Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Hinchliff this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 206 · this parliament
If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Wild Justice's report entitled Collateral Damage: The Rodenticide Stewardship Scheme - is it working?, published in Novem
The Rodenticides Stewardship Scheme was developed by The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK to promote responsible use and is overseen by the Government Oversight Group for Rodenticide Stewardship (GOG), chaired by the Health and Safety Executive...
What assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of differences in the cost per mile of domestic (a) plane and (b) train travel; and if her Department will make an assessment of the pote
The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airlines’ business models can at times accommodate more flexible pricing than the railway. The Government sets the percentage that regulated rail fares can be increased each year. Regula...
What notice the Post Office plans to give of closure of branches; and what plans he has to to mitigate the potential impact of such closures on rural communities.
No decisions to close any or all of the remaining Directly Managed Branches in rural and urban areas have been taken as of yet. Given the difficult financial position the Post Office is in, it is right that it reviews the costs of its operations and consi...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding free school transport access to include students between 16 and 19 years old.
The department recognises that the cost and availability of public transport can be an issue for some 16 to 19 year olds when travelling to their college or sixth form, particularly for those with special educational needs (SEN) or those living in rural a...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the provisions for dairy free options for children with dairy (a) allergies and (b) intolerances in the school milk subsidy scheme.
This is a devolved matter, and I am answering with responsibility for the school milk scheme in England. Only milk and relevant dairy products are currently eligible for subsidy in the school milk scheme and there are no plans to subsidise dairy-free beve...
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 October 2024 to Question 5661 on Private Education: VAT, whether her Department has made a specific assessment of the potential impact of the policy on children with special educatio
This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy and will confirm the introduction of these changes at the Budget on 30 October. The Office for Budget Responsibility will also certify the government’s costings for these ...
What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of draught duty relief for (a) beer and (b) cider.
The current alcohol duty system supports the industry 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 pric...
If he will ensure that Departments only use (a) regulated, (b) registered and (c) qualified interpreters.
Government departments can access interpreters through the Crown Commercial Service’s RM6141 Language Services agreement, which offers innovative language solutions tailored to meet the core needs of the public sector.To secure a place on the RM6141 Langu...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to appoint a Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
This Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not believe in. Envoy roles are under Ministerial consideration and will be decided upon in due course. In the meantime, ...
If he will take steps to reform the military honours system to allow those serving in operations abroad to receive appropriate honours upon completion of their service.
Between 2012 and 2014, Sir John Holmes conducted an independent review of the policy governing the award of military medals. Sir John’s reviews were subject to detailed discussion by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and the co...
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a social tariff in the energy market.
The Government has no plans to introduce an energy social tariff this winter. However, we are committed to ensuring vulnerable households are supported with their energy bills and we are looking at all options on how to support these households. The Gover...
What steps she is taking to ensure adequate resources to support the surge in applications for pension credit.
Prior to the Winter Fuel announcement, Retirement Services Directorate (RSD) had 352 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff deployed on Pension Credit claims. Since the announcement, a deployment plan has been agreed to deploy an additional 537 FTE into RSD to ...
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of moving the qualifying week for Pension Credit to (a) 30 September, (b) 31 October and (c) 30 November 2024 on the number of eligible claimants.
There is no qualifying week for Pension Credit. A claim for Pension Credit may be made at any time and may be backdated for up to three months as long as the entitlement conditions are met during that period. This means that a pensioner who was eligible f...
Whether she has made an assessment of the (a) potential merits and (b) viability of auto enrolment for pension credit.
It is not currently possible to accurately identify people who may be entitled to Pension Credit nor to determine how much they may be entitled to on the basis of the data which DWP holds. Like all means-tested benefits, a person’s eligibility for Pension...
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of awarding teaching status to Lister Hospital; and when his Department plans to respond to the application on this matter.
Lister Hospital is part of the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Officials are in correspondence with the trust about amending their establishment order to reflect teaching status.
If he will conduct a review on insourcing public sector language services.
The Government will always aim to secure value for money and social value. As part of this, contracting authorities are required to take an analytical evidenced based approach on each contract and undertake a Delivery Model Assessment when making decision...
When she plans to publish the independent review of her Department’s language services.
We have been considering the findings of the independent review to help inform the development of new tender specifications. This is a complex process and covers a wide range of agencies within the Ministry of Justice. Once all internal governance has ...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to encourage (a) the USA and (b) Europe to review the risk of their arms exports to Israel being used to commit serious violations of international
The UK has some of the most robust export licencing criteria in the world, which states that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in violations of International Humanitarian Law. We have deeme...
What steps she is taking to reduce knife crime.
The government has set on a mission to halve knife crime over the next decade, and is already taking decisive action to prevent young people from being drawn into violent crime and to get dangerous knifes off our streets.
What estimate her Department has made of the number of people serving prison sentences for prosecutions under the the Public Order Act 2023.
The Ministry of Justice is aware of the recent media reporting of the sentencing of individuals under the Public Order Act 2023. The Department releases statistical data on offenders on a quarterly basis, with the most recent release being 25 July 2024 covering data up to 30 June 2024. As of 30 June 2024, there were no prisoners serving prison sentences for prosecutions under the Public Order Act 2023.