Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with Big Brother Watch on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 2025.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has extensively engaged a range of stakeholders on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
This includes holding regular forums, which both Disability Rights UK and Big Brother Watch have attended, to provide stakeholders with the latest information on Bill measures and invite questions and feedback.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had recent discussions with Disability Rights UK on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 2025.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has extensively engaged a range of stakeholders on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
This includes holding regular forums, which both Disability Rights UK and Big Brother Watch have attended, to provide stakeholders with the latest information on Bill measures and invite questions and feedback.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to publish an updated impact assessment on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department published its Impact Assessment with the introduction of this Bill on the 22nd January 2025. It can be found here: ImpactAssessment.pdf.
The Department has committed to produce a further Impact Assessment for the Eligibility Verification Measure within 12 months of Royal Assent of the Bill. There are no plans to provide a further Impact Assessment of other measures in the Bill beyond usual procedures.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37400, if she will publish the (a) minutes and (b) attendees of meetings with private parking companies before the Westminster Hall debate on 6 May 2025.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Pursuant to my answer to Question UIN 39208 on 25 March 2025, as part of the government’s ongoing work to introduce a Code of Practice for Private Parking Operators, officials speak regularly with the two Private Parking Trade Associations.
I am due to have meetings with the two parking Trade Associations next month.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect landscapes with literal heritage in Devon.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Much of England's culturally rich landscapes and the literary heritage they represent are found in our National Parks, The Broads and National Landscapes. These Protected Landscapes are already specifically designated and managed to conserve and enhance their natural beauty and important cultural associations, including relevant literature and the sites which inspired it, as key components of the natural beauty of the area.
Protected Landscapes are extensively protected as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework which gives ‘great weight’ to the landscape and scenic beauty of Protected Landscapes. In addition local authorities are able to formally identify areas of local landscape value in local plans and the historic literary importance of a place can already be taken into account in development decisions.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the EU on touring artists.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK Government remains in constructive dialogue with the EU on tackling the challenges facing UK musicians and their support staff when touring in the EU, as well as other EU reset priorities. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and European trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič have been tasked with moving discussions forward and leaders will take stock at the UK-EU Summit in May.
On 7 April, the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, Chris Bryant, attended the Informal Meeting for EU Culture Ministers in Warsaw, as a guest of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is the first time a UK minister has been invited to such a meeting since the UK’s exit from the EU. Minister Bryant used the opportunity to forge closer, more cooperative ties with his EU counterparts, including on matters related to touring. The Minister and senior DCMS officials had previously engaged EU counterparts on this bilaterally, including from the EU Commission, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Sweden.
Our aim is to identify practical solutions to ensure that UK artists can continue to perform across Europe with minimal barriers while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of imports of phage products on national security; and whether he is taking steps to help develop UK-based manufacturing capabilities.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the March 2024 response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, the government acknowledged the challenges in developing phage therapy in the United Kingdom, including the requirement to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. GMP is the minimum standard that a medicines manufacturer must meet in their production processes. To meet GMP, products must:
- be of consistent high quality;
- be appropriate to their intended use; and
- meet the requirements of the marketing authorisation or product specification.
In the response, the Government committed to considering the case for a UK-based GMP facility to support phage innovators and reduce reliance on imports. The UK Health Security Agency is also exploring phage production options in accordance with GMP, working with partners nationally and internationally.
The new Life Sciences Sector Plan, part of the upcoming Industrial Strategy, to be published in late spring 2025, will outline the Government’s growth strategy for the sector. Within this, domestic manufacturing, including for bacteriophage production, is a priority and projects can be supported via applications to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.
In parallel, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will be publishing draft guidance on phage product licensing, developed with researchers and industry, to clarify regulatory and manufacturing requirements.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on (a) when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to publish guidance on regulatory process for phage therapy use; and (b) whether that guidance will help reduce regulation on phage therapy research.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is preparing the draft guidance, Regulatory considerations for therapeutic use of bacteriophages in the United Kingdom, which will be published in the second quarter of 2025.
Regulation of medicines in the UK is undertaken by the MHRA in accordance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916) (as amended), thereby ensuring compliance with statutory obligations relating to the manufacture, distribution, sale, labelling, advertising, and promotion of medicines.
The purpose of the guidance is to address regulatory considerations applicable to the use, in the UK, of bacteriophages for therapeutic purposes in humans, whether as licensed or unlicensed medicinal products.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a phage impact bond that is similar to previous social impact bonds.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a mechanism to raise investment for a service provider. SIBs are commissioned on a payment-by-results basis, with the payment being proportional to the delivery of a positive social outcome.
As detailed in the Government’s response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, published 1 March 2024, the Government is focusing on projects that aim to be most beneficial to supporting phage development in the United Kingdom, based on an assessment of context and barriers.
This includes exploring the case for a dedicated Good Manufacturing Practice facility to support phage innovators, working with key stakeholders, including funders and research organisations, to strengthen the UK’s phage manufacturing capabilities and thereby improve patient access to these therapies.
Currently, SIBs have not been identified as a mechanism that would progress development beyond the impact of current projects, but will be considered alongside other options.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to ensure police forces conduct due diligence in preventing crimes involving legally held firearms.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for issuing firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Since November 2021, however, Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires police forces to make robust checks on the suitability of applicants to hold a license and ensure their subsequent continuous assessment. The application process is supported by the police Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a national training programme.
We keep firearms licensing controls under constant review to safeguard the public against the misuse of licensed firearms. Firearms licensing fees were increased on 5 February 2025, giving effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams.
There were four firearms-related homicides by licence holders in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024. While other statistics are published which indicate the types of firearms involved in criminal offences, they do not always show whether the firearm used was legally held.