Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Select Committee on Work and Pensions letter on the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme payments of 17 December 2024, what progress she has made on implementing the recommendations on inflation protection for pre-1997 pensions.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The PPF and FAS rules on indexation have been the subject of much discussion. I am aware of the concerns surrounding the matter and understand the problems experienced by Defined Benefit pension scheme members adjusting to an income in retirement which may be less than they were expecting. I will continue to consider this issue over the coming months.

The Government is considering the Select Committee’s valuable report and will respond fully to the report and recommendations later this year.

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 adequacy of the availability of fire safety risk assessors who are able to carry out fire risk assessments of external wall systems.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department conducts regular capacity surveys and supplier engagement to ensure we have enough assessors to meet the expected requirement, in line with our objective in the Department’s Remediation Acceleration plan to ensure capacity in the remediation supply chain. Our research to date demonstrates sufficient assessor capacity to meet expected demand, though with some local supply pinch points. Where this is the case, we support applicants in sourcing assessors.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to review the (a) Ebbsfleet and (b) Ashford services of the Eurostar line.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Whilst it is a commercial decision for Eurostar to make on the reinstatement of these services, I recognise the continued disappointment felt by local communities and businesses and I too am keen to see the reinstatement of these services. Officials regularly engage with Kent stakeholders, including MPs, councillors and representatives to discuss this and are committed to continue explore potential solutions.

Found: ) Paul Duffree Katya Cassidy (R&R Client Team) Michele Dix Tanya Coff (Delivery Authority) Marie Goldman

Found: _NC3 Marie Goldman .

Found: _NC3 Marie Goldman ★.