Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much is the average payment to those eligible With-Profit-Annuitants within the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government allocated £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).
The total value of payments made by the Scheme stood at £1.35 billion as of 30 May 2025, and the Scheme is on track to pay out the remainder. Annual annuity payments to the over 17,000 eligible WPAs amounted to £20.25 million in 2025.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many eligible With Profit annuities are currently covered by the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government allocated £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).
The total value of payments made by the Scheme stood at £1.35 billion as of 30 May 2025, and the Scheme is on track to pay out the remainder. Annual annuity payments to the over 17,000 eligible WPAs amounted to £20.25 million in 2025.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the the Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been paid out to eligible With-Profit-Annuitants.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government allocated £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).
The total value of payments made by the Scheme stood at £1.35 billion as of 30 May 2025, and the Scheme is on track to pay out the remainder. Annual annuity payments to the over 17,000 eligible WPAs amounted to £20.25 million in 2025.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the UK-EU Summit - Joint Statement, updated 19 May 2025, whether his Department will prioritise the removal of the need for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates in the new UK-EU SPS Agreement.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders Summit on May 19, 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area which will slash costs and remove red tape. The removal of the need for Export Health Certification will save trading businesses up to £200 per consignment each time goods are sent, meaning a single lorry carrying a mixed load of animal products could see £1000s in reduced costs.
Our aim is to start the detailed negotiations as soon as possible, as we want to see businesses benefit from removing barriers to trade.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to includes measures for young people in the forthcoming food strategy.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are developing an ambitious new food strategy to set the food system up for long term success. The strategy will deliver wide ranging improvements. Everyone including young people will benefit from a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment, now and in the future. A number of food strategy outcomes are particularly important for young people touching on children's health, food education, and jobs and skills in the food sector.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group will be classed as being a new claimant when they migrate onto Universal Credit for the purposes of the Universal Credit Bill.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are rebalancing Universal Credit to fix a system which encourages people to claim health benefits and shuts the out of employment support. It’s a targeted reform that protects those with the most serious, long-term conditions and existing claimants, while providing work, health and skills support to everyone who is affected by changes to LCWRA.
I can confirm that customers who move to Universal Credit from Employment & Support Allowance (Income-Related), with no gap between those awards, will not be treated as a new customer and will retain the higher rate of the LCWRA addition.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing dog bite prevention to the school curriculum.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Dog bite prevention is not taught within the statutory curriculum at present. Schools have the flexibility to include it within their local curriculum if they wish, for example in relationships, sex and health education or citizenship.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that religious organisations’ assets are scrutinised before making decisions regarding an extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme offers grants towards the VAT incurred on eligible repairs and renovations and is open to all listed places of worship. The future of the grant scheme will be considered as we work through the output of the Spending Review and Departmental business planning process.
Grants for the scheme are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the eligibility of submitted invoices for repair work. The focus is on the nature of the conservation and repair work undertaken on historic buildings, and an organisation's financial assets or standing are not considered in the decision-making process.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to promote the benefits of breast feeding to new mothers.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and to giving every child the best start in life. We want every parent to understand the benefits of breastfeeding so that they can make informed decisions about how to feed their baby.
Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, we are investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding support across 75 local authorities in England. This includes promoting the benefits of breastfeeding and supporting families to achieve their infant feeding goals. The Start for Life communications programme also promotes the benefits of breastfeeding via a website, email, and public awareness campaign.
Most families will receive advice on the benefits of breastfeeding and support from midwives and health visitors. We are committed to strengthening these services and are already making progress.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of breed-specific legislation in relation to dogs on levels of public safety.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. We have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations in due course.