12 May 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
AskedIf she will meet with representatives of Heathrow Airport to discuss the potential inclusion of Heathrow Logistics Hubs as part of its expansion plans.
ReplyThe government supports airport expansion and has invited proposals for a third runway at Heathrow and expects proposals to be brought forward by the summer. The specific details of the proposals for a third runway are a matter for the promoters to consider but government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.
12 May 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedHow many and what proportion of people claiming tax relief for working from home between March 2022 and March 2024, have been found to be ineligible for such tax relief.
ReplyWork related expenses claims can be submitted by various methods. Due to high volumes of claims, it is not possible to produce data on claims that were found to be ineligible for a specific expense. We are encouraging customers to check they are eligible for expenses before they claim through our "Don't Get Caught Out" campaign and have introduced a new evidence requirement from 14 October 2024.
12 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether the Defending Democracy Taskforce will meet in each of the UK's (a) nations and (b) regions in 2025.
ReplyDefending Democracy must be a whole of UK effort, and the Government works closely with colleagues from the nations and regions on a range of issues relevant to the Defending Democracy Taskforce. This includes long term work to understand threats to our democracy and to share lessons and best practice emerging from the work of the Taskforce.In addition, the Government works closely with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to safeguard democratic processes and institutions. This has included the provision of a new cyber security offer to elected representatives in the devolved legislatures as well as dedicated police points of contact for elected officials to liaise with on security matters across all territorial forces in the UK.
12 May 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat living arrangements her Department makes for people seeking asylum when a hotel contract for their accommodation has been terminated.
ReplyAll those who remain eligible for support are moved to alternative accommodation.
9 May 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, how many species of plant that previously could not be traded between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been made available following discussions with the EU on horticultural issues in the last six months.
ReplyThe prohibition has been lifted on 20 key species of plants since EU Exit. The full list for the last 6 months is: four different kinds of cherry (Prunus avium, Prunus canescens, Prunus cerasus, and Prunus pseudocerasus), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). We continue to work closely with the horticultural sector, including through a Horticulture Working Group which meets regularly, in order to maximise opportunities for trade in plants and plant products within the United Kingdom. We are in active dialogue with the EU Commission on a number of other species which industry has prioritised.
8 May 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48852 on Diabetes, whether he has had discussions with universities on how studies into the causes of (a) diabetes 2 and (b) other related health conditions are funded.
ReplyThe Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which works in partnership with universities, the National Health Service, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes applications for funding in all topic areas, including diabetes. Funding opportunities are openly published on the NIHR website, which is available at the following link: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/ Universities and other stakeholders can propose research topics to the NIHR through its website, specifically at the following link: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic Each application is peer reviewed, and awards are made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
7 May 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhat steps she plans to take to support Northern Ireland based IT businesses who have been informed that they must provide a UK Internal Market Scheme number by GB based suppliers.
ReplyThe UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) allows authorised businesses to move eligible goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with zero duty and to benefit from the simplified processes under the Windsor Framework that took effect from 1 May. Any business established across the whole of the United Kingdom can apply for UKIMS, including a business sending goods established in Great Britain. The Government has carried out an extensive information campaign to ensure businesses are aware of the options available to them. Detailed guidance is available on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-authorisation-for-the-uk-internal-market-scheme-if-you-bring-goods-into-northern-ireland. The free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS) is also available to support businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with any queries they may have, including on how to acquire a UKIMS authorisation number.
30 Apr 2025·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedWhen he plans to announce a replacement for the Advanced Nuclear Fund.
ReplyAny announcements regarding funding for advanced nuclear power will be made in due course after the announcement of the Spending Review.
30 Apr 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedIf she will review the criteria required to be met for the proposed introduction of banking hubs.
ReplyThe Government continues to work closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far. Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and the Financial Conduct Authority, which oversees the access to cash regime.
30 Apr 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he plans to take to increase the numbers of Army Cadets.
ReplyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds North West (Katie White) on 9 April 2025 to Question 43391.
29 Apr 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the potential impact of sugar additives in soft drinks on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in young people.
ReplyScientific risk assessments and United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).The SACN has not carried out an assessment of the potential impact of sugar additives in soft drinks on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in young people. However, the SACN has considered the risk of sugar consumption and non-sugar sweetener (NSS) consumption on health outcomes, including the risk of type 2 diabetes.In 2015, the SACN published its report on Carbohydrates and Health and recommended that “the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages should be minimised in children and adults”. With respect to type 2 diabetes, the SACN noted that “a greater risk is associated with a higher intake of sugars-sweetened beverages”.With respect to children and adolescents, the SACN noted that “consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages, as compared with non-calorically sweetened beverages, results in greater weight gain and increases in body mass index”. Energy intakes that consistently exceed requirements lead to weight gain and obesity in the long term.On 2 April 2025, the SACN published its position statement on the World Health Organization’s guideline on NSS’. The SACN concluded that the evidence of the risk to health, including of type 2 diabetes, from consuming NSS’ is inconsistent. The SACN made a precautionary recommendation that the intake of NSS’ be minimised. With greater certainty of the impact of sugars on health, including type 2 diabetes, the SACN recommended that “swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks, and so reduce energy intake, at least in the short term. The long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake”.The SACN made a number of research recommendations and other recommendations to the Government.
22 Apr 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedHow many Child Trust Funds past their maturity date have not been claimed.
ReplyInformation on Child Trust Funds is available in HMRC’s Annual Savings Statistics.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2024
22 Apr 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to replace the Sustainable Farming Incentive in this financial year.
ReplyWe will provide further details about the reformed SFI in summer 2025.
8 Apr 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedHow many people have been detected as not having a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation in Northern Ireland since January 2025.
ReplyElectronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) were introduced in October 2023 to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream, and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK. They were more recently expanded to eligible non-European nationals (in November 2024) and European nationals (on 5 March this year). Data on the number of people not holding an ETA in Northern Ireland is unavailable. The Home Office will provide regular updates in the months and years ahead on how the ETA requirement is being implemented and enforced.
8 Apr 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhen he expects the Prostate Cancer UK-led Transform screening trial to reach any conclusions on future detection of the condition.
ReplyResearch is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year in research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer as the largest area of spend, at over £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. The NIHR funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research on prostate cancer.These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. The TRANSFORM trial is an important example of this. On 19 November, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial, to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer in order to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is leading the development of the trial, with the Government contributing £16 million through the Department.The first recruits to the trial are currently being invited to take part in the study, and the first point at which we will see significant new evidence will be approximately three years after the trial begins. The PCUK website outlines the interim points over the course of the TRANSFORM trial when findings will be shared, with further information available at the following link:https://prostatecanceruk.org/research/transform-trial
8 Apr 2025·Department for Transport·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43027 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how many public charging devices for electric vehicles there were per head of population in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, and (d) Northern Ireland as of 1 January 2025.
ReplyThe below table shows public electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 of the population in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as of 1 January 2025. EnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandPublic electric vehicle charging devices per 100,000 of population111.0112.799.935.6 Data on public electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, held by the Department for Transport, are sourced from the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap. Charging devices not recorded on Zapmap are not included and the true number of charging devices may be slightly higher than recorded in these figures.
8 Apr 2025·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42420 on Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, on how many occasions in the last five years have people who had animals being kept in domestic settings been found to be in breach of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
ReplyThis information may be held at local level by local authorities, but it is not information Defra collects or holds centrally.
4 Apr 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42419 on Foreign Investment in the UK: Northern Ireland, how many employees are specifically working with Invest NI to help promote investment (a) before and (b) during the Open Golf Championship at Royal Portrush in July 2025.
ReplyPromoting investment into Northern Ireland is a key priority for investment staff across the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Office for Investment, including the dedicated team of 10 based in Belfast (DBT NI). At present no dedicated member of staff is working specifically on The Open Golf Championship at Royal Portrush in July 2025, but staff are working on wider promotion of investment into Northern Ireland on an ongoing basis that seeks to take advantage of the focus that events like The Open can provide. DBT NI continues to work collaboratively with Invest Northern Ireland on a range of events and initiatives throughout the year.
4 Apr 2025·Treasury·Answered
AskedIf she will meet with representatives of the banking sector to discuss end of month payday payments.
ReplyThe Government was concerned to hear of the issues impacting customers of several UK banks earlier this year, particularly given these coinciding with end-of-month payment cycles, but understands that services were quickly restored. Engagement with specific firms is a matter for the sector’s regulators, including the Bank of England, Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority, who will continue to monitor the firms and the impact of the issues.
3 Apr 2025·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on the development of artificial intelligence models.
ReplyCompliance, productivity and familiarisation costs savings of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning reforms in the Data (Use and Access) Bill have been considered and can be found in the indirect benefits and costs sections of the impact assessment (IA). The ethical assessment can also be found in the impact on individuals section. The assessment of the effect on different organisations by size and sector can be found in the small and micro business assessment section of the IA here (particularly, Table 14, 24, 25, 26 & 34).