Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answers of 20 November 2022 to Question 110565 on Parliamentary Estate: Repairs and Maintenance and Question 110567 on Norman Shaw Buildings, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of constructing new (a) rear and (b) Whitehall entrances to Richmond House.
Answered by Charles Walker
The Commission has no plans to assess the merits of constructing a new Whitehall entrance to Richmond House.
Proposals are being pursued to develop the existing entrance at Derby Gate to improve access for all users of the Northern Estate, including Richmond House.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the decision was made by the Commission to decant Members and other personnel from Norman Shaw North to Richmond House; and what estimate was made by the Commission of how long those personnel would have to remain in Richmond House before they could move back to Norman Shaw North.
Answered by Charles Walker
At its meeting on 20 July 2020 the Commission agreed MPs and their staff could be offered office space in the former Department of Health building, Richmond House, initially for a minimum period of three years – to enable urgent refurbishment work to take place on the northern end of the Parliamentary Estate. At that meeting the Commission also agreed to look at a revised plan to use Richmond House as accommodation and to create better welfare facilities for staff.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the level of inflation in (a) the UK and (b) other comparable countries; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Office for National Statistics release statistics on UK inflation. These show that the annual rate of CPI inflation was 10.7% in November, down from 11.1% in October.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed global factors are the primary cause of current inflation. Inflation is high here – but higher in Germany (11.3%), the Netherlands (11.2%), and Italy (12.5%).
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Richmond House no longer to be used for offices for Members of Parliament.
Answered by Charles Walker
Given the continued pressure on space and desire for more space for Members, it is possible that offices for Members are still provided in Richmond House even after re-opening of Norman Shaw North, particularly if other buildings on the parliamentary estate follow similar refurbishments.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects Norman Shaw North to be reopened; and when Members of Parliament will be able to occupy their offices in that building.
Answered by Charles Walker
Refurbishment works in Norman Shaw North are due to be completed by Summer 2026, occupation is currently anticipated for Autumn 2026 in collaboration with the Accommodation Whips.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the progress made by the Canal & River Trust on growing alternative income sources to its grant funding.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of reducing funding for UK waterways and reservoirs on the (a) level of risk faced by communities and (b) economic, social and environmental afforded to areas near those waterways and reservoirs.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment as part of the review of the Canal & River Trust's future grant funding of the potential impact of climate change on the cost of maintenance and repair of waterways.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her review of the future grant funding for the Canal & River Trust post-2027 will conclude; and whether she will publish that review once concluded.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government currently provides an annual grant of over £50 million to the Canal and River Trust, guaranteed until 2027. We are undertaking a review of the grant, as required by the 2012 Grant Agreement. The review is assessing whether the grant is providing value for money and whether there is a case for continued government funding beyond the end of the grant period in 2027. As the review is ongoing, I am unable to provide specific details. The outcome of the review will be announced when it has concluded.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the article in the Jewish Chronicle article entitled Children chant massacre-Jews song at North London school, published 24 November, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department’s policies of the events reported in that article.
Answered by Nick Gibb
All registered independent schools must, as a condition of registration, meet the Independent School Standards (ISS). The ISS include, among other things, an obligation to provide teaching that does not undermine the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and provide personal, social, health and economic education which encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010.
The Government takes allegations seriously and, where appropriate, will investigate further. The school in question was inspected in October 2022. The Department awaits the publication of the final report of that inspection, confirming whether those standards were met. The Department will consider this report carefully before deciding what regulatory steps are appropriate, in line with the published policy.