Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending salary sacrifice schemes for domestic solar panels, battery storage, and heat pumps.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government continues to support domestic decarbonisation through the Warm Homes Plan, including substantial grant funding for low-income households and continued funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, alongside the new Warm Homes Loan Scheme, which will help households spread the upfront cost of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that schools are incentivised to offer vocational and technical qualifications in creative subjects in Cornwall.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Creative subjects are important elements of a rounded and enriching education. We are transforming technical and vocational education from age 14, putting technical education on an equal footing with academic study.
We are developing new vocational GCSEs, which will combine strong subject knowledge with practical learning and have nationally set content, supporting clear progression into high-quality post-16 education and training.
We recognise that successful delivery depends on schools having the expertise and resources they need and will launch a consultation later this year to seek views on how best to deliver these changes.
Alongside this, we are engaging widely with schools and further educational colleges in local areas including Cornwall, so that provision reflects local needs and creates strong pathways into further study and skilled employment across England.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) economic, (b) feasibility and (c) technical studies her Department will require for single Foundation Strategic Authorities to access investment from major capital programmes in the future.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has confirmed multi-year funding settlements for all Local Transport Authorities with funding until 2030. The Department is considering the future funding arrangements for Foundation Strategic Authorities, including how major capital programmes will be funded. We expect further decisions to be made as part of the next Spending Review.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the business rates valuation system in reflecting (a) flood risk and (b) seasonal trading patterns.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The basis of valuation for business rates is broadly the annual rental value of a property at a fixed valuation date. Any impact of these factors is reflected in the annual rental value, along with all other characteristics which may impact upon value.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rising fuel prices on people living and working in rural areas, including any distributional impacts.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that increases in fuel prices can put strain on household budgets, particularly for those living and working in rural areas who rely heavily on road transport and heating oil.
The Government has frozen fuel duty since taking office and extended the 5p cut to 31 December. Eligible sectors, including agriculture, continue to benefit from access to rebated red diesel, which the Government recently cut further from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre until 31 December. The Government has introduced Fuel Finder to improve price transparency and provided over £50 million of immediate support for vulnerable heating oil customers.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered extending to lodgers the protections that apply to tenants under the Renters' Rights Act 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Lodgers generally occupy their home under a licence rather than an assured tenancy and therefore fall outside the scope of the Renters’ Rights Act which reformed the assured tenancy regime.
The government is nevertheless committed to ensuring that people have safe and good-quality homes, regardless of tenure, and will keep the protections available to those occupying under a licence under review.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support Minor Injuries Units and other healthcare facilities in rural and coastal areas with resourcing and operational challenges.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is responsible for determining funding allocations to integrated care boards. Its allocation approach seeks to ensure that funding reflects differences in healthcare need and the unavoidable costs of providing services in different parts of the country, including the additional costs that can arise in rural and remote areas.
For 2025/26, the adjustment for the unavoidable costs of small and remote hospitals totals £106 million across seven integrated care boards.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to publish the findings arising out of the consultation on the published draft statutory guidance in relation to the Down Syndrome Act 2022.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July in response to Question 16199.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that vacant NHS property is brought back into use as health and social care facilities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has a well-established policy approach to National Health Service land and assets and works with NHS organisations to optimise the use of their existing estate. Under this approach, NHS land and buildings should first and foremost support the delivery of healthcare services.
While the Department sets the national policy direction, NHS trusts and NHS property companies are the legal owners and are responsible for managing land and property locally. This includes assessing whether assets should be retained for service delivery, brought back into use through investment or, where no longer required, disposed of.
Where land or buildings are no longer needed or are no longer suitable for health or social care purposes, they may be sold, with disposal receipts retained by the owning NHS organisation for local reinvestment and estate modernisation. Where appropriate, surplus land and buildings can also support the delivery of new homes and regeneration in local communities.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that businesses in the local visitor economy have the ability to shape where proceeds received from the Overnight Visitor Levy are invested.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Where a Mayor or local leaders choose to take forward an overnight visitor levy, they will need to consult on specific proposals, including how any revenue should be invested, and consider the impacts for their area. This will help ensure that businesses and communities in the local visitor economy are able to shape decisions on the use of levy proceeds.