated from the thermometer has been shown to be not fit for current purposes and is available from other existing sources.
NHS England and NHS Improvement discussed discontinuing the NHS safety thermometer with the Department during 2018/19 and 2019/20, due to emerging evidence that the data collected was incomplete and not being used as intended to support safety improvement. The specific decision to stop data collection in March 2020, in part to support the COVID-19 response by freeing up nursing time, was discussed with Departmental officials during March 2020.
Public Health England’s (PHE’s) continuous routine laboratory surveillance does not include device use or procedures associated with urinary infections, such as urinary catheters. Therefore, no estimate has been made of the number of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) which develop into a gram-negative bloodstream infection.
No assessment has been made on the effect of CAUTIs on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic over-prescription.
However, PHE’s English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) is working with the National Health Service and across sectors, to develop and maintain surveillance systems for monitoring trends in antimicrobial use and resistance in England. Further details are available in the ESPAUR report 2018-19 at the following link:
Public Health England’s (PHE’s) continuous routine laboratory surveillance does not include device use or procedures associated with urinary infections, such as urinary catheters. Therefore, no estimate has been made of the number of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) which develop into a gram-negative bloodstream infection.
No assessment has been made on the effect of CAUTIs on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic over-prescription.
However, PHE’s English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) is working with the National Health Service and across sectors, to develop and maintain surveillance systems for monitoring trends in antimicrobial use and resistance in England. Further details are available in the ESPAUR report 2018-19 at the following link:
Public Health England’s (PHE’s) continuous routine laboratory surveillance does not include device use or procedures associated with urinary infections, such as urinary catheters. Therefore, no estimate has been made of the number of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) which develop into a gram-negative bloodstream infection.
No assessment has been made on the effect of CAUTIs on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic over-prescription.
However, PHE’s English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) is working with the National Health Service and across sectors, to develop and maintain surveillance systems for monitoring trends in antimicrobial use and resistance in England. Further details are available in the ESPAUR report 2018-19 at the following link:
Developing new diagnostics that enable early detection of bacterial or viral infections and drive optimal antimicrobial usage is a priority for this Government. Since 2014, the Government has invested over £360 million in antimicrobial resistance research and development, including funding to support the development of diagnostics for infection.
Investments in early-stage funding for diagnostic research include the £10 million Longitude Prize for a diagnostic tool that can rule out antibiotic use or help identify an effective antibiotic to treat a patient. The National Institute for Health Research Medtech and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operatives support the development of medical technology and the uptake of commercially supplied in vitro diagnostic devices, including for infection-related tests. The £14.25 million award is for five years until 2022.
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are carbapenem-resistant infections with the ability to transfer resistance to different bacterial species. Public Health England conducts monitoring and surveillance of these infections and publishes toolkits to support acute and non-acute organisations to prevent and control the spread of CPE.
The Government recognises that identifying where carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative infections occur, and acting to prevent them, is essential to maintain the effectiveness of our most important antibiotics. Work is underway to add these infections to the list of notifiable diseases as part of our national action plan for antimicrobial resistance.
NHS England and NHS Improvement continues to work to reduce the burden of all healthcare-associated infections and is tasked with delivering the Government’s ambition to halve all healthcare associated Gram-negative blood stream infections by 2023-24.
We do not speculate on future sanctions. In conjunction with our partners, we have already blocked access to £275 billion of the Russian Central Bank's foreign currency reserves. We are considering all options on assets that have been seized and whether they can contribute towards to the reconstruction of Ukraine. Where assets are subject to an asset freeze, their release may be permitted through a licence from the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). OFSI can only issue licences where there are specific and relevant licensing grounds enabling them to do so, and where the conditions in those grounds have been met in the relevant sanctions regulations. OFSI also has powers to issue general licences under such conditions as HM Treasury deems appropriate.
In lockstep with our allies, we have introduced the largest and most severe economic sanctions that Russia has ever faced, to help cripple Putin's war machine. We have now sanctioned over 1000 individuals and over 100 entities since Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
HMG takes reports or allegations of breaches or evasion of sanctions very seriously. The FCDO works closely with the relevant cross government enforcement bodies to ensure the robust implementation of sanctions.
The UK continues to engage with China at all levels in Beijing, London and at the UN to make it clear that the world is watching what China chooses to say and do - whether their actions contribute to peace and stability, or it chooses to fuel aggression.
Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families of this tragic accident, and I appreciate the distress caused by the ongoing delays. Officials at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa have been in contact with the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Air Accident Investigation Department to discuss and lobby for the release of the final air accident report, and will continue to do so. During our last contact we were informed that, whilst no date has yet been set for the report's release, it is currently being finalised and that it will be released as soon as possible. In line with their international obligations, the Ministry of Transport issued an interim statement ahead of the 3rd anniversary.
A thorough assessment was carried out in both financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22, of the potential impact of ODA budget reduction on the National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit (ICU), and before any budget decision was made. Because of the importance of the ICU's work, FCDO decided to prioritise the ICU budget as far as possible, when deciding where to make required cuts to ODA.
In 2020/21, the annual ICU budget was increased from £4.7m to £5.7million. In 2021/22, the budget was reduced by approximately 10% to £5.02 million. This was based on an assessment that the ICU would be able to manage this cut through not expanding into new areas, whilst preserving existing work and staffing. This remains above the pre-pandemic 2019/20 ODA budget of £4.7 million. The impact of the small budget reduction is regularly monitored by the Department.
I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Minister and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly and give full consideration to the whistle-blowing activities Mr Taylor has reported. Both Croatia and Monaco have provided those assurances. On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to reiterate the importance of fair treatment. I have continued to raise Mr Taylor's case with the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs, so that they are aware of our concerns, most recently during my visit to Zagreb on 8 June. Consular officials in Croatia are in regular contact with Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor's welfare and fair treatment is our priority.
The UK has raised Mr Taylor's case. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Minister and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly and give full consideration to the whistle-blowing activities Mr Taylor has reported. Monaco provided direct assurances to Croatia in January. On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.
On 22 April, I spoke again to the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs and reiterated the assurances made in November.
Consular officials are in regular contact with the Croatian courts to ensure that we understand the process being followed.
We are providing ongoing support to Mr Taylor. Consular staff are in regular contact with him and continue to seek updates on his case from the Croatian courts. As set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, or bypass their laws, just as we would not accept similar interference here. As part of our consular assistance to British nationals overseas we can raise concerns about individuals on diplomatic channels. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Secretary and the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly. On 22 April, I spoke again to the Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs who reiterated those assurances and noted the significant level of ministerial and parliamentary interest in Mr Taylor's case.
We are providing ongoing support to Mr Taylor. Consular staff are in regular contact with him and continue to seek updates on his case from the Croatian courts.
Our priority is Mr Taylor’s welfare and fair treatment, including the assurances of fair treatment which we have received from the Croatian and Monegasque authorities.
The FCDO cannot interfere to secure Mr Taylor’s release. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we must exercise our consular functions in foreign States in accordance with local laws and regulations and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs, which includes their judicial processes.
In December 2020 the British Ambassador in Zagreb met Mr Taylor to discuss his concerns and explain how the FCDO could assist him. The Acting Deputy Head of Mission spoke to Mr Taylor on 10 March, and the Ambassador spoke to him again on 16 April. The FCDO’s Consular Director spoke to Mrs Taylor on 14 April.
The FCDO can, and does, raise concerns about individuals with other countries. I spoke to the Monegasque Foreign Secretary and the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 13 November 2020 and sought assurances that both authorities would treat Mr Taylor fairly.
I specifically asked for Mr Taylor to be treated in accordance with Croatia’s obligations as a State Party to the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption.
Monaco has provided assurances directly to Croatia since I raised Mr Taylor’s case.
On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.
On 3 September, the Croatian First Instance court issued its decision to extradite Mr Taylor to Monaco. On 5 January, FCDO consular officials were informed that the Croatian court have received a guarantee from authorities in Monaco that Mr Taylor's trial will be fair, and his human rights will not be violated. Our embassy in Zagreb is closely following developments in the proceedings against Mr Taylor, and consular officials are regularly in contact with Mr Taylor himself to offer any support we can. The ambassador in Zagreb met with Mr Taylor just before Christmas.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office were informed on 23 December 2020 that Monaco has not withdrawn its extradition request for Jonathan Taylor. I raised Mr Taylor's case in a call with the Monegasque Foreign Minister and sought assurances that they are giving full consideration to what protections Mr Taylor should be provided with as a whistle-blower and the need for a fair trial. Our Embassy in Paris has also raised Mr Taylor's case on with the Monegasque embassy in Paris.
I raised Mr Taylor's case with the Foreign Ministers of Croatia and Monaco to seek assurances that he would be treated fairly. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials are providing ongoing consular support to Mr Taylor and his family. Consular staff have been in regular contact with Mr Taylor. The British Ambassador in Zagreb has also met Mr Taylor and his wife to discuss with them their concerns and explain the FCDO's consular functions.
As set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, or bypass their laws, just as we would not accept similar interference here. As part of our consular assistance to British nationals overseas we can raise concerns about individuals on diplomatic channels. I raised Mr Taylor's case with the Foreign Ministers of Croatia and Monaco to seek assurances that he would be treated fairly.
Tackling climate change is a key priority for the UK. The Government is committed to working with countries across the world, including Mozambique, to unlock their renewable energy potential and support their transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives. The UK will continue to lead by example through aligning our Official Development Assistance (ODA) with the Paris Agreement temperature goals, including our support for energy. This will include our ODA support for Mozambique and any other developing country.
The Prime Minister announced in January that the Government would end direct ODA, investment, export credit and trade promotion support for thermal coal mining and coal power plants overseas. The Government continues to keep its approach to other fossil fuel investments and financing overseas under review.
It is still too early to establish the impact of COVID-19 on the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The UK is supporting countries to respond to the pandemic, maintain essential health services, including diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases like TB, and to strengthen health systems to combat antimicrobial resistance. This includes our investments in WHO, Global Fund and Gavi as well as bilateral support to country health systems.
The FCDO funds research programmes to promote the development of new diagnostics, medicines and vaccines. For TB and multidrug-resistant-TB, this includes our support to the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). With our support, FIND have developed five new diagnostic tests for TB, now approved by WHO and being rolled out in over 27 countries. FCDO also funds UNITAID, which aims to triple access to rapid testing for MDR-TB, and to reduce MDR-TB drug prices.
The active VAT population by turnover band is published in Table 5a of the Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/value-added-tax-vat-annual-statistics
Revenue received by HMRC by turnover band is not available. Liabilities by turnover band are published in the same publication in Table 5b.
The active VAT population by turnover band is published in Table 5a of the Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/value-added-tax-vat-annual-statistics
Revenue received by HMRC by turnover band is not available. Liabilities by turnover band are published in the same publication in Table 5b.
The Government decided that it would not take forward legislation but would keep the position of contracts sold to unregulated firms under review and return to legislation if there was sufficient evidence of consumer detriment. This decision was reached based on careful consideration of the market conditions at the time, analysis of the available evidence of consumer harm and engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
The Government continues to keep the position of mortgage contracts sold to unregulated firms under review. All mortgages, regardless of the regulatory status of the owner, must be administered by a regulated administrator.
It is worth reiterating that further regulation of this kind would not necessarily enable borrowers to switch to a cheaper mortgage deal or lower the interest rates they pay.
In January 2011, the Government announced its intention to introduce further regulation in relation to the sale of regulated mortgage contracts to unregulated firms. Following a review, the Government decided that it would not take forward legislation but would instead keep the position of contracts sold to unregulated firms under review and return to legislation if there was sufficient evidence of consumer detriment.
The Government remains open to further regulation but is yet to see evidence that any consumer harm has occurred under the current regulatory regime that would have been prevented by the proposed regulation. Under the current regulatory regime, firms administering regulated mortgages, including third-party administrators, must be regulated. This means that they are subject to relevant provisions of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Mortgage Conduct of Business requirements, including provisions regarding the fair treatment of customers in arrears. It is also worth noting that further regulation of this kind would not necessarily enable borrowers to switch to a cheaper mortgage deal or to materially lower the interest rates they pay.
The Government believes the reforms announced at the Budget will produce an alcohol duty system that is overall simpler, fairer and healthier.
The reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2021 mean higher strength still wines will pay more duty, while lighter wines (below 11.5% alcohol by volume – ABV) will become cheaper.
The Government also announced that the 28% higher duty rate on sparkling wine will be abolished, so that sparkling wines will pay considerably less duty in future. From 2023 sparkling and still wines of the same strength will pay the same duty.
The Government is continuing to engage with industry – including small businesses – for further information about the effect of the changes on them. Industry members are encouraged to respond to the alcohol review consultation before the deadline of 30 January 2022.
The original estimate that 1 in 5 landlords would be affected by the decision to restrict finance cost relief to the basic rate of tax was a forecast based on limited information. The latest estimate of 1 in 10 is based upon received self-assessment tax returns for the tax year 2017-18, the first year after the restriction was brought into force. The statistic refers to individual UK landlords of residential property who completed the main self-assessment property return. It does not include corporate landlords, members of partnerships with property income, landlords of property abroad, landlords who completed the SA200 short self-assessment return, or owners of Furnished Holiday Lettings.
For tax year 2017-18, of all individuals that had declared property income via their self-assessment tax return, around 11 per cent, or approximately 1 in 10, paid more income tax as a result of the decision to restrict tax relief on mortgage interest to the basic rate of income tax.
The Government believes good quality private rental accommodation is important and is committed to reforming the Private Rented Sector. The Government plans to publish a White Paper in 2022 which will set out a balanced package of reforms that works for both tenants and landlords.
In April 2016, the Government introduced higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for those purchasing additional properties as a second home or as a buy to let property. The higher rates are three percentage points above the standard SDLT rates and are part of the Government’s commitment to support first time buyers and ensure an efficient use of housing.
HMRC is determined that tax fraud should not pay. Since the launch of our Fraud Investigation Service in 2015-16, we have secured and protected nearly £30 billion for our vital public services and secured more than 3,800 criminal convictions. In addition, HMRC’s Spending Review settlement includes £100 million for more resources for HMRC to tackle all forms of non-compliance, including avoidance and evasion, and continued funding of over £70 million for the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce to combat fraud and abuse of the Covid-19 schemes.
The tables below detail the full-time equivalent staffing levels in both Fraud Investigation Service (1) and the Proceeds of Crime unit (2).
1. HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service | |||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 * | ||||||||
a) Annual Budget (approx.)- includes Pay-bill, Other Resource Costs, Income & Capital. | £240m | £260m | £300m | £300m | £300m | ||||||||
b) Full-time equivalent staff at the end of the year (approx.) | 4,100 | 4,400 | 4,900 | 4,400 | 4,900 | ||||||||
*2021-22 staff number is a year-end projection |
2. HMRC's Proceeds of Crime Unit (HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service hosts this function) | ||||||
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 * | |
b) Full-time equivalent staff at the end of the year (approx.) | 400 | 350 | 400 | 350 | 400 | |
*2021-22 staff number is a year-end projection |
HMRC is determined that tax fraud should not pay. Since the launch of our Fraud Investigation Service in 2015-16, we have secured and protected nearly £30 billion for our vital public services and secured more than 3,800 criminal convictions. In addition, HMRC’s Spending Review settlement includes £100 million for more resources for HMRC to tackle all forms of non-compliance, including avoidance and evasion, and continued funding of over £70 million for the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce to combat fraud and abuse of the Covid-19 schemes.
The tables below detail the full-time equivalent staffing levels in both Fraud Investigation Service (1) and the Proceeds of Crime unit (2).
1. HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service | |||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 * | ||||||||
a) Annual Budget (approx.)- includes Pay-bill, Other Resource Costs, Income & Capital. | £240m | £260m | £300m | £300m | £300m | ||||||||
b) Full-time equivalent staff at the end of the year (approx.) | 4,100 | 4,400 | 4,900 | 4,400 | 4,900 | ||||||||
*2021-22 staff number is a year-end projection |
2. HMRC's Proceeds of Crime Unit (HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service hosts this function) | ||||||
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 * | |
b) Full-time equivalent staff at the end of the year (approx.) | 400 | 350 | 400 | 350 | 400 | |
*2021-22 staff number is a year-end projection |
The Treasury recognises the vital role that non-banks, including Community Development Financial institutions (CDFIs), play in the provision of credit to SMEs. It remains grateful for the way the sector has responded to the current crisis. The Government remains committed to promoting competition and widening the funding options available to UK businesses.
Our position has always been that the Government does not provide capital to financial institutions, who must source their own funding. For those lenders accredited under the government-backed Recovery Loan Scheme, it is worth noting that they can benefit from the transfer and assignment of the guarantee. The government made this allowance in response to a request from alternative lenders support their ability to access funding.
It is not possible to provide the proportion of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) receipts from residential rental accommodation as information collected as part of CGT returns does not specify the use of a property.
In 2020-21, however, it is estimated that total CGT liabilities on UK residential property totalled £1.0 billion. This figure includes liabilities from all types of CGT liable residential property disposals, including rental properties and second homes.
Data on CGT residential property disposals can be found in Table 8 of the CGT national statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/capital-gains-tax-statistics
The Serious Fraud Office continues to deliver on its mission to fight serious financial crime, deliver justice for victims, and protect the UK’s reputation as a safe place to do business.
Successes in 2021-22 so far include: securing a conviction in the GPT Special Project Management case; and entering into a £103m Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.
The UK remains a leading destination for foreign investment; second in the world for inward Foreign Direct Investment stocks with $2.2 trillion, behind the USA and the Netherlands in 2020.
The Government has consulted widely with industry representatives in considering whether to lay secondary legislation to enable mutual insurers to raise equity by issuing Mutual Deferred Shares. Mutual insurers and their representatives made clear that Mutual Deferred Shares would only be issued if they both qualified as Tier 1 regulatory capital and would not alter the tax treatment of the issuing mutual. The Government’s decision in 2018 not to lay secondary legislation was taken based on an assessment that it was not possible to design Mutual Deferred Shares to meet both these conditions. The Government is committed to supporting the mutuals sector, but continues to have no plans to bring forward such legislation.
The Government welcomes the efforts to establish regional mutual banks and recognises the importance of diversity in the banking system. Officials have been engaging with prospective mutual banks over their efforts to raise capital and look forward to further discussions.
Banking Competition Remedies Ltd (BCR) was established in 2018 as the independent body to implement and oversee the NatWest (previously RBS)-funded Alternative Remedies Package (the Package), including the £425m Capability and Innovation Fund (CIF). This consists of 23 pre-determined grants divided into five pools (A – E). Each pool has a distinct pro-competition purpose based on criteria agreed between HM Treasury (HMT) and the European Commission.
Eligible financial services providers competed for these grants to improve their financial products and services available to SMEs, and to improve their capability to compete with NatWest in the provision of banking services to SMEs. Most of the grants have now been allocated, except £5m worth of funds returned to BCR in January 2021. BCR intend to run a ‘Pool F’ consultation process for the returned funds in August 2021 and bodies eligible for pools A, B or C will be able to apply.
BCR is independent from government and has sole responsibility for evaluating applications and allocating grants to eligible bodies under the CIF. HMT plays no role in the ongoing delivery of the Package and does not have any influence over the decision-making process.
BCR has responsibility for communicating information regarding the Package to the market. Further information on the Package, including eligibility criteria and timelines for implementation is available on BCR’s website.
The distribution of dormant accounts money is governed by the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008. Following the government's commitment to expanding the Dormant Assets Scheme, the Dormant Assets Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on Wednesday 12 May.
The government recognises the public interest in how this funding is spent in England and has concluded that some increased flexibility in determining this would be beneficial. The Bill therefore amends the approach to restrictions in England in the 2008 Act to mirror the model used for the devolved administrations. This is intended to allow the Government to respond to public feedback and evolving social and environmental needs in England over time by setting the causes through secondary legislation, which is subject to due consultation and parliamentary approval. Should the measure pass, the Government intends to launch a public consultation on the causes to which future funding can be distributed in England.
The Government welcomes the efforts to establish regional mutual banks and recognises the importance of diversity in the banking system. Officials have been engaging with prospective mutual banks over their efforts to raise capital and look forward to further discussions.
Banking Competition Remedies Ltd (BCR) was established in 2018 as the independent body to implement and oversee the NatWest (previously RBS)-funded Alternative Remedies Package (the Package), including the £425m Capability and Innovation Fund (CIF). This consists of 23 pre-determined grants divided into five pools (A – E). Each pool has a distinct pro-competition purpose based on criteria agreed between HM Treasury (HMT) and the European Commission.
Eligible financial services providers competed for these grants to improve their financial products and services available to SMEs, and to improve their capability to compete with NatWest in the provision of banking services to SMEs. Most of the grants have now been allocated, except £5m worth of funds returned to BCR in January 2021. BCR intend to run a ‘Pool F’ consultation process for the returned funds in August 2021 and bodies eligible for pools A, B or C will be able to apply.
BCR is independent from government and has sole responsibility for evaluating applications and allocating grants to eligible bodies under the CIF. HMT plays no role in the ongoing delivery of the Package and does not have any influence over the decision-making process.
BCR has responsibility for communicating information regarding the Package to the market. Further information on the Package, including eligibility criteria and timelines for implementation is available on BCR’s website.
The distribution of dormant accounts money is governed by the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008. Following the government's commitment to expanding the Dormant Assets Scheme, the Dormant Assets Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on Wednesday 12 May.
The government recognises the public interest in how this funding is spent in England and has concluded that some increased flexibility in determining this would be beneficial. The Bill therefore amends the approach to restrictions in England in the 2008 Act to mirror the model used for the devolved administrations. This is intended to allow the Government to respond to public feedback and evolving social and environmental needs in England over time by setting the causes through secondary legislation, which is subject to due consultation and parliamentary approval. Should the measure pass, the Government intends to launch a public consultation on the causes to which future funding can be distributed in England.
The Digital Services Tax is a tax that ensures search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces pay UK tax that reflects the value they derive from UK users.
The Government is unable to discuss tax in relation to specific businesses. The DST is a temporary measure and will be removed once an appropriate global solution is in place.
Throughout this crisis, the Government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods, while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK. To do this, the Government has spent over £280 billion to put in place an economic package of support which will provide businesses and individuals with certainty over the coming months.
In order to ensure that any decisions continue to meet the evolving challenges presented by Covid-19, the Government is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other Government departments to understand the impacts of COVID-19 and specific challenges facing UK businesses – including SMEs. That is why, in response to the latest national lockdown in January, the Chancellor announced £4.6 billion of further support to businesses on top of the measures adopted at our previous economic responses.
The Treasury remains committed to ensuring we take the right action at the right time to support individuals and businesses in every region and nation of the United Kingdom. We will continue to take a flexible approach and keep all restrictions and policies under review.
The FCA have advised that borrowers with inactive lenders, such as UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), are no less protected, when the legal title holder is regulated, than those with active lenders. The Government is also open to extending the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) regulatory perimeter, but is yet to see evidence to suggest that there are borrowers that are currently being harmed by the current regulatory regime and that would therefore be helped by extending the FCA’s remit.
All sales of UKAR loans have included robust, non-negotiable protections to ensure the continued fair treatment of customers. These have included: adherence to the FCA’s Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles; its Mortgages and Home Finance: Conduct of Business (MCOB) rules; recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS); and restrictions to the changes the buyer can make to standard variable rates (SVRs) for at least 12 months after the transfer of ownership. There have also been no changes to the terms and conditions of the loans which have been sold, and sales of UKAR loans have also not negatively impacted the ability of affected customers to re-mortgage elsewhere.
The Government has worked with the FCA to provide switching options for consumers with inactive lenders and will continue to support these customers where they would see genuine benefit from switching.
Our analysis of the impacts of net zero is ongoing and applies across the whole economy. In the coming year, HM Treasury will publish the Final Report of its Net Zero Review, which will set out the costs and opportunities of the transition to net zero. An interim report was published in December 2020 that set out the analysis undertaken so far. The final report will take this analysis further, focusing on innovation and growth, competitiveness, household impacts, and embedding the findings.
The government has also committed to publishing its comprehensive Net Zero Strategy this year, including further plans for reducing emissions across all the UK’s major economic sectors.
The recent change to HMRC’s creditor status for certain debts ensures that when a business enters insolvency, more of the taxes paid in good faith by its employees and customers, but held temporarily by the business, go to fund public services as intended, rather than be distributed to other creditors. This measure is forecast to raise up to £255 million a year, and the average recovery will be determined on a case by case basis.
While there is no specific analysis of the impact for individual sectors the Government has engaged extensively with stakeholders in the finance industry and held a formal consultation on the policy design. Having considered all views carefully, the Government believes these reforms take a fair and proportionate approach, balancing the interests of taxpayers, the Exchequer and other creditors.
Bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses alone in 2019 was £57 billion, and the majority of business lending is by fixed charges and is unaffected by this measure. In part for this reason, this change is not expected to have a significant impact on financial institutions, the lending market or wider economy. The OBR did not make any adjustments to their economic forecast in response to this measure.
The recent change to HMRC’s creditor status for certain debts ensures that when a business enters insolvency, more of the taxes paid in good faith by its employees and customers, but held temporarily by the business, go to fund public services as intended, rather than be distributed to other creditors. This measure is forecast to raise up to £255 million a year, and the average recovery will be determined on a case by case basis.
While there is no specific analysis of the impact for individual sectors the Government has engaged extensively with stakeholders in the finance industry and held a formal consultation on the policy design. Having considered all views carefully, the Government believes these reforms take a fair and proportionate approach, balancing the interests of taxpayers, the Exchequer and other creditors.
Bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses alone in 2019 was £57 billion, and the majority of business lending is by fixed charges and is unaffected by this measure. In part for this reason, this change is not expected to have a significant impact on financial institutions, the lending market or wider economy. The OBR did not make any adjustments to their economic forecast in response to this measure.
Approximately £34bn of the VAT that was due between 20 March and 30 June 2020 was deferred until 31 March 2021. Some businesses have started to pay deferred VAT ahead of 31 March 2021 but most of the £34bn remains outstanding.
Businesses can pay deferred VAT in full by 31 March 2021 or, should they wish, they can spread payment of deferred VAT over smaller monthly instalments. Further details are available at www.gov.uk/hmrc/vat-deferral.
From April 2017 to April 2020, the Government phased in a restriction of deductions for finance costs for landlords of residential properties to the equivalent of the basic rate of income tax. The restriction makes the tax system fairer by ensuring landlords with higher incomes no longer receive the most generous tax treatment.
The restriction is estimated to have increased income tax liabilities by about £150 million in its first year (2017-18). Estimates for subsequent years are not available.
As part of the Winter Economy Plan, the Chancellor announced a range of measures to extend and reinforce the support provided to businesses during this challenging time.
The Chancellor announced Pay as you Grow options, providing greater flexibility to help Bounce Back Loan borrowers repay their loans on the terms which work best for them. In addition, we have since extended the application deadline for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the Future Fund until 31 January.
The Chancellor also announced our intention to allow lenders to extend the repayment period for CBILS loans where this is needed up to 10 years. This is not a blanket extension of the term of CBILS loans. Rather, the change is to enable lenders to offer an extension of the term as forbearance where a borrower is in difficulty and could be helped by the extension. We are working to implement this change as soon as possible and will provide an update in due course.
The Government takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and welcomes international efforts to invest in technologies that will be needed to decarbonise the energy used in our economies.
We are committed to meeting our climate change targets, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Hydrogen could be an important part of the transition to net zero.
We are investing in innovation, providing up to £121m to support a range of projects to explore and develop the potential of low carbon hydrogen. This includes production, storage and end use in heat, industry and transport.
In 2019 the Government published a consultation on business models for Carbon Capture and Storage, which sought views on support for low-carbon hydrogen. The response to the consultation will be published in due course.
The Government has committed to a fundamental review of business rates and will set out further details in due course, including how interested groups and individuals can engage with and contribute to the review.
The Government has committed to a fundamental review of business rates and will set out further details in due course, including how interested groups and individuals can engage with and contribute to the review.
HMRC will continue to engage with port authorities at key border locations to understand the constraints on different sites, and to discuss how to ensure that ports are operationally ready for the end of the transition period.
HMRC will also continue to keep their plans for additional infrastructure under review, depending on what is needed as part of the future trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Building on the recently enacted Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will bear down further on kleptocrats, criminals and terrorists who abuse our financial system, strengthening the UK's reputation as a place where legitimate business can thrive while driving dirty money out of the UK.
As set out in the Queen’s Speech, the Bill will include reform of Companies House, reforms to prevent abuse of limited partnerships, additional powers to seize suspect cryptoassets more quickly and easily, and reforms to give businesses more confidence to share information in order to tackle money laundering and other economic crime.
The Government keeps UK law under regular review to ensure a robust legislative framework. In 2020, the Government commissioned the Law Commission to undertake a detailed review of how the legislative system could be improved to appropriately capture and punish criminal offences committed by corporations, with a particular focus on economic crime.
The Law Commission report was published on 10 June. The Government will carefully assess the options presented and will take forward the strongest options for reform.
The Home Office is conducting an Equality Impact Assessment on the use of Linton-On-Ouse as an accommodation centre.
Key local partners and stakeholders have been notified of the plans for Linton-on-Ouse. We are bringing together statutory and other agencies on a regular basis both in the implementation stage and when the site is operational.
We are also engaging with the local community and discussing the site with them through scheduled meetings and forums.
The COMPASS contracts ended when the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC) were awarded in 2019. The Home Office’s use of the of Linton-on-Ouse will be as an accommodation centre not dispersed accommodation.
We have no plans to introduce legislation to make the sale of drugs to people under the age of 16 a specific criminal offence. Under s.4(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA 1971), it is unlawful to “supply or offer to supply a controlled drug to another”. This is expanded upon by s.4(3), which makes it an offence: (a) to supply or offer to supply a controlled drug to another in contravention of s.4(1); or (b) to be concerned in the supplying of such a drug to another in contravention of s.4(1); or (c) to be concerned in the making to another an offer to supply such a drug (in contravention of s.4(1)).
These provisions do not differentiate between different classes of person based on age or any other characteristic. The offence is made out where a person supplies a controlled drug to another person or offers to supply a controlled drug to another person. It would therefore be an offence under s.4 MDA 1971 to supply a controlled drug to a person under the age of 16 (subject of course to any applicable exemptions and licences held).
Additionally, section 4A of the MDA 1971 sets out the circumstances that a court must treat as aggravating factors in respect of the offence of supply of a controlled drug under s.4. These circumstances are:
(a) When a person supplies a controlled drug on or in the vicinity of school premises when those premises are being used by persons under 18 (and within one hour of any such time); and
(b) When a person causes or permits a person under 18 to deliver a controlled drug to a third person or to deliver a drug related consideration to himself or a third person in connection with the offence of supply of a controlled drug.
The provisions of s.4A are concerned with where the supply took place (e.g. in the vicinity of a school), when the supply took place (e.g. during school hours) and whether a child courier was used to effect the supply.
Budget: The UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) is part of the NCA called the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC). Overall annual expenditure for the NECC is available in the NCA’s Annual Reports for the past three years (since it has been formed).
2018/19 - Gross expenditure for the Prosperity Command - £22.0m (Note the NECC was formally launched on 31 October 2018, before which the NCA’s Prosperity Command fulfilled some of the same functions. In the 2019/20 Annual Report, an apportionment of £6.7m in 2018/19 was made for the NECC.)
2019/20 - Gross expenditure for the NECC - £30.0m
2020/21 – Gross expenditure for the NECC - £35.5m
Number of UKFIU staff:
The most recent information on the number of staff within the UKFIU can be found in the Economic Crime Plan Statement of Progress available here: Economic crime plan 2019 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The National Crime Agency collects the above information. However, it is not judged appropriate to publicly provide this information on operational and national security grounds.
The NCA deals with a number of civil recovery investigations utilising staff from a range of departments including investigations, legal and intelligence.
For this reason, the budget is not specifically determinable in relation to solely civil recovery work. How many staff deal with civil recovery at any one time is, of course, not constant and is tailored to those opportunities as they are tasked.
The NCA deals with a number of civil recovery investigations utilising staff from a range of departments including investigations, legal and intelligence.
For this reason, the budget is not specifically determinable in relation to solely civil recovery work. How many staff deal with civil recovery at any one time is, of course, not constant and is tailored to those opportunities as they are tasked.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) currently has 174* accredited financial investigators (FIs). Figures for previous years are not held. The number of FIs does not directly equate to the volume of financial investigative work undertaken by the NCA, as criminal investigators progress money laundering cases, with the support of the FI network where required.
*These figures may include FIs who are on a career break, have recently left the agency, or have moved into a non-FI role (either temporarily or permanently).
The National Crime Agency do not issue or collect court fines.
For assets confiscated by the National Crime Agency see the Annual Asset Recovery Statistical Bulletin 2020/21 published in September, which contains data going back to 2016. This is available here: Asset recovery statistical bulletin: financial years ending 2016 to 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
(a) budget
The total spending of the Proceeds of Crime Centre (POCC) over in each of the last five financial years is in the table below. This covers a range of costs, for example pay, overtime, travel, training delivery costs.
Financial year | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 (year to date[1]) |
£ | 982,365 | 962,650 | 874,568 | 937,167 | 501,138 |
(b) headcount
The headcount of the POCC now, and at the end of the preceding four financial years, and the year to date is in the table below.
| March 2018 | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | October 2021 |
Staff in post | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
(c) number of accreditations
The number of new accreditations given to Financial Investigators (FIs) by the POCC is set out below. The POCC also provides accredited FIs with Continuous Professional Development assurance and advice. In addition the POCC does a variety of work beyond new accreditations for FIs, including accreditations to non-FIs, providing non-accredited training, and acting as expert advisers across Law Enforcement.
Financial year | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 (year to date[2]) |
Financial Investigators accredited | 201 | 241 | 151 | 119 | 140 |
Confiscators* accredited | 143 | 118 | 83 | 51 | 47 |
*Confiscator accreditation can be gained by experienced FIs in order to hold additional powers.
[1] As of the 26th October 2021
[2] As of 28th October 2021
Information on the National Crime Agency’s investigative activity over the past five years, is contained in the Agency's statutory Annual Reports for the years in question. These are available at www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
The National Crime Agency (NCA)’s overall budget is distributed across the agency according to need and operational priority. As serious and organised crime threats change, the agency retains the ability to flex its resources to react. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of budget allocated to tackling economic crime as there are a number of agency wide capabilities and functions that all commands have access to. We are, however, able to provide the total expenditure by the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) which provides a partial figure of expenditure for our overall response to tackling economic crime.
The NCA Annual Report and Accounts provide the following Gross Expenditure over the past three years:
2018/19 - Gross expenditure for the Prosperity Command - £22.0m (Note the NECC was formally launched on 31 October 2018, before which the NCA’s Prosperity Command fulfilled some of the same functions. In the 2019/20 Annual Report, an apportionment of £6.7m in 2018/19 was made for the NECC.)
2019/20 - Gross expenditure for the NECC - £30.0m
2020/21 – Gross expenditure for the NECC - £35.5m
An important element of tackling economic crime and illicit finance is by denying criminals the benefit of their crimes. This disrupts organised crime groups and illicit finance flows and on this we have achieved some significant successes. The NCA’s success in denying criminal assets over the same three years totals £646.5m, which could have derived from any serious and organised crime threat. This demonstrates one element of our impact across all illicit finance for which we have readily available data.
In terms of the operational response, the Agency has a wide range of capabilities and functions that operate across different threat areas including economic crime. We are unable to provide a figure for the number of full-time equivalent staff who have been employed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle economic crime for the past three years as many units contribute to the efforts in different and varying amounts.
However, we are able to report on the number of staff within the Economic Crime Command which includes the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and the UK Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU).
The following table contains the approximate number of full time equivalent (FTE) staff for the Economic Crime Command, UK Financial Intelligence Unit and NECC since 2018. This is therefore a partial figure that does not reflect, for example, officers in Intelligence and Investigations Commands who conduct work in this threat area.
| ECC (NECC and UKFIU) FTE (approximate) |
2019 FY end | 240 |
2020 FY end | 300 |
2021 FY end | 350 |
An important element of tackling economic crime and illicit finance is by denying criminals the benefit of their crimes. This disrupts organised crime groups and illicit finance flows and on this we have achieved some significant successes. The NCA’s success in denying criminal assets over the same three years totals £646.5m, which could have derived from any serious and organised crime threat. This demonstrates one element of our impact across all illicit finance for which we have readily available data.
My department published the key findings of Sir Craig Mackey’s Review on 16 March 2021. The recent Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy set out the Government’s priorities for tackling serious and organised crime in response to Sir Craig’s Review, including strengthening the NCA and increasing regional and local policing capacity. We will assess future funding needed as part of the next spending review.
A list of bases identified for future disposal are detailed on the Ministry of Defence's disposal database, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House and can be accessed online via the following link Disposal database: House of Commons report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Details of bases sold between 2015 and 2022 have also been placed in the Library of the House.
A target date for the disposal of RAF Linton-on-Ouse is currently being finalised and I will write to the hon. Member in due course to update him on our plans.
On 13 July we published the draft of a contract with developers. The draft contract, once finalised and executed, will turn the commitments made in the pledge into a legally binding agreement.
Publication marks the start of a four-week period of engagement, during which we will refine the contract as necessary. As well as discussing the contract with developers during this period, we will engage other interested parties including representatives of building owners, managing agents, residents, leaseholders, lenders and insurers.
We plan to have the terms of the contract finalised by 10 August. We expect developers to have signed the contract by the end of September.
Under the Waterfall model set out in the Building Safety Act 2022, developers are the first to pay for the costs of remediating defective buildings, rather than the leaseholders that have previously been liable for costs
During the previous Secretary of State’s appearance before the Levelling up and Housing Committee on 13 June 2022, he announced that a new Recovery Strategy Unit has been established to help pursue and expose developers who have failed to pay for defects that they have created.
The unit will identify and pursue these individuals and firms using all appropriate means, including through the courts, to ensure that developers do the right thing and take responsibility for defects they created.
The Building Safety Act puts in place legal protections for leaseholders from historical building safety costs. The Act legally protects qualifying leaseholders (those living in their own home or with no more than three UK properties in total) from all costs relating to the remediation of unsafe cladding and contains robust and far-reaching protections from non-cladding costs, including those relating to interim measures such as waking watches. Where those directly responsible (for example, developers) cannot be held to account, building owners and landlords, rather than leaseholders, will now be the first port of call to pay for historical safety defects.
The Building Safety Act spreads the costs of fixing historical building safety defects as fairly and equitably as possible across the system. If building owners and landlords on 14 February were, or were related to the developer of the building, they are liable for the full cost of remediating all building safety defects, whether cladding or otherwise, to the benefit of all leaseholders. Qualifying leaseholders will be protected from all costs for remediation works if the building owners and landlord have a net worth of more than £2 million per in-scope building.
It is not our default expectation that building owners and landlords, including pension funds, will have to fund remediation works from their own resources: we want them to pursue those responsible for defective work, including associated companies of developers and manufacturers. That is why y there is now a toolkit of measures available under the Building Safety Act 2022 to enable that to happen.
We have retrospectively extended the limitation period under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 from 6 to 30 years; we have extended the reach of civil liability to associated companies of developers, including trusts, to ensure that some of the largest businesses in the sector who have used shell companies and other complex corporate structures to be pursed for contributions; and we have created a cause of action which will allow manufacturers of construction products to be pursued where defective or mis-sold products have been used in buildings.
On 13 July we published the draft of a contract with developers. The draft contract, once finalised and executed, will turn the commitments made in the pledge into a legally binding agreement.
Publication marks the start of a four-week period of engagement, during which we will refine the contract as necessary. As well as discussing the contract with developers during this period, we will engage other interested parties including representatives of building owners, managing agents, residents, leaseholders, lenders and insurers.
We plan to have the terms of the contract finalised by 10 August. We expect developers to have signed the contract by the end of September.
The Government does not support the introduction of controls on the amount of rent that landlords can charge in the private rented sector. Historical evidence suggests that rent controls would discourage investment in the sector and would lead to declining property standards as a result, which would not help landlords or tenants.
Ministers and officials from my department are in regular discussion with the Health and Safety Executive on matters relating to building safety, including the need for the market to behave in a more risk proportionate manner. The work outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July is now underway and further details will be made available in due course.
This Government cares deeply about helping even more people to achieve the dream of owning their own home, and turning Generation Rent into Generation Buy.
And today we see many of the country’s largest lenders launch the new 95% mortgages – backed by the Government’s new mortgage guarantee announced by the Chancellor at last month’s Budget.
This comes on top of our Shared Ownership reforms, our new Help to Buy scheme, and our First Homes scheme – all of which will help more people get onto the housing ladder and have a home they can call their own.
We have developed a range of funding initiatives to help tackle the housing crisis and deliver new housing. Those schemes include the Housing Infrastructure Fund, which has allocated around £4 billion to support the delivery of new and improved infrastructure which will unlock up to 320,000 homes.
However, to achieve our ambitions we need to go further. That is why we announced in the Queen’s speech and as part of Budget 2020, that we will launch a new £10 billion Single Housing Infrastructure Fund (SHIF) to provide the roads, schools and GP surgeries needed to support new homes by funding the provision of strategic infrastructure and assembling land for development.
As we made clear at Budget, we will make further statements at the Spending Review.
This government is committed to unlocking potential right across the country, and whilst some funds have been primarily targeted towards those places where homes are too expensive or in too short supply, they have been utilised in all regions. It is important in some respects to direct funding to areas where there is the greatest affordability challenge, but any government that wants to level up must also direct infrastructure investment for housing to other parts of the country as well, and we will be bearing this in mind going forward.
As we respond to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, I agree we need to take a fresh look at how all corners of the country can prosper and benefit from the funding they need, building on the action we've already taken through the £3.6 billion Towns Fund, £400 million Brownfield Fund, and £900 million Getting Building Fund.
In August 2019, a joint consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was launched to consider amending permitted development rights to support increased mobile coverage and 5G deployment.
The consultation closed on 04 November 2019. The Government is considering the replies and will issue a response in due course. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, if the proposals are taken forward, we anticipate undertaking a further consultation on the detail of those proposals.
Continuing to build the homes the country needs is a priority for the Government and we recognise the important role that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play in delivering new homes. We have been supporting the sector through various measures to boost confidence and retain capacity. £2.5 billion of the £4.5 billion Home Building Fund is targeted at SME builders and innovators and helps viable development schemes progress. The Home Building Fund encourages greater innovation, improves market resilience and diversifies housing delivery by enabling SMEs to increase their output.
Over 192,000 (81 per cent) of sales through Help to Buy: Equity Loan from its start in April 2013 to 30 June 2019 have been to first-time buyers.
This has helped increase the number of first-time buyers to over 350,000 in 2018 – an eleven-year annual high, an increase of 84 per cent since 2010.
The Government is considering the case for reforming the law on CCL and will publish a response to the Call for Evidence in due course.