9 Oct 2024·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the UK meets its 2030 nature recovery targets; and what steps he is taking to measure progress against those targets.
ReplyWe know Britain’s nature is in crisis. The State of Nature Report 2023 states that of species found in England, 13% are at risk of extinction from Great Britain. This Government is committed to delivering the species abundance, species extinction and habi...
8 Oct 2024·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking to (a) increase access to and (b) improve prostate cancer (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment, in the context of disparities in early detection rates across differe
ReplyThe Department has invested £16 million in the TRANSFORM trial which seeks to find ways to diagnose prostate cancer as early as possible. This trial will compare the most promising tests to look for prostate cancer in men that do not have symptoms, and ai...
8 Oct 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the (a) recent sentencing to death on charges of blasphemy of Shaughta Karan i
ReplyPakistan is a FCDO human rights priority country. We work to protect and promote human rights in Pakistan through our diplomatic engagement and programme funding. This includes regularly raising our opposition to the death penalty and concerns about the m...
8 Oct 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in Eritrea on (a) Christians imprisoned and (b) possible violations of (i) freedom of religion o
ReplyWe consistently raise the need to improve the human rights situation with the Eritrean Government. We advocate for national service reform and the end of arbitrary detentions, including detentions based on religion or belief. Eritrea is a priority country...
4 Oct 2024·Northern Ireland Office·Answered
AskedWhat estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the public inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane.
ReplyAs outlined in my Oral Statement of 11 September 2024, I have considered the likely costs and impact on the public finances. It is the Government’s expectation that the inquiry will - while doing everything that is required to discharge the State’s human ...
4 Oct 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, when she plans to bring forward the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill; what recent estimate she has made of when the provisions of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill wil
ReplyAs outlined in the King’s Speech, the Government will act quickly to provide homeowners with greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes by implementing the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. This includes a new valuati...
4 Oct 2024·Northern Ireland Office·Answered
AskedWhether he plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to provide (a) financial and (b) other support for Harland and Wolff’s Belfast shipyard.
ReplyFollowing a comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial profile and the criteria set out in UK Government risk policies, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement on 22 July that the UK Government h...
4 Oct 2024·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWith reference to the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, published on 29 April 2024, what her policy is on the use of (a) cash payme
ReplyThe consultation entitled Modernising Support for Independent Living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July. We received over 16,000 responses, demonstrating the depth of feeling about this important policy ar...
4 Oct 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has had recent discussions with his international counterparts on efforts to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
ReplyThe Prime Minister recently discussed Ukraine during his visits to Germany, France, Ireland and Italy, and we are in constant contact with the Government of Ukraine. The Prime Minister recently hosted President Zelenskyy in Downing Street, where they disc...
12 Sept 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department is taking with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to help ensure the maintenance of the graves of British servicemen in Simon’s Town, South Africa.
ReplyThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) maintain 185 graves, mostly of the fallen from the two World Wars at Dido Valley Cemetery, and (on behalf of the Ministry of Defence) 41 graves from the Anglo-Boer War at the Seaforth Cemetery in Simon’s Town,...
11 Sept 2024·Treasury·Answered
AskedIf she will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the personal tax allowance to £15,000.
ReplyThe previous government announced the Personal Allowance would be maintained at its current level of £12,570 until April 2028. The government must ensure the tax system supports strong public finances. Sound fiscal policy is key to economic stability and,...
3 Sept 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help increase levels of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
ReplyAs set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 September, it is the assessment of this Government that Israel could reasonably do more to ensure that lifesaving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza, in the light of the appalling humanit...
3 Sept 2024·Treasury·Answered
AskedIf she will provide additional funding to the PSNI for training new recruits.
ReplyThe Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) receives Barnett consequentials on spending on policing and justice by the UK Government in England and Wales. Any Barnett consequentials in 2024-25 are subject to a 24% needs-based uplift, to reflect the higher level ...
29 Jul 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether he plans to increase the size of the Royal Navy fleet.
ReplyThe Strategic Defence Review will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence, including the Royal Navy, to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century, deliverable and affordable within the resources available to Defence within the trajectory to 2.5%. The review will report in the first half of 2025.
22 Jul 2024·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedWhether she is taking steps to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in (a) policy and (b) legislation.
ReplyThe rights of disabled people under this Convention are largely reflected in domestic policies and legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland. We are committed to championing the rights of disabled people. Our Equality (Race and Disability) Bill will enshrine in law the full right to equal pay for disabled people, including disability pay gap reporting for large employers. Additionally our Employment Rights Bill will support people - including disabled people - to access flexible working and break down barriers to opportunity.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to (a) support communities across the UK in taking ownership of assets at risk of closure and (b) ensure their continued use for community benefit through the Community Ownership Fund.
ReplyThe English Devolution Bill will empower communities with a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces. We will make further announcements in due course.