Kirith Entwistle

Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property.

The police and local authorities have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their specific circumstances.

To inform any future decisions I intend to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities shortly after the fireworks season to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks.

Under the default tariff cap, Ofgem has capped the profits of energy suppliers in the retail market to ensure they do not make excessive profits. Since August 2023, the Earnings Before Interest and Tax allowance means that the percentage that energy suppliers can make in profits is capped at 2.4%.

The Government and Ofgem expect suppliers to act responsibly and pass on any reductions in energy prices to consumers. Ofgem has been clear that as prices fall and more consistent profits return, suppliers must act responsibly and pass these reductions on to customers.

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

Under the Online Safety Act, all user-to-user services – including small but high-risk services – must have measures in place to proactively tackle certain types of illegal content, including content which assists suicide and several offences which disproportionately affect women, such as intimate image abuse and harassment. These duties are now in force which means Ofcom can take enforcement action against non-compliant services.

The Secretary of State keeps all legislation under review and will act where necessary to keep people safe online.

The Online Safety Act requires such services to risk assess for illegal content and have measures in place to tackle it. Ofcom have already launched an enforcement programme which includes asking small but high-risk services for their risk assessments by 31 March. Such services will also, where relevant, need to protect children from harmful content.

The Online Safety Act requires such services to risk assess for illegal content and have measures in place to tackle it. Ofcom have already launched an enforcement programme which includes asking small but high-risk services for their risk assessments by 31 March. Such services will also, where relevant, need to protect children from harmful content.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) assesses multiple sources of evidence on loneliness including research on the impact of loneliness on physical and mental health across a range of demographic groups, including elderly and vulnerable populations. Chronic loneliness (feeling lonely often or always) can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or background, although some groups are known to be at a higher risk.

Research by DCMS highlights that this covers a range of demographics which are likely to include vulnerable adults. Data from the latest Community Life Survey suggests older people are not more likely to experience loneliness than the general population, although risk factors including having a disability or long-standing health condition, being widowed and living alone could increase the likelihood of experiencing chronic loneliness in this cohort.

DCMS research shows a bidirectional and cyclical relationship between chronic loneliness and mental health, with people experiencing chronic loneliness 3.7 times more likely to experience mental health distress compared to those who do not experience chronic loneliness. Furthermore, external research suggests that chronic loneliness can have negative impacts on physical health, including higher risk of heart disease, stroke and susceptibility to infection.

Holiday accommodation must be accessible to all visitors. DCMS are introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets, which Parliament legislated for in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The scheme will help improve transparency around safety across England, including in Bolton North East. The scheme will ensure all providers comply with essential health and safety requirements, including fire and gas safety regulations, which will help maintain appropriate standards for all guests, including those with accessibility needs. This will enable local authorities to better understand and support the provision of safe, accessible holiday accommodation in their areas.

Ensuring that parents are able to access affordable and high quality childcare is a priority for this government. Our focus in reforming the system will be to ensure that there are greater and more equal opportunities to access early education for every family, and that there are greater opportunities for children to thrive and develop. As an initial step, we are progressing work to deliver new places in 3,000 nurseries through upgrading space in primary schools.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child and the work choices for every parent.

From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds have able to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare per week (over 38 weeks a year) from the term after their child’s birthday. From September 2024, this was extended to parents of children aged 9 months and above, and from September 2025, working parents will be able to access 30 hours per week (over 38 weeks a year) for children from age 9 months to when they start school.

The government has committed to continue to roll out the expanded childcare entitlements for eligible working parents of children aged from nine months. We are also growing the provision of ‘wraparound’ before and after school provision of childcare for primary school children.

In 2024/25, we expect to provide over £1.7 billion to support local authorities and providers deliver the childcare expansion, rising, in 2027/28, to over £4.1 billion. By the same year we expect to be providing over £8 billion every year overall on new and existing early years entitlements.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing, including supporting them through our childcare delivery support contract where appropriate.

The government is committed to delivering a modern childcare system from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school, providing every child with a firm foundation which sets them up for life and ensures parents are able to work the jobs and hours they choose effectively breaking down the barriers to opportunity for every family.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, departmental officials discuss with them what action they are taking to address those issues, and whether they need any additional support.

As of now, there are no scheduled visits for the Foreign Secretary to Bolton. However, the Foreign Secretary welcomes correspondence from the Bolton Council of Mosques to learn more about their initiatives and efforts.

The Government has taken difficult but necessary decisions to deliver long-term growth. Fixing the public finances is critical to creating long-term stability in which businesses can invest and thrive.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. It means employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage without paying employer NICs.

This Government is committed to tackling domestic abuse in all its forms. We have unveiled a series of bold measures designed to strengthen the police response to domestic abuse, protect victims and hold perpetrators to account.

From early 2025, under a new approach named ‘Raneem’s Law’, domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms to ensure that victims are referred to appropriate support services swiftly.

To further strengthen protections for victims, in November we launched the new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in selected police forces and courts. These will go further than existing orders, making it a legal requirement for perpetrators to inform the police of any change in name or address and imposing electronic monitoring. We will be onboarding two additional sites in early 2025 – offering access to these new orders to a greater number of victims.

We have provided an increase of £30 million, in domestic abuse safe accommodation services in 2025-26, meaning a total investment of £160m. This is part of wider work to empower local commissioners to identify needs and commission appropriate support for victims.

Controlling and coercive behaviour is a particularly insidious form of domestic abuse, which can continue post-separation. It is often part of a wider pattern of abuse, including violent, sexual or economic abuse.

Since 5th April 2023, following the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the amendment to Section 76 under the Serious Crime Act 2015, the controlling or coercive behaviour offence applies to ex-partners or family members who do not live together. This offers wider protection to victims who are experiencing abuse from an ex-partner they do not live with.

I recognise the devastating impact financial and economic abuse can have on victims. We continue to promote awareness of economic abuse to improve the public and private sector's response, particularly working with the specialist charity Surviving Economic Abuse to strengthen financial systems and support victims.

Proposals to reform the Child Maintenance Services (CMS) were published by the previous Government. This included removing Direct Pay and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster, as well as exploring how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported. We are analysing the responses received, and the Government will publish a response in due course.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

We are committed to delivering an additional 13 000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles so residents know who to turn to when things go wrong. We will crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets by introducing tougher powers, including new Respect Orders to tackle repeat offending and to get persistent offenders off our streets.

Excess speed is still a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads. Anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face a swift and strong sanction.

Enforcement of speeding offences in Bolton North East constituency and the deployment of available resources and capabilities is an operational matter for Greater Manchester’s Chief Constable and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Police to determine, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced.

The Electoral Commission and the Office for National Statistics review and publish statistics on electoral registration and participation in elections. The Government will examine and reflect on this data when it is available following the 2024 general election.

The Government has no plans at this time to introduce overseas constituencies for elections to the House of Commons. We are focused on delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen our democracy and encourage participation – including by giving 16- and 17- year olds the right to vote in all elections

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

We have tabled a Government amendment to the offence of creating a purported intimate image at clause 135 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This will extend the time limit in a similar way to the offence at section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003, ensuring that perpetrators can be prosecuted for creating an intimate image deepfake without consent, even if it only comes to light more than six months after its creation.

The Women and Equalities Committee has recommended an extension of the time limit for the prosecution of other existing and proposed intimate image offences, and we are carefully reviewing their recommendations.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answers given to PQs 34399 and 34403 on 7 March 2025 by the Minister for Courts and Legal Services.

Defendants facing trial at the magistrates’ court or Crown Court may apply for legal aid to pay for their defence costs; this covers the cost of preparing the case and providing legal representation.

The evidence provision fee, which was introduced in 2010 alongside implementation of the Crown Court means testing scheme, applies in cases that are committed, sent or transferred for trial to the Crown Court and comprises a lower tier of £45 and an upper tier of £90. This fee remunerates defence solicitors for the extra work which may be incurred when collating evidence of the defendant’s income and capital resources required to complete the legal aid application at the Crown Court.

At the Crown Court, subject to the outcome of the financial means assessment, some defendants may be required to pay an income contribution towards their legal aid costs. This is paid on a monthly basis for a maximum six month period and will be refunded to the defendant with interest if they are acquitted or the Crown Prosecution Service withdraws due to insufficient evidence. If the defendant is convicted, they do not recoup any income contributions and may also be liable to pay any outstanding legal aid costs from their capital assets.

If a defendant does not qualify for legal aid, either because they do not pass the financial eligibility criteria or the ‘Interests of Justice’ (merits) test, they may choose to pay privately for their defence or to represent themselves. In circumstances where a privately funded defendant is acquitted or charges are dropped, they may seek to claim their defence costs back from central funds through a Defendant’s Costs Order. However, following changes introduced by the Coalition Government, the refund of defence costs has been based on legal aid rates.

There are a range of factors which may influence a defendant’s decision over whether to plead guilty. The drivers behind this decision will vary with the circumstances of each individual case.

Ministers are currently considering their preferred approach to the rules and arrangements governing legal aid financial eligibility.