Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to reduce the VAT (a) rate and (b) threshold for businesses that provide personal care services.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government took a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services, and restore economic stability.

At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This means the majority of UK businesses are out of the VAT system. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance the potential benefits to small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to extend home-to-school transport for SEND students to include those in post-16 education.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon to the answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4162.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential for data sharing with the DVLA to enable applications for reduced rate vehicle excise duty to be made (a) online and (b) in post offices.

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

The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on a range of issues affecting those receiving social security benefits, including those which may bring with them an entitlement to additional support from other Departments, and how such services can be delivered more effectively.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of (a) NHS dentists and (b) NHS dental appointments in Stratford-on-Avon constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Stratford-on-Avon constituency, this is the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether elections to Warwickshire County Council will take place on 1 May 2025.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I will consider any requests I receive to postpone the May 2025 local authority elections in Kent and Warwickshire only where this will help the areas to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe – either through the Devolution Priority Programme or where reorganisation is necessary to unlock devolution or open up new devolution options. As I set out in my letter of 16 December to those councils, I will need a clear commitment to these aims, including a request from the council(s) whose election is to be postponed, on or before Friday 10 January.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of voter ID on specific migrant communities.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As our manifesto made clear, the government will address the inconsistencies in the voter identification policy so that all legitimate electors are able to vote. We are continuing to assess and review the policy and if any further changes are found to be necessary or appropriate, we will bring forward proposals for them in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to tackle fuel poverty in the Stratford-on-Avon constituency in winter 2024-25.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

There are multiple targeted schemes to deliver energy efficiency measures to low-income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount schemes also provide a £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain.

The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years, helping around 225,000 households reduce their energy bills by around £200.

We will consult shortly on proposals for privately rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of interest rates for university student loans on (a) students and (b) their families.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Interest rates on student loans do not affect monthly repayments made by borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable repayment threshold, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest. The income of the wider household/family is not included.

If income is below the relevant repayment threshold, or a borrower is not earning, they do not have to make any repayments. Any outstanding debt, including interest accrued, is written off after the loan term ends, or in case of death or disability, at no detriment to the borrower. The debt does not pass to the borrower’s family.

An impact assessment on the current student loan plan type can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.

The government is determined that the higher education funding system should deliver for our economy, universities and students. The department has taken the system under consideration and will continue to engage with stakeholders on this.

Public inquiry into Birmingham pub bombings

1st Halesowen Scout Group Christmas lunch

Life and achievements of Bob Williams

Government response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on communication of changes to women’s State Pension age

Democracy and human rights in Myanmar

Use of swift bricks

Bus fare cap

Emergency care

Carers Rights Day

Assistance and access for disabled people at railway stations

Peace, democracy and accountability in Syria

International Human Rights Day

Democratic violations and violence in Georgia

England men's cricket team's upcoming fixture against Afghanistan

Protecting children from sexual abuse

Reform of electoral law

50th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings

Flood recovery framework

Role of small family farms in Somerset

Domestic Abuse Offences

Residence-based voting rights

Found: ; Jess Asato; Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson; Amanda Martin; Darren Paffey; Manuela Perteghella

Found: Hykeham) Amanda Martin (Labour; Portsmouth North) Darren Paffey (Labour; Southampton Itchen) Manuela Perteghella

Found: Members present: Helen Hayes (Chair); Jess Asato; Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Darren Paffey; Manuela Perteghella

Found: Hayes (Chair); Mrs Sureena Brackenridge; Dr Caroline Johnson; Amanda Martin; Darren Paffey; Manuela Perteghella

Submit Evidence (by 30 Jan 2025)

A number of recent reports have set out in detail the extent of the crisis in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, which is letting down children and their families, creating intense pressure on local authority funding and on schools.