Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to (a) improve the (i) effectiveness and (ii) efficiency of the Child Maintenance Service and (b) help tackle unpaid child maintenance.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has a relatively low percentage of unpaid maintenance. Only 8% of the total maintenance due to be paid since the start of the CMS remains to be collected through the collect & pay service. This was as high as 17% in March 2015.

The CMS has a range of strong enforcement powers that can be used against those who consistently refuse to meet their obligations to provide financial support to their children including deducting directly from earnings, bank accounts and forcing the sale of a property. The Department plans to streamline the enforcement process further by removing the requirement to obtain a court issued liability order, and instead allow the Secretary of State to issue an administrative liability order. Introducing this simpler administrative process will enable the CMS to take faster action against those paying parents who actively avoid their responsibilities.

A CMS modernisation programme is ongoing which is delivering services with increased effectiveness and efficiency by optimising the use of digital channels and self-service. These efficiencies will make it easier for customers to report changes and report non-payment so CMS caseworkers can focus on the collection of unpaid child maintenance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support local bus services in Boston and Skegness.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Improving local bus services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.

As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Boston and Skegness, to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. The Bill will seek to increase the powers available to local leaders to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership.

In addition, the government has confirmed an additional £925 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London, bringing total bus investment at the Budget to over £1 billion. Local authorities can use the £925 million to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities including Lincolnshire County Council, and others, to deliver better bus and public transport services throughout England.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that (a) violent and (b) repeat offenders receive longer sentences.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales.

It is the function of the court to decide the sentence in each case subject to the maximum that Parliament has provided and any guidelines that may be laid down by the Sentencing Council or the Court of Appeal. The sentence imposed on an offender should reflect the crime they have committed and be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. Custody should only be imposed if the offence is so serious that no other sentence can be justified.

The Government has launched an independent review of sentencing. The Review will be guided by three principles. Firstly, sentences must punish offenders and protect the public – there must always be space in prison for the most dangerous offenders. Secondly, sentences must encourage offenders to turn their backs on a life of crime, cutting crime by reducing reoffending. Thirdly, we must expand and make greater use of punishment outside of prison. The Review will report in Spring 2025.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential (a) economic, (b) security and (c) supply chain risks posed by the potential closure of the UK's remaining blast furnaces.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK government recognises the strategic importance of the steel industry for economic growth and national security. We are committed to developing the sector.

Many countries, particularly across Europe, are replacing aging blast furnaces with Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs). While the future of the remaining blast furnaces ultimately lies with British Steel, as I recently conveyed to the Hon Gentleman, the government is reviewing innovative technologies, such as Direct Reduced Iron, to support primary steelmaking in the future.

EAFs will also bolster our economic security by reducing our reliance on imports. This shift will enable us to use the abundant supply of scrap metal available in the UK, thereby increasing the resilience of our steel sector and the wider UK supply chain from global shocks.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help protect (a) agricultural land and (b) natural habitats from the potential impact of the (i) construction and (ii) maintenance of (A) the Great Grid Upgrade and (B) other major infrastructure projects.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Developers of electricity networks and all nationally significant infrastructure projects in England and Wales need to assess the impacts of their proposals, including on agricultural land, natural habitats and in terms of construction and maintenance. This is done through Environmental Impact and Habitats Regulations Assessments, which are then considered during the consenting process. This includes consideration of safeguarding Best and Most Versatile agricultural land and ensuring the protection of natural habitats.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department plans to take to (a) increase prison capacity and (b) improve rehabilitation services for offenders.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 22 October, the Lord Chancellor announced the further steps the Government will take to manage prison capacity including launching an independent review of sentencing to ensure that we are never again in a position where we have more prisoners than we have space in our prisons.

We are also committed to creating 14,000 additional prison places and will set out a ten-year prison capacity strategy later this year, ensuring we have a sustainable pipeline of prison places over the next decade to allow us to effectively drive down reoffending.

This Government will act to improve rehabilitation services for offenders by giving offenders leaving prison the tools to move away from crime. This will include improving prisoners access to purposeful activity such as education, delivering pre-release plans for all those leaving custody; and ensuring that ex-offenders leave prison with a job and the skills needed to lead law abiding lives.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support people living in rural areas with limited public transport links with the potential financial impact of increases in fuel duty.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

People living in rural areas often have greater distances to travel to access essential services, employment, education and other social and recreational activities. We know that this can make it more costly and time consuming for rural communities.

As announced in the King’s Speech, the Government will introduce a Buses Bill later this parliamentary session, which will put decision-making into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas across England. This will allow local areas to determine how best to design their bus services so that they have control over routes and schedules.

The Government has made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed. Defra leads on rural proofing, but individual departments are responsible for ensuring that their policy decision-making delivers for rural communities.

Decisions on tax policy, including fuel duty rates, are made by the Chancellor at fiscal events.

The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme was introduced in 2011 to provide a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK average, remoteness leading to high fuel transport costs from refinery to filling station, and relatively low sales meaning that retailers cannot benefit from bulk discounts.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to support (a) pubs and (b) hospitality businesses to (i) maintain financial viability and (ii) protect jobs.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The pub and hospitality industry make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system.

The alcohol duty system supports pubs and hospitality businesses through Draught Relief, which ensures eligible products served on draught pay less duty. Draught Relief helps to level the playing field between pubs and supermarkets, allowing pubs and brewers to price their on-trade products more competitively.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the alcohol duty system under review during its Budget process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the UK’s points-based immigration system in (a) reducing net migration and (b) attracting high-skilled workers.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government is determined to bring down historically-high levels of legal migration and tackle the root causes behind it. To succeed in reducing net migration, we need to reduce our economy’s reliance on overseas workers. That is why the Government is setting out a new approach, linking migration, skills and labour market policies to build a sustainable workforce for the future. In the Home Secretary’s written ministerial statement on 30 July 2024, she confirmed the Government supported the changes made as part of the net migration package announced by the previous Government and will continue to implement them.

The Government keeps all policies under review and regularly publishes Impact Assessments, including on 27 September 2024 publishing those related to the net migration package, as well as monthly migration statistics.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to maintain current levels of (a) Agricultural Relief for Inheritance Tax and (b) Business Relief for Inheritance Tax in the upcoming Budget.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on efficiency savings across Government Departments; and what steps she is taking to ensure value for money in public expenditure.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As part of her July statement the Chancellor set out some immediate steps to make efficiencies across government including reducing departmental administration budgets, stopping non-essential spending on communications and consultancy, and disposing of surplus Government property.

The Government will provide an update on the delivery of these commitments at the Budget alongside further steps it is taking to ensure value for money in public expenditure.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent illegal immigration and (b) reduce the number of asylum claims from individuals coming from safe countries.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since entering office, we have already launched the Border Security Command (BSC), led by Martin Hewitt, to strengthen our approach to prevent illegal migration. This will be backed with up to £75 million in new investment to build capability, taking the fight to criminals in Europe and beyond and directly targeting the criminal gangs behind small boat crossings.

The BSC will provide strategic direction across several agencies and partners, drawing together the work across the border security system. It will also work with international partners to disrupt the activity of criminal smuggling gangs and ensure those profiting from people-smuggling are brought to justice.

As set out in the King’s speech, this government will introduce new legislative measures to restore order to our border.

The proposed new legislation will include provisions to give the border security system stronger powers to disrupt, investigate and prosecute facilitators of organised immigration crime.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to (a) reduce congestion in Boston and Skegness constituency and (b) improve road maintenance in rural areas.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. For England as a whole, the Government has a manifesto commitment to enable local highway authorities to fix up to a million extra potholes a year.

Lincolnshire County Council is the local highway authority for the Boston and Skegness constituency, and it is therefore responsible for the maintenance of its local highway network. Lincolnshire County Council will receive £43.6 million from this Department during 2024/25 to help it carry out its local highway maintenance responsibilities. It is up to the local authority to decide how that funding is used.

Lincolnshire County Council will also receive £3.3 million for small scale transport improvements including reducing congestion through the Integrated Transport Fund.

To help reduce congestion through improving traffic flow, the Department has also provided Lincolnshire County Council with £878,352 for traffic systems since 2021: £250,000 from the Traffic Signal Maintenance Grant in 2021, and £500,000 from the Green Light Fund, and £128,352 from the Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant in 2024.

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 ensure that all patients have access to face-to-face appointments with their GP.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP). Patients can’t get through the front door of the National Health Service, so they aren’t getting the timely care they need.

We have pledged to guarantee a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one. We will make sure the future of GPs is sustainable by training thousands more GPs, ensuring increased capacity across the NHS to deliver this commitment and securing a future pipeline of GPs.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the maximum level of commission charge paid to site owners for the sale of park homes on park home owners.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market and must be a safe and secure place for residents.

The Government recognises that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The Government will set out its position on this matter in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the service on the trainline between Grantham and Skegness.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

More modern Class 170 trains were introduced to this route in 2023, and additionally these trains will be completely refurbished over the next three years. Meanwhile, East Midlands Railway will continue to improve its timetable of strengthened trains and passenger handling in the summer peak, building on the success of the last two years.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Children Not In School register on families who home-educate their children.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The proposals to require every local authority in England to maintain registers of children not in school, which are to be included in the future Children’s Wellbeing Bill, are intended to help local authorities identify all home educating families in their areas, so that they can ensure children are receiving a safe and suitable education. To ensure these registers can operate effectively, parents of eligible children will be required to provide some information to their local authorities but, as part of the implementation of the legislation, the department would engage with stakeholders to ensure that any burdens on families are minimised. In addition, the children not in school proposals will also include a duty on local authorities to provide support to home educating families should they want it, which will help more families to deliver a suitable education, ensuring more children receive the high standard of education they deserve.

Release of Emily Damari