Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 3,201–3,220 of 3,399 · this parliament
Whether he plans to end the use of one or two word ratings used by the Care Quality Commission.
The Department is thoroughly reviewing the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and as part of that work, we have asked the CQC to improve the transparency of their ratings. The Department has not yet made a decision on changing the CQC’s ratings system.
Pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3748 on Private Education: Business Rates, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of removing the eligibility of private schools to business rates relief on those schools in South Suffolk constituency.
As announced on 29 July 2024, the government will legislate to remove the eligibility of private schools in England to business rates charitable rates relief. The Government will confirm the introduction of these tax policy changes at Budget, at which point the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will certify the Government’s costings for these measures. The changes will raise revenue that will help to deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people. The Government has carefully considered the impact that these changes will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 September to Question 3748 on Private Education: Business Rates, what estimate she has made of the amount of revenue that will be raised in each remaining year of the current Parliament as a result of removing the eligibility of private schools in England to business rates charitable rates relief.
As announced on 29 July 2024, the government will legislate to remove the eligibility of private schools in England to business rates charitable rates relief. The Government will confirm the introduction of these tax policy changes at Budget, at which point the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will certify the Government’s costings for these measures. The changes will raise revenue that will help to deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people. The Government has carefully considered the impact that these changes will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools.
Whether she plans to end the use of A to D ratings for the prisons system.
There are currently no plans to end the use of A to D ratings for the prisons system.
If he will make an estimate of the potential impact on consumer energy bills of the total lifetime cost of delivering (a) the Western Link and (b) all current and future stages of the Eastern Green Link offshore cabling.
Electricity network reinforcements are only approved where they are in the interests of consumers and help reduce overall system costs. For both the Western Link and the Eastern Green Link projects, decisions to proceed were based on robust cost-benefit analyses, approved by Ofgem. Ofgem review proposed project costs and ensure that network companies spend efficiently, protecting consumers from unduly high costs. These reinforcements are designed to help balance the GB grid, bringing renewable generation in Scotland to demand centres further south. While they have significant build costs, they will help reduce balancing costs, bringing overall savings to consumers.
Whether she has made an assessment of the sanction compliance of LetterOne’s recent acquisition of a 15 per cent stake in Harbour Energy.
The UK’s financial sanctions regime is overseen by HM Treasury’s Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). OFSI’s position regarding the ownership and control status of LetterOne is that the entity is not subject to UK financial sanctions. In relation to wider control of Harbour Energy, following consideration under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster allowed the proposed acquisition of 46.5% of Harbour Energy Plc by BASF Handels- und Export GmbH to proceed, subject to necessary and proportionate measures to address national security concerns. Details can be found in the Final Order published by the Cabinet Office on 30th July on gov.uk. The Government cannot comment on detail of national security assessments.
Whether he has a target for increasing the use of UK steel in defence.
The UK steel industry is an important strategic national asset, vital for our security and our economy. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as Defence programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK. The future pipeline for steel requirements is published to enable UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts. As part of the Strategic Defence Review, this Government is committed to developing a defence industrial base that is able to better support our own and allies security while also helping to drive economic growth. We will ensure a strong defence sector and resilient supply chains, including steel, across the whole of the UK.
Which (a) agencies and (b) departments are authorised to manage defence research and development projects.
Defence invests in research and development (R&D) from across the Defence enterprise. Defence’s core R&D budgets are held in Head Office. The rest of Defence’s R&D investment comes mainly from the Capability Portfolios of each Top Level Budget and is delivered through Defence Equipment and Support, Defence Digital, the Atomic Weapons Establishment and the Submarine Delivery Agency, as well as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Defence and Security Accelerator.
If he will set out the assumed spending envelope for the Strategic Defence Review.
The Strategic Defence Review will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century, as deliverable and affordable within the resources available to Defence within the trajectory to 2.5%. TheTreasury will set out the path to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defenceat a future fiscal event.
How many people in South Suffolk constituency are in receipt of the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Annual statistics on the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients and households by local authority and by Westminster parliamentary constituency are made publicly available via GOV.UK. The latest release contains data on individual and household level statistics for winter 2022 to 2023. For Winter 2022 to 2023, 24,610 people received a Winter Fuel Payment in South Suffolk constituency.
If she will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of the introduction of VAT on independent schools in South Suffolk constituency.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Specialist Post-16 Institutions (SPIs) offer a unique mix of education, health, and social care services. The Treasury is working with the Department for Education and the SPI sector to establish the future VAT treatment of these institutions. This will be communicated when the Government confirms the introduction of this policy at Budget. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent schools on employment in such schools in South Suffolk constituency.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Specialist Post-16 Institutions (SPIs) offer a unique mix of education, health, and social care services. The Treasury is working with the Department for Education and the SPI sector to establish the future VAT treatment of these institutions. This will be communicated when the Government confirms the introduction of this policy at Budget. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support East Anglian wine producers.
The Government is committed to supporting rural economies and ensuring the UK has a thriving and diverse economy that promotes local jobs and boosts growth. The English wine sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors, which continues to attract domestic and foreign investment. Defra works closely with the sector to support its ambitions and drive growth and exports. This in turns helps to provide high-quality jobs in rural communities.
If he will estimate the cost to the defence industry of lost output resulting from disruption linked to political protest in the last 12 months.
The Ministry of Defence regularly monitors risks and issues facing our suppliers as part of our supply chain resilience work. We have not made a specific estimate of financial costs over the past 12 months.
Whether he has had discussions with his US counterpart on the decision to suspend certain licenses for arms exports to Israel.
The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US counterpart on a wide range of matters of mutual interest.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to change the legal status of neighbourhood plans.
The Government does not intend to require local planning authorities to amend neighbourhood plans in the future. Communities will continue to be able to choose whether they review or update their neighbourhood plan.
Whether she plans to remove business rate relief for private schools.
As announced on 29 July 2024, the government will legislate to remove the eligibility of private schools in England to business rates charitable rates relief. This was a tough but necessary decision that will secure additional funding to help deliver the government’s commitments relating to education and young people, including opening 3,000 new nurseries, rolling out breakfast clubs to all primary schools, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers. The business rates policy change will be legislated for through a local government finance bill, led by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will be introduced following the Budget and is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary process.
What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) industrial and (b) military participation in the F35 programme is not impacted by the decision to ban certain arms exports to Israel.
Military and industrial participation in the F35 programme will not be affected by the decision to suspend some exports licenses to Israel. This Government has an unwavering commitment to the security not just of this country but to our allies around the world. The global F35 programme has a broader strategic role in NATO, our support for Ukraine, and the capability of our allies.In this context, with a view to ensuring international peace and security, the Government took the decision to exclude exports to the global F35 programme from the suspension decision, except where going direct to Israel.
Whether he plans to reduce the training budget for (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy in the current financial year.
The Chancellor has confirmed a challenging in year deficit across all Departments. A spending review process is underway. Departmental spending plans will be set out in the usual way.
Whether he has made changes to the threshold of financial approvals for defence expenditure requiring ministerial sign off.
The Department continues to keep its financial position under review given the scale of the financial pressure across Government. This has included some targeted additional controls on committing spend to ensure effective prioritisation. The introduction of revised thresholds for Ministerial approval to ensure spend continues to support defence priorities.