Wera Hobhouse

Details of ministerial severance payments are published in the HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Annual Report and Accounts. These can be found here: Transparency andfreedom of information releases - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

I confirm that over the period 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024, the following payments were made:

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP – £23,612 (February 2020)

The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC – £14,490 (August 2022)

Edward Timpson CBE KC – £14,490 (October 2022)

The Rt Hon Sir Michael Ellis KC – £23,612 (November 2022)

Information on any payments from 31 May 2024 will be released in due course.

All severance payments were made under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, which provides for severance payments to ministers who cease to hold office and are not re-appointed to government within three weeks. This reflects the lack of any notice period when ministers leave government.

The department publishes details of all ministerial remuneration including compensation for loss of office in its Annual Reports and Accounts.

The information can be viewed on gov.uk at this address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts

The Cabinet Office has published Annual Reports and Accounts for periods up to and including the financial year 2022/23. The 2023/2024 Annual Report and Account is due to be published in the Autumn. Information related to the financial year 2024/25 will be published after that year has closed.

Following the formation of the Government in July, the Department for Business and Trade is considering next steps for this important issue, including reviewing the evidence gathered from the 2023 consultation, Smarter Regulation: Fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture. The recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee following the inquiry Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life formed part of the evidence base informing the consultation proposals. The Government will engage with consumer organisations, businesses, and other interested groups and provide updates in due course.

Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, eligible Ministers who leave office are entitled to a one-off payment equivalent to one quarter of their annual salary at the point at which they leave Government.

Details of such payments are published in the departmental annual reports and accounts, and ministerial salaries are published on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-salary-data

The UK is committed to a circular economy which will keep resources in use as long as possible, extracting maximum value, minimizing waste and promoting resource efficiency. Policies such as the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax help support innovation, growth and jobs in the waste management and the recycling sectors, including within chemical recycling.

The UK supports investment into green technologies through competitive research and innovation-based incentives such as R&D tax credits, innovation funding and incentives.

DBT will use its investment services to support Great British Energy to seek investment into new technologies to speed up and scale their deployment.

Boosting trade abroad is essential to deliver a strong economy at home. That is why we are committed to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with India, which is projected to be the world’s third largest economy by 2027.

It is the department’s established practice to not comment on the details of live negotiations. We will commence negotiations as soon as possible to secure an agreement that creates new opportunities for businesses, supports jobs across the United Kingdom, and delivers growth.

The Department is unable to share information potentially sensitive to individuals working within GBN. GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation with permanent recruitment underway.

Large or listed UK companies are required to disclose specified emissions under the regulations which underpin Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting. Currently, Government is considering the International Sustainability Standards Board reporting requirements which do not prohibit the use of book and claim for emissions, subject to transparent reporting and verification. DESNZ is also reviewing the Environmental Reporting Guidance which includes guidance on reporting renewable energy where Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin are used alongside physical purchase of energy, as well as use of carbon offsets. However, there are no plans to conduct a specific assessment of the merits of book and claim at the present time.

The 2023 Biomass Strategy contained a commitment to consult on developing and implementing a cross-sector sustainability framework to enable greater consistency across sectors. Next steps on this will be announced in due course.

Sizewell C’s spending plans are agreed by shareholders, including Government. The public disclosure of detailed spending plans whilst the project is engaged in live commercial negotiations could have a negative impact on the project’s negotiating position and undermine the project’s value for money.

Sizewell C Ltd publishes an annual report and accounts, which are available to view at Companies House. This sets out expenditure and income for each financial year.

The Department also includes information about amounts invested into the project via its annual report and accounts, which are published and laid before Parliament.

The Government recognises that heat pumps may not be feasible in a small number of properties, and these homes will require alternative low-carbon heating solutions to help them decarbonise.

The Government is committed to incentivising properties to transition to cleaner, affordable heating and our Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills.

The details of any ministerial severance payments can be found in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

The 2023/2024 Annual Report and Accounts for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are to be published in due course.

Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, eligible Ministers who leave office are entitled to a one off payment equivalent to one quarter of their annual salary at the point at which they leave the government.

This applies only where a Minister is under 65 and is not appointed to a ministerial office within three weeks of leaving government.

Individuals may waive the payment to which they are entitled. That is a matter for their personal discretion, but this approach has been taken in the past.

Details of such payments are published in departmental annual reports and accounts, and ministerial salaries are published on GOV.UK. Future disclosures for 2023/24 will be published in due course.

The department has regular discussions with Ofsted on a wide range of aspects, including its approaches to inspection and the safeguarding of children and young people. On the specific matter of Ofsted’s implementation of the actions set out in its report, I have asked His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver to write to the hon. Member directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The provision of severance payments for Ministers is set out in legislation.

Details of the severance payments made to ministers when leaving office are published in the Departments’ Annual Reports and Accounts.

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

Yes. Officials in Defra work closely with HM Treasury colleagues. We are aware that the Treasury has committed to publishing a response to the consultation before the end of this year.

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

Since 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024 the cost of ministerial severance payments are as follows:

19 December 2019 – 31 December 2019: nil

1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020: nil

1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021: nil

1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022: £41,575

1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023: £7,920

1 January 2024 – 30 May 2024: nil

The following Ministers received a severance payment of the following value:

Grant Shapps MP received a compensation payment of £16,876 when he left Government on 6 September 2022.

Karl McCartney MP received a compensation payment of £5,593 when he left Government on 7 September 2022.

Robert Courts MP received a compensation payment of £5,593 when he left Government on 18 September 2022.

Kevin Foster MP received a compensation payment of £7,920 when he left Government on 25 October 2022.

Katherine Fletcher MP received a compensation payment of £5,593 when she left Government on 26 October 2022.

Jesse Norman MP received a compensation payment of £7,920 when he left Government on 13 November 2023.

This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.

Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control.

Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.

Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock. Protecting the Triple Lock even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.

We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.

The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.  An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.

The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.

As part of the current Pension Credit Week of Action, we have joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.

From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.

Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.

We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.

The details of severance payments made to former ministers can be found in our Annual Report & Accounts.

Information for the 2024/25 financial year will be published in due course.

The details of any ministerial severance payments can be found in our Annual Report & Accounts. Payments made in 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years will be released in due course

Each payment corresponds to the statutory entitlements as laid out in the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 is available at the following link:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/5/contents

The details of any ministerial severance payments can be found in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts. For FY 2019-20, details of payments can be found in the separate Annual Report & Accounts of the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the then Department for International Development (DfID).

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.

To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.

By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.

The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume.

To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.

By the end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system.

The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK

The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027.

Last year, a Call for Evidence (CfE) seeking views on additional technologies to potentially include within this relief was run. Heat batteries were one of the technologies put forwards by respondents. As set out in the Government response to the CfE, at that time, the Government was unable to identify sufficient independent data regarding the efficiency of heat batteries, making it difficult to assess the technology’s energy-saving properties objectively.

The Government currently has no plans to add further technologies to this VAT relief. Nevertheless, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. Changes to the tax system are announced at fiscal events in the usual way.

The government has confirmed its intent to publish a response to this consultation by the end of the year. Further details of the government’s response will be set out in due course.

Any severance payments made to former Ministers of HM Treasury are recorded in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.