Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reduce the pension age for ambulance workers to meet the pension age for (a) police and (b) fire service employees.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans at present to equalise the normal pension ages (NPAs) of all emergency services workforces.
NHS Pension Scheme members do not have to work to the scheme’s NPA to claim their retirement benefits. Flexible retirement options enable members to choose when to retire. Voluntary Early Retirement allows staff to fully retire up to 10 years earlier than the NPA, with an actuarially reduced pension due to the pension being in payment for longer. Alternatively, partial retirement allows members to draw down some or all of their pension while continuing to work and build up further pension benefits. Even when taken before normal pension age, NHS Pension Scheme benefits give exceptional value to staff and can provide for a comfortable living in retirement.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the total pension savings held by Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders resident in the UK but held in Hong Kong which they are not able to transfer until they gain British citizenship due to Hong Kong’s permanent departure clause.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
This government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK. We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).
Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, officials have raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. We have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear such discrimination of BN(O)s is unacceptable.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered the potential impact of the raw cane sugar Autonomous Tariff Quota on (a) consumers and (b) the farming industry.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Government is currently undertaking a review of the Autonomous Tarif Quota (ATQ) on raw cane sugar following an engagement exercise that closed in March 2025.
We are considering a range of factors including potential impacts on consumers; striking the right balance between supporting domestic sugar beet farmers and refiners and raw cane refining industries; and the UK’s wider strategic trade objectives.
We are carefully considering the potential impact of any changes, and an outcome of this review will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the safeguarded land for Phase 2 of HS2 will be released back to the land owners.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Safeguarding on the route of HS2 Phase 2a (between West Midlands and Crewe) was lifted in January 2024. Safeguarding on the route of HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg (between West Midlands and Leeds) was lifted in July 2025. One small area to the south of the existing station in central Leeds, previously required for the new HS2 station, remains safeguarded to allow for potential enhancements to the existing station, including for onward travel.
Safeguarding along the former Phase 2b Western Leg (between Crewe and Manchester) has not yet been changed, and an update on future plans for safeguarding on this section will be provided in due course alongside broader plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to local authority-run social care services of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 56659 on 10 June 2025.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance entitled An interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment, published on 25 April 2025, on (a) businesses and (b) the economy.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office for Equality and Opportunity in the Cabinet Office will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage with them to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling. Employers and other duty bearers must follow the law and should take appropriate specialist legal advice where necessary.
We do not centrally retain budgeting information on the EHRC’s spending on specific evaluations of its policies.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to Fire and Rescue Authorities of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State has not made a specific estimate of the cost to fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s revised Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations.
The cost of implementation is a matter for each individual fire and rescue authority or fire and rescue service to determine, as it would be for any other public sector employer. Each authority is responsible for assessing its own operational needs, resource allocation, and compliance strategies in line with its statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether it is her Department's policy that organisations should await the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice guidance before changing their policies and practices following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.
The EHRC have opened their consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and are engaging with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.
Of course, we will continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders on equalities issues as we have always done.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she will be taking to consult a wide range of stakeholders before the publication of the Code of Practice guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.
The EHRC have opened their consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and are engaging with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.
Of course, we will continue to engage with a broad range of stakeholders on equalities issues as we have always done.
Asked by: Rachel Taylor (Labour - North Warwickshire and Bedworth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the needs of male victims of sexual violence will be met by the new national sexual violence helpline.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that men and boys experience abusive and violent crimes, such as stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse and we are committed to ensuring that male victims and survivors get the support that they need.
The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivered by Rape Crisis England and Wales and funded by the Ministry of Justice, provides free and confidential emotional and listening support to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over. Where appropriate, the service will signpost victims to longer-term support services, including therapeutic support.
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice also fund services specifically for male victims of domestic abuse, in addition to services for LGBT+, Deaf, and older victims, which provide essential support to male victims.