Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received tax relief on their pension contributions at the (a) 20% and (b) 40% rate in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information on estimates of Income Tax relief on pension contributions can be found online in Table 6 of the Private Pension Statistics publication. Estimates of the total value of Income Tax and National Insurance contribution relief, broken down by the rate at which the contributions were relieved, can be found in Tables 6.1 and 6.2 of the publication respectively.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of pension tax relief to people paying the (a) 20% and (b) 40% rate in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information on estimates of Income Tax relief on pension contributions can be found online in Table 6 of the Private Pension Statistics publication. Estimates of the total value of Income Tax and National Insurance contribution relief, broken down by the rate at which the contributions were relieved, can be found in Tables 6.1 and 6.2 of the publication respectively.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of fireworks on veterans (a) with PTSD and (b) experiencing other war-related mental health trauma.

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

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental health condition.

Recognising the particular challenges that veterans face, NHS England has commissioned several services for veterans, including Op COURAGE, the bespoke integrated veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service. The services provide a fully integrated mental health care pathway, including personalised care plans, to ensure veterans can access support and treatment both in and out of hours.

Op COURAGE is available across England. Individuals can contact the service to make an appointment or ask someone to do this on their behalf. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning greyhound racing in England.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis, on 18 September 2024, PQ 5214.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new cap on bus fares will include services that are solely for the transport of pupils to and from their place of education.

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

The new fare cap will be designed to be as equitable as possible in terms of its support for passengers across England. One of the key principles of the scheme will be to include ‘open’ services which allow any member of public to board. ‘Closed’ school services, defined as a service which would not allow a member of the general public to board, and school services which operate in term-time only will not be eligible for inclusion. This is in keeping with the approach of the previous fare cap scheme, which did not allow for the inclusion of closed school services.

Services from participating operators that serve schools, are open to members of the public and run all year round will be eligible for inclusion in the scheme.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of school nurses.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Too many children are not receiving the start in life they deserve, and the Government is committed to creating the healthiest generation of children in our history by shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. School nurses have an important role to play, leading the delivery of the 5-19 components of the Healthy Child Programme.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is aware that school nurse numbers have decreased, with 27% fewer now than in October 2015. In June 2024 there were 1,985 school nurses of all grades employed within the National Health Service. The Chief Public Health Nurse Office has established a programme of work which aims to improve the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, which includes school nursing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) restricting the sale of fireworks to licensed retails and (b) lowering the noise limit of fireworks to 90 decibels.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property. The Government has recently launched an awareness campaign on the Gov.uk website to provide guidance on minimising the impacts of fireworks on people and animals.

To inform any future decisions on fireworks policy I intend to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities shortly after the fireworks season to gather evidence on the issues and impacts with fireworks. Officials regularly meet and correspond with charities to listen to and understand their views.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 to protect (a) people and (b) animals from the negative impact of fireworks.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the risk of dangers and disruption to people, pets, and property. The Government has recently launched an awareness campaign on the Gov.uk website to provide guidance on minimising the impacts of fireworks on people and animals.

To inform any future decisions on fireworks policy I intend to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities shortly after the fireworks season to gather evidence on the issues and impacts with fireworks. Officials regularly meet and correspond with charities to listen to and understand their views.

OVO Energy monthly fees for paper format bills

Redundancies at TGI Fridays

360 years of the Royal Marines in the South West

4 day working week

Gaza family visa scheme

TFL concessions

Jennie Lee

Impact of austerity on the Fire and Rescue Service