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Written Question
Crops: Morocco
Thursday 24th November 2022

Asked by: James Duddridge (Conservative - Rochford and Southend East)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make an assessment of any potential disruption to the UK Morocco Association Agreement and the risk to securing access to affordable fruits and vegetable sold in the UK market.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK Morocco Association Agreement has been in operation since 1 January 2021 and we are now working effectively with Morocco to assess how we can maximise trade under the agreement. At the trade sub-committee earlier this year, we discussed a range of priority sectors, including fruits and vegetables which constitute around 35% of all goods imported from Morocco to the UK.

There is an ongoing Judicial Review pertaining to the application of the Association Agreement to the Western Sahara. We are unable to comment as this is a matter of sub-judice whilst the matter is in UK courts.


Written Question
National Security Bill
Friday 11th November 2022

Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of clauses 79 to 83 of the National Security Bill on the ability of victims of (a) torture and (b) other crimes to seek redress for alleged actions by the UK contributing to that treatment.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is satisfied the measures in these clauses of the National Security Bill are justified, will help improve public protection and are proportionate in nature.

They will enable the UK’s security services to apply for:

  1. A reduction in civil damages in national security proceedings where a claimant has been involved in wrongdoing associated with terrorism;

  1. A court order that would freeze or forfeit damages payable where the court is satisfied that there is a real risk of a claimant using their award to fund acts of terror.

All applications will be subject to the independent determination of the courts on an assessment of the evidence in individual cases.


Written Question
Mortgages and Rents
Friday 4th November 2022

Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the number of residents failing to pay (a) rent and (b) mortgage payments as a result of increases in the cost of living in (a) the UK, (b) Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority and c) Cynon Valley constituency.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable with the rising cost of living. The Government has already taken immediate action to help households with the rising cost of living through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme. This is in addition to the £37 billion of targeted support for the cost of living this financial year, which will support homeowners and tenants alike. The Government has also announced an extra £500 million of local support in England via the Household Support Fund (bringing the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021).

To help prevent renters from falling into arrears, the Government has invested £316 million this year into the Homelessness Prevention Grant, which can be used flexibly by local authorities to meet their statutory duties and help vulnerable households at risk of homelessness. In addition, for those in receipt of welfare, the Government has committed to providing £100 million for Discretionary Housing Payments this year to provide financial support to low-income households with their rent or housing costs.

Mortgage arrears levels remain historically low. Out of a total of 8.4 million residential mortgages, according to the latest UK Finance data, 74,560 residential mortgages were in arrears at the end of June, 10% fewer than in the same period in the previous year.

Around 75% of residential mortgage borrowers are on fixed-rate deals and are therefore shielded from interest rate rises in the short term. If mortgage borrowers do fall into financial difficulty, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government has also taken a number of measures aimed at helping people to avoid repossession, including Support for Mortgage Interest loans for those in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders.


Written Question
Mortgages: Interest Rates
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of capping profit margins on standard variable rate mortgages.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into mortgage prisoners, published in November 2021, found that there are 47,000 mortgage prisoners who might benefit from switching to a new mortgage deal but are considered too high risk to do so, despite being up to date with payments.

The review makes clear that the reason mortgage prisoners are unable to switch are varied and complex. As such, there is no silver bullet to address the circumstances of this entire population of mortgage holders without being unfair to other borrowers.

The Government has already worked with the FCA to implement changes to its mortgage lending rules, removing the regulatory barrier that prevented some mortgage prisoners, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new products. These rules should allow customers to switch to an active lender as long as they meet the lender’s risk appetite and certain criteria, such as not looking to borrow more.

Ultimately, the pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. As such, the Government cannot force lenders to lend to borrowers that sit outside of their risk appetite.

Any further work on this issue must consider the impact and practicality of solutions and their effects on the wider mortgage market, including the resilience of firms and fairness to other borrowers. There is no evidence, for instance, that consumers have experienced detriment that would be resolved by an extension of the regulatory perimeter. It is also worth noting that the Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) charged by inactive firms are in line with those paid by borrowers in the active market. The Government remains open to practical and proportionate solutions to help mortgage prisoners that do not pose unacceptable financial stability risks, and are not unfair to other borrowers in the mortgage market.

More broadly, the Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why we have announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have also taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Millions of the most vulnerable households will receive £1,200 of support this year, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.

When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government also offers support to borrowers through Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans to homeowners in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts under the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol.


Written Question
Mortgages: Interest Rates
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a moratorium on interest rate rises for those with pre-2008 mortgages in non-lending closed books.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into mortgage prisoners, published in November 2021, found that there are 47,000 mortgage prisoners who might benefit from switching to a new mortgage deal but are considered too high risk to do so, despite being up to date with payments.

The review makes clear that the reason mortgage prisoners are unable to switch are varied and complex. As such, there is no silver bullet to address the circumstances of this entire population of mortgage holders without being unfair to other borrowers.

The Government has already worked with the FCA to implement changes to its mortgage lending rules, removing the regulatory barrier that prevented some mortgage prisoners, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new products. These rules should allow customers to switch to an active lender as long as they meet the lender’s risk appetite and certain criteria, such as not looking to borrow more.

Ultimately, the pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. As such, the Government cannot force lenders to lend to borrowers that sit outside of their risk appetite.

Any further work on this issue must consider the impact and practicality of solutions and their effects on the wider mortgage market, including the resilience of firms and fairness to other borrowers. There is no evidence, for instance, that consumers have experienced detriment that would be resolved by an extension of the regulatory perimeter. It is also worth noting that the Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) charged by inactive firms are in line with those paid by borrowers in the active market. The Government remains open to practical and proportionate solutions to help mortgage prisoners that do not pose unacceptable financial stability risks, and are not unfair to other borrowers in the mortgage market.

More broadly, the Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why we have announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have also taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Millions of the most vulnerable households will receive £1,200 of support this year, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.

When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government also offers support to borrowers through Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans to homeowners in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts under the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol.


Written Question
Mortgages
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving mortgage prisoners’ mortgages to active lenders.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into mortgage prisoners, published in November 2021, found that there are 47,000 mortgage prisoners who might benefit from switching to a new mortgage deal but are considered too high risk to do so, despite being up to date with payments.

The review makes clear that the reason mortgage prisoners are unable to switch are varied and complex. As such, there is no silver bullet to address the circumstances of this entire population of mortgage holders without being unfair to other borrowers.

The Government has already worked with the FCA to implement changes to its mortgage lending rules, removing the regulatory barrier that prevented some mortgage prisoners, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new products. These rules should allow customers to switch to an active lender as long as they meet the lender’s risk appetite and certain criteria, such as not looking to borrow more.

Ultimately, the pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. As such, the Government cannot force lenders to lend to borrowers that sit outside of their risk appetite.

Any further work on this issue must consider the impact and practicality of solutions and their effects on the wider mortgage market, including the resilience of firms and fairness to other borrowers. There is no evidence, for instance, that consumers have experienced detriment that would be resolved by an extension of the regulatory perimeter. It is also worth noting that the Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) charged by inactive firms are in line with those paid by borrowers in the active market. The Government remains open to practical and proportionate solutions to help mortgage prisoners that do not pose unacceptable financial stability risks, and are not unfair to other borrowers in the mortgage market.

More broadly, the Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why we have announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have also taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Millions of the most vulnerable households will receive £1,200 of support this year, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.

When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government also offers support to borrowers through Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans to homeowners in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts under the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol.


Written Question
Mortgages
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of incorporating closed book mortgages into existing mortgage regulatory frameworks.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into mortgage prisoners, published in November 2021, found that there are 47,000 mortgage prisoners who might benefit from switching to a new mortgage deal but are considered too high risk to do so, despite being up to date with payments.

The review makes clear that the reason mortgage prisoners are unable to switch are varied and complex. As such, there is no silver bullet to address the circumstances of this entire population of mortgage holders without being unfair to other borrowers.

The Government has already worked with the FCA to implement changes to its mortgage lending rules, removing the regulatory barrier that prevented some mortgage prisoners, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new products. These rules should allow customers to switch to an active lender as long as they meet the lender’s risk appetite and certain criteria, such as not looking to borrow more.

Ultimately, the pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. As such, the Government cannot force lenders to lend to borrowers that sit outside of their risk appetite.

Any further work on this issue must consider the impact and practicality of solutions and their effects on the wider mortgage market, including the resilience of firms and fairness to other borrowers. There is no evidence, for instance, that consumers have experienced detriment that would be resolved by an extension of the regulatory perimeter. It is also worth noting that the Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) charged by inactive firms are in line with those paid by borrowers in the active market. The Government remains open to practical and proportionate solutions to help mortgage prisoners that do not pose unacceptable financial stability risks, and are not unfair to other borrowers in the mortgage market.

More broadly, the Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why we have announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have also taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Millions of the most vulnerable households will receive £1,200 of support this year, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.

When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government also offers support to borrowers through Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans to homeowners in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts under the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol.


Written Question
Mortgages: Interest Rates
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits regulating interest-only mortgage lenders’ adjustment of variable rates.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) review into mortgage prisoners, published in November 2021, found that there are 47,000 mortgage prisoners who might benefit from switching to a new mortgage deal but are considered too high risk to do so, despite being up to date with payments.

The review makes clear that the reason mortgage prisoners are unable to switch are varied and complex. As such, there is no silver bullet to address the circumstances of this entire population of mortgage holders without being unfair to other borrowers.

The Government has already worked with the FCA to implement changes to its mortgage lending rules, removing the regulatory barrier that prevented some mortgage prisoners, who otherwise may have been able to switch, from accessing new products. These rules should allow customers to switch to an active lender as long as they meet the lender’s risk appetite and certain criteria, such as not looking to borrow more.

Ultimately, the pricing and availability of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. As such, the Government cannot force lenders to lend to borrowers that sit outside of their risk appetite.

Any further work on this issue must consider the impact and practicality of solutions and their effects on the wider mortgage market, including the resilience of firms and fairness to other borrowers. There is no evidence, for instance, that consumers have experienced detriment that would be resolved by an extension of the regulatory perimeter. It is also worth noting that the Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) charged by inactive firms are in line with those paid by borrowers in the active market. The Government remains open to practical and proportionate solutions to help mortgage prisoners that do not pose unacceptable financial stability risks, and are not unfair to other borrowers in the mortgage market.

More broadly, the Government understands that people across the UK are worried about the cost of living. That is why we have announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living this financial year. We have also taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Millions of the most vulnerable households will receive £1,200 of support this year, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.

When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, FCA guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government also offers support to borrowers through Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loans to homeowners in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts under the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol.


Written Question
Dogs: Electronic Training Aids
Friday 30th September 2022

Asked by: Sally-Ann Hart (Conservative - Hastings and Rye)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of banning e-collars on the number of dog attacks on livestock in England in the context of the report in the Sunday Telegraph on 27 March entitled Dog e-collar ban increases livestock deaths.

Answered by Scott Mann - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The proposed ban on the use of electric shock collars controlled by hand-held devices was developed after considering a broad range of factors, including the potential impacts of such a ban. HM Government considered academic research, public consultation responses, and direct engagement with the sector and concluded that these devices present an unacceptable risk to the welfare of dogs and cats and that their use should not be permitted.

HM Government takes the issue of livestock worrying very seriously, recognising the distress this can cause farmers and animals, as well as the financial implications. Data on the number, and outcome, of recorded incidents of livestock worrying is held by individual police forces. All reported instances of livestock worrying should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with tough sentences. The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, introduced in Parliament on 8th June 2021, includes new measures to crack down on livestock worrying in England and Wales.

Meanwhile we maintain that it is best practice to keep your dog on a lead around livestock. Natural England recently published a refreshed version of the Countryside Code, which highlights that it is best practice to keep dogs on a lead around livestock. The Code also makes specific reference to keeping dogs in sight and under control to make sure they stay away from livestock, wildlife, horses and other people unless invited. Moreover, the Code helpfully sets out certain legal requirements, encouraging visitors to always check local signs as there are locations where you must keep your dog on a lead around livestock for all or part of the year.

The statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs includes guidance and reminders for owners about their responsibilities to provide for the welfare needs of their animal, but also to keep their dogs safe and under control. The code of practice is available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697953/pb13333-cop-dogs-091204.pdf


Written Question
HM Courts and Tribunals Service: ICT
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru - Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the criteria are for determining (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low risk errors recorded on the Common Platform.

Answered by Sarah Dines

It is the function of HM Courts and Tribunals staff to make sure that systems are in place to enable the adjudication of the court to be accurately recorded in the Crown Court and the magistrates’ courts. The Common Platform is a new system for recording the decision of the court and training plans for legal advisers in magistrates’ courts include reference to ‘resulting risk levels’ of high, medium, and low, to highlight the potential impact of an error and the need for accuracy. No formal criteria were set out for the categorisation of these errors; the assessment was made by a group of experienced magistrates’ courts legal advisers. The training arrangements for staff initially involve the checking of all results entered onto the Common Platform by an individual. Only when there is assurance of consistent accuracy levels across all result types is ‘on the day’ checking reduced or removed for individual members of staff, with ongoing assurance provided through the regular governance checks.