Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the administrative costs for outlets of running a VAT reduction for children’s food only; what comparative assessment she has made of this policy and reducing VAT on all food; and whether her Department has received representations from Hospitality UK on the proposal.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and family leisure activities
The relief for children’s meal is temporary and targeted to balance the policy's intention of supporting families with the cost-of-living and maintaining the Chancellor's commitment to stable public finances.
HMRC has published guidance for businesses to operationalise the measures, and the Government carefully considered the relative administrative burden before the announcement
VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Hot takeaway food, and “eat-in” food, are subject to the standard 20 per cent rate of VAT. Most other food is zero rated, including most traditional bakery products, such as bread, biscuits and cakes. However, there are certain exceptions, including some confectionery items such as chocolate covered biscuits and flapjack bars, which are taxed at the standard rate
HM Treasury regularly engage with the hospitality industry and UK Hospitality, who have publicly welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the 1996 Police Act to allow staff associations other than the Police Federation of England and Wales to represent police officers.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government wants to see a strong staff association that provides a strong voice for police officers and represents their interests effectively.
Recognising widely-reported concerns about the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), we expect to see clear plans and rapid, demonstrable improvement in the PFEW’s operation. In the absence of such improvements, this Government stands ready to bring forward reforms to ensure that the interests of rank-and-file officers are properly, effectively and robustly represented.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the system of criminal record disclosure.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Government is committed to supporting people with convictions to overcome barriers to employment and move away from reoffending.
The criminal records disclosure regime plays an important role in striking a balance between the need to protect the public while enabling individuals to rebuild their lives. However, we recognise that the regime has evolved over a number of years and can be complex for individuals and employers to navigate, which is why we provide a disclosure checker and guidance online.
In recognition of Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of Criminal Courts recommendation on criminal records, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that the Government will consider opportunities to simplify the criminal records regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences.
As part of the youth justice system reform and delivery plan, published in May, we committed to set out a targeted, proportionate package of potential reforms for the childhood criminal records regime by the end of the year.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is grateful to Sir Brian and his panel of expert advisers for their Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. Sir Brian’s Review makes 180 recommendations aiming to reform the Criminal Justice System and drive improvements to efficiency.
Part 1 of Sir Brian’s report sets out a blueprint for pragmatic structural reform in our criminal courts. The Courts and Tribunals Bill is the first step to putting that blueprint into law. This Bill will enable much-needed reform of the criminal courts.
Part 2 of Sir Brian’s report makes 135 recommendations to improve the efficiency of the criminal courts. The report is thorough and I welcome his ambition to see real improvements to the system.
We are carefully considering the remaining recommendations from parts 1 and 2 of Sir Brian’s review, many of those require cross criminal justice system coordination with other agencies and Departments. We will set out a full response in the summer.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what legislative timetable he has set for introducing further regulation of heat networks, including any provisions relating to price protections for consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government legislated to introduce statutory redress, advice and advocacy from April 2025 and Ofgem regulation of heat networks from January 2026.
Government has provided Ofgem with broad powers to protect consumers, including on price.
Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.
The Government has also just concluded a consultation to establish a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme to mandate minimum technical standards. These standards aim to improve service quality and reduce unplanned outages and operating costs by improving the efficiency of heat networks.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the extent to which current regulation of heat networks provides equivalent protections to those available to domestic gas and electricity consumers, including guaranteed standards of supply and price protection.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The introduction of Ofgem’s regulatory powers in January 2026 aimed to introduce similar protections for heat network customers to domestic gas and electricity customers. However, there are some important differences between these sectors, for example: there are many more heat network operators and suppliers than in gas and electricity markets and they, typically, supply fewer consumers. This dictates a different approach to rules that have the potential for cost pass through to consumers, including Guaranteed Standards of Performance, which Ofgem has said it aims to consult on in due course.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects to launch the proposed call for evidence on heat network price protections; and what the intended scope of that review will include.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.
The Department is working with Ofgem to assess data and evidence as heat network regulations develop and we will publish a Call for Evidence on heat network pricing in due course.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is considering regulating the non-domestic gas and electricity tariffs charged to heat network operators, in order to reduce costs passed on to their domestic consumers.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has provided the heat network regulator, Ofgem, with broad powers relating to heat network price regulation. These include powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers are disproportionate or unfair.
Ofgem has published authorisation conditions and issued guidance on the application of their fair pricing rules.
Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost increase for households connected to heat networks as a result of recent increases in commercial gas prices.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts.
The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis began and considering all options available to mitigate higher prices.
While price rises for heat network consumers have been limited to date, they will be more likely if wholesale energy prices remain higher into the winter.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
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 mitigate the exposure of heat network consumers to volatility in wholesale gas markets, given they are not protected by a domestic price cap.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts.
The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started and considering all options available to mitigate higher prices.