Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce household energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tackling affordability is this government’s number one priority. The Government has acted on energy bills, with our decisions at last year’s Budget driving the price cap down: those decisions are now factored into bills for the years to come.
We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. The country must learn the right lessons from this war: rising energy bills show the British people are paying the price of our exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, and that is why we are doubling down on clean power.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of introducing a discounted essential energy block for all households; and how this compares to the current cost of means-tested energy support schemes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the need to support vulnerable households which are struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power. That is why the Autumn Budget acted to take an average £150 of costs off people’s energy bills. This support came on top of the £150 off energy bills provided for around 6 million families under the Warm Home Discount, cutting fuel poverty.
A discounted essential energy block is one form of energy bills support, the cost of which would depend on the size of the subsidised block and how many households are supported. As important as the support mechanism is the ability to target it at those who most need support. We are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of relevant data to enable us to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library is testing how public sector data can be used to better target support.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 19 May 2026 to Question 754 on Immigration: Personal Income, whether her Department conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the salary thresholds referred to in that answer.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model.
As mentioned in my previous response, the earnings thresholds have been selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax in England at the higher and additional rate respectively. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the net fiscal impact of applying the Government's proposed settlement reforms to visa holders already in the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what cost-benefit analysis her Department has made of lengthening routes to settlement for skilled workers already in the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to link main applicants and their dependents in its visa records, for the purpose of analysing household earnings.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the fiscal impact of applying the Government's proposed settlement reforms at the household as opposed to individual level.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what evidential basis her Department chose the salary thresholds to qualify for discounts to the settlement qualifying period.
Answered by Mike Tapp
The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.
We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.
Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the language requirement for settlement from B1 to B2 on BNO visa holders.
Answered by Mike Tapp
Being able to communicate effectively in English is essential for accessing public services, participating in civic life, securing employment, and building strong connections within local communities.
The Government is continuing to consider whether the B2 standard should be extended more widely and future decisions will take into account responses to the consultation on earned settlement.
In the meantime, the current B1 English language requirement for settlement under the BN(O) route continues to apply.
Asked by: Yuan Yang (Labour - Earley and Woodley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to remove funding for the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM).
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
As part of a review of its infrastructure investments, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has concluded that the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) no longer represents good value for money due to rising operating and maintenance costs and limited planned usage.
Only two projects are scheduled to use the aircraft between 2027 and 2029, accounting for around 27% of available flying hours, and FAAM-related research represented a small proportion of overall investment in atmospheric science. NERC has engaged directly with affected programme leads to explore alternative ways to deliver the research, including deploying FAAM instrumentation on other platforms, or by exploring alternative approaches. NERC has already begun investing in new technologies offering lower emissions, greater responsiveness and improved cost effectiveness, including a Net Zero Aerial Capability scoping programme (in collaboration with Innovate UK) on UAV development and investments to explore further autonomous capabilities.
This decision reflects a strategic shift towards more sustainable, flexible and modern technologies. Ceasing FAAM operations will also release over £32 million for reinvestment within UK environmental science, supporting lower-emission, scalable capabilities that support broader range of researchers.