Peter Grant

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.

We have been informed by officials at the Parliamentary Health & Services Ombudsman (PHSO) that the technical problems were caused by third-party servers used by the House of Commons. This issue was swiftly resolved by the House of Commons IT team. Members wanting to follow up on any cases submitted during this time should contact the PHSO directly via the MP mailbox as usual.

I replied to the Hon Member on Friday 15 March.

Government has committed £1.1 billion to the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support the expansion of domestic green manufacturing capacity and strengthen clean energy supply chains. At Spring Budget, government announced provisional allocations of up to £390 million for offshore wind and networks, up to £390 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage and hydrogen and up to £300m to support domestic production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for nuclear fuel.

Government is conducting engagement with industry on the design of the Accelerator and more detail on eligibility and how to apply for funding will be shared in due course.

The Government received applications from each of the four Gas Distribution Networks for funding to develop outline plans for how a roll out of hydrogen heating might start in each of their network areas, starting with a potential hydrogen town

The Government decided in December 2023 not to proceed with a hydrogen village trial in Redcar as the main source of hydrogen would not be available. The Government is assessing the implications of that decision for our policy on planning for a hydrogen town pilot and will provide an update on this work in due course.

The Government received applications from each of the four Gas Distribution Networks for funding to develop outline plans for how a roll out of hydrogen heating might start in each of their network areas, starting with a potential hydrogen town

The Government decided in December 2023 not to proceed with a hydrogen village trial in Redcar as the main source of hydrogen would not be available. The Government is assessing the implications of that decision for our policy on planning for a hydrogen town pilot and will provide an update on this work in due course.

The Government aims to complete all Green Deal complaints as soon as possible, taking into account the requirements of the Green Deal Framework Regulations. It is not possible to provide a timeframe on completion due to the variance in individual cases and required stages within the complaints handling process.

Under the Green Deal Framework Regulations, where eligible complaints are referred to the Secretary of State for consideration, he is required to first issue an intention notice before a sanction is imposed. Since re-starting this process, the Department has issued 15 intention notices and 14 final decisions in respect of complaints about mis-selling of Green Deal Plans.

In the 2021/22 scheme year, all low-income pensioners who are potentially eligible for a rebate under the Warm Home Discount Core Group will have received a letter from the Government by mid-December 2021. Most will receive the rebate automatically; in 2020/21, around 95% of Core Group recipients received their rebates automatically. In addition, the Warm Home Discount website is widely signposted and used by consumer groups, charities, and energy comparison websites to maximise uptake.

Energy suppliers are responsible for administering their Broader Group rebates, including setting their eligibility criteria and providing the rebates to eligible households. Suppliers make their customers aware of the scheme and are usually over-subscribed with applications.

Last summer, the Government consulted on extending, expanding, and reforming the scheme such that from winter 2022/23 the vast majority of all Warm Home Discount rebates would be provided automatically.

As of 1 February 2022, there are 421 live Green Deal complaint cases referred to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Ministers and officials regularly met energy companies during the first and second covid-19 lockdowns to discuss a range of issues relating to the energy retail market. The Government’s Voluntary Agreement with energy suppliers prioritises customers at risk and supports those impacted by covid-19. Based on circumstances, this could include reassessing, reducing or pausing debt repayments for households in financial distress and support for prepayment meter customers to stay on supply. The Agreement was introduced in March 2020 and is still in place today.

In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.

To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.

In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.

To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.

In the Government response to the Online Advertising Programme consultation, published in July 2023, we committed to bringing forward online advertising legislation when Parliamentary time allows. We will consult further on the details of proposed regulation in due course.

The Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together industry and government to drive non-legislative action, met for the first time in the same month and will run for at least a year. Taskforce members are working to progress commitments in its action plan, including building the evidence base and promoting and expanding industry initiatives and good practice. As outlined in the action plan, the Taskforce will publish a progress report following the end of the 12-month period.

To support the aims of the Online Advertising Programme and Taskforce to improve the evidence base around illegal advertising harms, the Government has also commissioned research to understand the prevalence and range of online users’ experiences of these, as well as other advertising harms. We expect that it will be completed by the end of this year.

The Government introduced the Online Safety Bill on 17 March, alongside our response to the Joint Committee’s report, which has significantly influenced the final Bill.

We have taken forward over 60 recommendations, including to:

• put priority offences onto the face of the Bill

• bring scam advertising into scope

• include Law Commission recommendations on communications offences and cyberflashing

• introduce a standalone provision to protect children from pornography on dedicated sites as well as social media.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I have regular meetings with Scottish ministers, and with ministers from all the devolved administrations, about higher education issues. These discussions have included the development of student number controls policy. Departmental officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts.

Student number controls are a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak. They are designed to minimise the impact to the financial threat posed by the outbreak and they form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. We want to make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so.

These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in the devolved administrations only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company. They are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.

Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I have regular meetings with Scottish ministers, and with ministers from all the devolved administrations, about higher education issues. These discussions have included the development of student number controls policy. Departmental officials also have regular meetings and discussions with their counterparts.

Student number controls are a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak. They are designed to minimise the impact to the financial threat posed by the outbreak and they form a key part of the package of measures to stabilise the admissions system. We want to make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so.

These controls are a temporary measure and will be in place for one academic year only. Student number controls for institutions in the devolved administrations only apply to the number of English-domiciled entrants who will be supported with their tuition fees through the Student Loans Company. They are set at a level which will allow every institution to take more first year English students than they took last year. The funding of English-domiciled students is not a devolved matter, and it is right and fair that this policy should apply as consistently as possible wherever they are studying in the UK.

Ministers will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on strengthening and stabilising the higher education system following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Defra works closely with a wide range of industry stakeholders – including the National Farmers Union of Scotland and the National Farmers Union of England and Wales – to discuss current immigration policy and the needs of the farming sector.

Under the Seasonal Workers Visa Route agreed with the Home Office for the period 2022-2024 there will be 30,000 visas available in 2022, but this will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 if necessary.

Immigration is a reserved matter and Seasonal Worker visas under this route for the horticulture sector will be available nationwide.

While acknowledging the sector’s reliance on foreign workers, the UK is committed to becoming a high-skilled, high-wage economy and the Government has been clear that more must be done to attract UK workers through offering training, career options, wage increases and to invest in increased automation technology.

Therefore, the Home Office announced that the number of visas will begin to taper down from 2023 to account for this focus on British workers and automation, and Defra will bring forward further proposals in due course on ways to support the sector as well as progressing recommendations from the Automation Review.

Defra is also working with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of career opportunities in the food and farming sectors among UK workers.

Defra works closely with a wide range of industry stakeholders – including the National Farmers Union of Scotland and the National Farmers Union of England and Wales – to discuss current immigration policy and the needs of the farming sector.

Under the Seasonal Workers Visa Route agreed with the Home Office for the period 2022-2024 there will be 30,000 visas available in 2022, but this will be kept under review with the potential to increase by 10,000 if necessary.

Immigration is a reserved matter and Seasonal Worker visas under this route for the horticulture sector will be available nationwide.

While acknowledging the sector’s reliance on foreign workers, the UK is committed to becoming a high-skilled, high-wage economy and the Government has been clear that more must be done to attract UK workers through offering training, career options, wage increases and to invest in increased automation technology.

Therefore, the Home Office announced that the number of visas will begin to taper down from 2023 to account for this focus on British workers and automation, and Defra will bring forward further proposals in due course on ways to support the sector as well as progressing recommendations from the Automation Review.

Defra is also working with industry and the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of career opportunities in the food and farming sectors among UK workers.

The Department previously submitted an application to the European Commission to become a 'Part 1' listed third country in relation to non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets. On 3 December 2020 the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed of the EU voted in favour of, and has now adopted, the UK as a ‘Part 2’ listed status third country for the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets.

We are clear we meet all the animal health requirements to become a Part 1 listed third country and have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity. Our disease risk has not changed, and we recognise the challenges that Part 2 listed status poses for those travelling with pets and assistance dogs. We have reiterated this, and will continue to press the EU Commission on securing Part 1 listed status, alongside securing recognised tapeworm free status from the EU.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.

The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.

The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.

The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.

The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.

The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.