Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the kitchen manufacturing industry on (a) demand, (b) fixed costs and (c) access to (i) investment and (ii) restructuring support.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The department has not held recent specific discussions with the kitchen manufacturing industry regarding demand, fixed costs, or access to investment and restructuring support.
However, the department maintains regular engagement with manufacturing sectors across the economy through various forums and stakeholder meetings. This includes addressing broader business concerns such as energy costs, supply chain resilience, and access to finance.
The government remains committed to supporting UK manufacturing, including through the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan and the British Business Bank's investment programmes and business support services that are available to all manufacturing sectors.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of UK-based (a) kitchen and (b) kitchen components manufacturers that have (i) entered administration and (ii) ceased trading since 1 January 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government continues to monitor the UK corporate sector, including insolvency trends, using official data and engaging with firms and business groups to inform policy decisions.
The Government has taken a number of measures to make the tax system competitive and give businesses, including those in the kitchen manufacturing sector, the stability and predictability they need to invest and grow.
In the Corporate Tax Roadmap, the Government committed to maintain the Small Profits Rate and marginal relief at their current rates and thresholds, as well as to maintain the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance. The Government also protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500.
The Department for Business and Trade recently published ‘Backing your business: our plan for small and medium-sized businesses’ which set out a long-term direction for the Government’s support for smaller firms. This went further than any previous government, introducing the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments. The plan unlocks billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest, removes unnecessary red tape, and delivers growth-boosting support with a new Business Growth Service to unlock business potential.Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Government policies over the last 12 months on the financial stability of small and medium-sized kitchen manufacturers.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government continues to monitor the UK corporate sector, including insolvency trends, using official data and engaging with firms and business groups to inform policy decisions.
The Government has taken a number of measures to make the tax system competitive and give businesses, including those in the kitchen manufacturing sector, the stability and predictability they need to invest and grow.
In the Corporate Tax Roadmap, the Government committed to maintain the Small Profits Rate and marginal relief at their current rates and thresholds, as well as to maintain the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance. The Government also protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500.
The Department for Business and Trade recently published ‘Backing your business: our plan for small and medium-sized businesses’ which set out a long-term direction for the Government’s support for smaller firms. This went further than any previous government, introducing the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments. The plan unlocks billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest, removes unnecessary red tape, and delivers growth-boosting support with a new Business Growth Service to unlock business potential.Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to improve the competitiveness of UK-based kitchen manufacturers through the tax system.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government has taken a number of measures to make the tax system competitive and give businesses, including those in the kitchen manufacturing sector, the stability and predictability they need to invest and grow.
For instance, the Corporate Tax Roadmap, published at Autumn Budget 2024, committed to capping the CT rate at 25% for the duration of parliament, the lowest headline rate of CT in the G7. These taxes are also by some of the most generous business investment tax reliefs and allowances in the OECD, such as the Annual Investment Allowance of £1 million per year and Full Expensing, to encourage investment and increase the competitiveness of UK companies internationally.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) overseas and (b) domestic Ministerial official flights by his Department are (i) carbon offset and (ii) use Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No flights were offset and we cannot provide data on the use of sustainable aviation fuel on flights as this detail is not available through our travel booking contract.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question HL8406 on Civil Servants: Performance Related Pay, what is his Department's policy on performance-related pay for the Junior Civil Service; and what is the maximum value of a performance reward in a financial year.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer the Hon Member to the answer on 23 June 2025 (HL 8406).
As has been the practice in previous administrations, the arrangements for performance-related pay for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) are published in annual SCS pay practitioner guidance. The 2025-26 guidance, including the controls on performance related pay, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-the-senior-civil-service-pay-award-202526
For grades below the SCS, departments have delegated authority to determine their own performance-related pay arrangements.
The Cabinet Office annual pay awards are not performance related.
The Department operates an in-year reward and recognition scheme throughout the year.
The total value of all in-year rewards received during this period should not exceed £2000. This does not include Long Term Service Awards.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Downing Street uses renewable energy for its electricity.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Downing Street is connected to the National Grid, which uses a range of energy sources, including renewable energy.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many child deaths were recorded where parental consanguinity was (a) identified and (b) not identified in England in each year since 2019.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 2nd September is attached.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the BBC Panorama programme The Truth About Baby Food Pouches; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing regulations on (a) front-of-pack labelling, (b) permitted sugar content, and (c) minimum nutritional standards for commercial baby food.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Children’s early years provide an important foundation for their future health and strongly influence many aspects of wellbeing in later life.
The BBC Panorama programme highlighted issues with levels of sugar and misleading labelling and nutrition claims in some commercial baby food products. The Government has recently published voluntary industry guidelines for commercial baby food and drink which challenge manufacturers to reduce levels of sugar and salt in their products. The guidelines also set out actions that businesses should take to improve the labelling and marketing of these products. Businesses have 18 months to deliver the required changes, and we will monitor and publish their progress towards achieving this. The guidelines are available at the following link:
We have regulations in place that set nutritional, compositional and labelling standards for commercial baby food. We continue to keep these regulations under review to ensure that the composition of infant food and drinks reflect the latest scientific advice and dietary guidelines. The voluntary industry baby food guidelines should support improvements in this area.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities in England on the impact of changes to VAT on independent schools on school places.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to independent school fees, which includes the government’s estimations of the number of pupils expected to enter the state sector as a result of this policy. The TIIN is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees#who-is-likely-to-be-affected.
Latest published figures confirm that there is additional capacity in the system. The department works with local authorities to help them fulfil their duty to secure school places.