Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lee Anderson this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1,161–1,180 of 1,402 · this parliament
What diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.
The department has diversity, equality and inclusion targets for Senior Civil Servants from ethnic minority backgrounds (13%) and staff with a disability (12%) only.
Media and Sport, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets her Department has for staff recruitment.
In line with the wider Civil Service, DCMS does not have recruitment targets for EDI, but is committed to represent the diversity of the UK population.
What the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.
We can confirm the Department for Business and Trade spent £53,491.37 on translation services from April 2024 – 25th March 2025.As the department for economic growth, we support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. This figure includes providing translation services and also where the Department required translations or interpreters.
What the total cost was of providing legal aid to asylum seekers in the last year.
Expenditure data for asylum seekers across all legal aid schemes is not held centrally.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does, however, publish information regarding legal aid expenditure as part of its official statistics on a quarterly basis, including the cost of legal aid provided in respect of asylum matters funded as Controlled Work. That information can be found at column G of table 5.3. Controlled Work covers the provision of legal advice regarding asylum matters and representation before the First Tier (Immigration and Asylum) Tribunal. The LAA also publishes information about the cost of Legal Representation pertaining to immigration and asylum matters (see tables 6.5 and 6.7).
What the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.
The Department uses external suppliers to meet its requirements for translation and interpretation services. In the 2024 calendar year, the cost to the Department was £16,833.
Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost was of providing translation services in his Department in the last year.
The amount of expenditure recorded for translation services in the 2023/24 financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March, is £1,699.13.
What the total cost was of providing translation services in her Department in the last year.
The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the BBC Board on impartiality in their coverage.
Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. This responsibility is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues. Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, is responsible for holding the BBC to account on its duties on due impartiality.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with social media companies on online safety for children.
This year, as platforms start to comply with the duties under the Online Safety Act, the Government has high expectations that there will be a significant change in online experiences for children and Ofcom stands ready to act against services who fall short in protecting users online.Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders, including social media companies, to discuss how we can continue to protect children online. Details of ministerial meetings, including the purpose of meetings, are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.
Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the accountability of social media companies on online safety.
The Online Safety Act puts new duties on social media companies and search services, making them responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.The duties are now coming into effect, with platforms now being required by law to implement measures to reduce the risk of illegal content and activity on their services, with additional protections for children coming this Summer.Ofcom has a range of strong enforcement powers to use if services fail to comply with the Act, including the ability to issue fines, and implement business disruption measures.
What steps he is taking to support veterans in (a) the UK and (b) Ashfield constituency.
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in Ashfield, get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Over 1000 veterans have used Op RESTORE to date.Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service in search of new job opportunities, and via Op ASCEND, the employment pathway for veterans.
Whether her Department is taking steps to help protect freedom of speech in the hospitality sector.
Free speech is a cornerstone of British values. The right to freedom of expression is a long-held fundamental right under Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination protects people with a religion or philosophical belief from discrimination, as well as to those who lack a religion or belief. The definition of religion or religious or philosophical belief is in line with Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights which stipulates that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is also compatible with Article 10 which covers the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authorities. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is Great Britain’s national equality and human rights body. The Commission safeguards and enforces the laws that protect people’s rights to fairness, dignity and respect.
What steps her Department is taking to help end crossings by small boat across the English Channel.
I refer the Honourable Member to the statement made by the Home Secretary on 10 February 2025, when moving the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill for its second reading.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect persecuted Christians in Syria.
We are closely monitoring the treatment of all civilians in Syria, including those from the Christian community. In my Statement in Parliament on 10 March, and in the Foreign Secretary's public statement on 9 March, we made clear that the interim authorities must ensure the protection of all Syrians. I raised this with the Syrian Interim Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, on 17 March, we consistently emphasise the need for a Syrian-led political transition that leads to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.
What steps he is taking to help ensure that pricing for energy bills is competitive.
Energy prices for households on default tariffs are determined by Ofgem’s price cap, which is set at a level that protects such consumers from paying inefficient prices, while allowing for competition between suppliers. Prices for other tariffs, including fixed tariffs and non-domestic tariffs, are set by suppliers, who compete for customers on the basis of price and quality of service.
Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has been spent on projects that have not been launched in each of the last five years.
This information requested is not held centrally.
What assessment she made of the potential merits of holding a public inquiry into the murder of Sir David Amess.
The Home Office is committed to learning all the lessons from the appalling attack on Sir David Amess. We have therefore published both the Prevent Learning Review on the case in the interests of maximum transparency, and tasked Lord Anderson, the interim Prevent Commissioner, with conducting a rapid review of the case.Lord Anderson will identify whether changes are required arising from the specific handling of that case; examine improvements made to the Prevent programme since the attack and determine whether they have sufficiently strengthened the system; and identify any remaining gaps or shortcomings in the wider programme that require further improvement. This review will be published and swift action will be taken to implement the findings.The Government does not believe that a public inquiry would unearth any information that has not already been considered by the Courts, by the Prevent Learning Review, and by the ongoing Anderson review. However, the Home Secretary has confirmed that we will scrutinise all the previous reviews that have taken place to see if there are any questions that still need to be answered or issues that still need to be addressed, and we will act as necessary if any such gaps are identified as a result of that process.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support food production in the UK to increase food security.
As we set out in our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economic growth and boosting Britain’s food security. This includes: o Seasonal workers: At the NFU conference, the Government announced extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually transitioning away from seasonal migrant labour. reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.o Backing British produce: British farmers handed a major boost under new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the government’s ambition, for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards where this is consistent with our domestic and international legal obligations.o Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.o Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid and support them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.o A fairer supply chain: The Government is committed to making the supply chain fairer, with new regulations for the pig sector coming in by the end of March 2025 to make sure contracts clearly set out expectations and only allow changes if they have been agreed by all parties. We are engaging with industry on similar proposals for eggs and fresh produce.o £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example the chemical free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy equipment. The list of available items will be published in due course.o Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.o Strengthening Britain’s biosecurity: Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.o Investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and in our country’s history.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers.
The Government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production. This is funding over 37,000 live Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements, increased payments under Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), and Round 1 and 2 Landscape Recovery projects. It will also fund new Higher Tier agreements and Capital Grants, both of which open or re-open to applications later this year. We have allocated £60 million to the Farming Recovery Fund for farmers affected by extreme weather, and £208 million to protect against disease threats. We have also recently announced further policies including extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years, backing British produce in government catering contracts, and investing £110 million in agri-technology. A new commissioner for the tenant farming sector will be appointed, and a veterinary agreement with the EU will be sought to ease export red tape. The government will also protect farmers from low welfare trade deals and lower energy bills by connecting renewable energy to the National Grid. Other measures include a land-use framework for food security and nature recovery, a Cross-Government Rural Crime Strategy, and a British Infrastructure Council to drive private investment in rural areas. The Government is also committed to making the supply chain fairer, with upcoming reviews on the pig, egg, poultry, and fresh produce sectors.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure value for money for water bills.
It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate, alongside ensuring companies are only funded for new projects and customers don’t pay twice for projects companies have already been funded for. During its first week in office, the government announced that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.