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 1,221–1,240 of 1,402 · this parliament
What information her Department holds on the average processing time for Disclosure and Barring Service checks conducted through Hampshire Police.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent from the Home Office.Accordingly, the Home Office does not hold the information requested on the average processing time for DBS checks conducted through Hampshire Police.
Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29494 on Social Security Benefits: Fraud, if she will make it her policy to (a) record and (b) publish annually the number of benefit fraud investigations which result in benefits being revoked.
The Department is not currently considering changing the data we record or publish about the outcomes of fraud investigations. We are confident that the data we collect and publish in the Annual Reports and Accounts is comprehensive and proportionate – this can be found at the link here: DWP annual report and accounts.
Communities and Local Government, whether public funds will be made available to Palestinians granted the right to settle in the UK via the Local Authorities Housing Fund.
Palestinians are not directly accommodated under the Local Authority Housing Fund. They can, however, seek advice from their local authority if they need support with housing, who will assess what homelessness duties are owed, based on the circumstances of the household.
What support his Department is providing to help increase the number of GP appointments in Ashfield.
We recognise that patients are finding it difficult to see a general practitioner (GP), and we are committed to fixing the front door to the National Health Service.We are investing an additional £889 million in general practice to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The changes to the contract will improve services for patients and make progress towards the Government’s health mission, supporting the three key shifts the Government wants to achieve, namely from analogue to digital, sickness to prevention, and from hospital to community care).In addition, in October 2024, we provided an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme enabling the recruitment of 1,000 newly qualified GPs across England. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in general practice, which will benefit thousands of patients that are struggling to get the care they need.
What steps his Department is taking to improve the diagnosis rate of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome.
Improving health outcomes for people who live with long-term conditions, including postural tachycardia syndrome, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of long-term conditions for use by healthcare professionals and commissioners. The NICE has produced a clinical knowledge summary on the clinical management of blackouts and syncope, which sets out how clinicians should assess and diagnose postural tachycardia syndrome. This was last updated in November 2023, and is available at the following link: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blackouts-syncope/diagnosis/assessment/. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their population, and the Government expects ICBs to take account of NICE guidelines and other best practice when designing their local services.
If he will provide additional funding for research into Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including postural tachycardia syndrome, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic.
How many arrests of illegal workers have resulted in deportation to their country of origin in the last six months.
The Home Office publishes data on returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’, which can be found here: Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab). This does not include a separate category for individuals arrested for illegal working, and that could only be collated and verified for the purposes of this answering question at disproportionate cost.
How many cases relating to unsuccessful applications to the Ukraine Family Scheme are (a) awaiting hearing and (b) ongoing in (i) Crown and (ii) magistrates courts.
There is no right of appeal or administrative review against decisions on Ukraine Family Scheme applications.Immigration appeals are not heard in Crown or Magistrates' Courts
What steps he is taking to help increase access to dentists in areas with fewer dentists than the national average.
We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.The additional 700,000 appointments will be available across the country, with specific targets for each region. These targets are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. The methodology is set out in Annex A of a letter issued by NHS England to ICBs. The letter and Annex can be found here: NHS England » Arrangements for NHS urgent primary dental care during 2025/26 and confirmation of the closure of the New Patient Premium scheme” ICBs have started to advertise posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. As of 10 February 2025, in England, 35 dentists have commenced in post and a further 33 dentists have been recruited but are yet to start in post. A further 249 posts are currently advertised.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief on (a) the UK’s food security and (b) trends in the numbers of farms in the next five years.
The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. The reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, in 2026-27 paying more inheritance tax. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can in most circumstances pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. The Government’s commitment to farmers and the vital role they play in feeding our nation remains steadfast. Food security is national security. That is why, despite the fiscal constraints, we have prioritised £5 billion for the farming budget over the next two years. This includes the largest ever amount of funding directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history, and £60m to support farmers with the impacts of extreme wet weather. At the Oxford Farming Conference in January 2025, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out the Government’s long-term vision to make farming more profitable and put more money in the pockets of British farmers. This includes a set of reforms such as using the Government’s purchasing power to buy British Food, planning reforms to speed up the delivery of farm buildings and other infrastructure which supports food production, and work to ensure supply chain fairness.
If his Department will take steps to prioritise buying medical devices from UK companies.
The United Kingdom’s medical technology (MedTech) sector is valuable for patients, the National Health Service, and the economy, creating high valued jobs across the country. This is why the Department published the MedTech Strategy and subsequent One Year On documents, setting out the advancements we are putting in place to drive improvements to the ecosystem.On 13 February 2025, the Government published its National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS), which sets out the priorities for public procurement, and maximises the impact of every pound spent. The NPPS is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-procurement-policy-statementThis will come into effect alongside the commencement of the Procurement Act 2023, on 24 February 2025. The Government is determined to ensure public money spent on public procurement annually delivers economic growth, supports small businesses, champions innovation, and creates good jobs and opportunities across the country.The act will create a simpler and more flexible, commercial system, and will more effectively open public procurement to new entrants such as UK small businesses and social enterprises, so that they can compete for and win more public contracts. The act also allows contracting authorities to reserve below threshold contracts for UK suppliers, as set out in Section 15 of a published guidance note for the act. The full guidance on below-threshold contracts is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-below-threshold-contracts-html
Communities and Local Government, for what reason she increased council tax referendum thresholds.
The government has confirmed it will maintain the previous government’s policy of a 3% core council tax principle and the 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with OBR forecast. In a limited number of cases the government has set bespoke referendum principles following requests for councils. These requests have been considered on a case-by-case basis. We have not agreed to all requests and no request has been agreed to in its entirety to reduce the impact on taxpayers. The ability to request additional increases already existed, but this government is being stricter to protect taxpayers from excessive rises. At its highest, the previous government allowed a council tax rise of 15% – this year no council will see an increase of higher than 10%, with five of the six councils seeing a lower increase. The government has agreed to provide these flexibilities, but it remains the responsibility of individual authorities to decide the level at which they set their council tax. We have been clear to all councils that they should take whatever steps locally they consider will help to protect the most vulnerable residents from the impact of any additional increase.
What his planned timetable is for publication of the review of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to my hon Friend the Member for Falkirk (Euan Stainbank) on 29 January 2025 to Question UIN 25410.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national awareness campaign on prostate cancer.
NHS England run Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address the barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point. The Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on signs and symptoms of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. This advice is available publicly on the NHS.UK website, at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/
What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the cost of motor insurance premiums.
Our cross-Government taskforce on the cost of motor insurance is exploring how we can stabilise or reduce premiums to break down barriers to opportunity and grow the economy, delivering the Plan for Change. We will provide updates about the taskforce in due course.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing (a) beer duty and (b) other alcohol duties for pubs.
Pubs make an enormous contribution to our economy and society, and this is recognised in the tax system. Draught Relief provides a duty discount for all draught products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). Around 60% of alcoholic drinks served in pubs are covered by this relief. At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor increased this relief from 9.2% to 13.9%. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint.
What steps her Department is taking to prevent irregular migrants working in the UK from accessing (a) social security benefits and (b) the NHS.
Under UK legislation, access to work is reserved to those who are eligible and have lawful immigration status in the UK. All employers are required to undertake right to work checks before employing someone and can incur civil penalties of up to £60,000.00 per employee if found to be employing migrants without the right to work. Irregular migrants are subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds policy which means they cannot access social security benefits, and nor can they access NHS treatment without charge. The Home Office operates data sharing arrangements with other Government Departments to confirm immigration status information to support eligibility checks.
What steps her Department is taking to improve the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures.
I refer the Hon. Member to Question UIN 15502 answered on 26 November 2024.
Whether he has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis on providing additional support to prevent the closure of key strategic steel plants.
Our commitment to the steel industry remains unwavering. On Sunday 16 February we published a consultation on our Plan for Steel. Along with work already ongoing across Government, this will provide a clear evidence base on the needs of the steel sector and its customers. This work will ensure the best use of our funding commitment of up to £2.5bn to deliver change and unlock private investment, ensuring a bright and sustainable future for UK steelmaking.
What assessment he has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of illegal sales of (a) tobacco, (b) vape and c) alcohol products.
Evidence shows that when we have introduced targeted tobacco control measures, they have had a positive impact on tackling the problems of illicit tobacco. When the age of sale was increased from 16 to 18 years old in 2007, this created 1.3 million more people who were no longer able to be sold cigarettes, and in theory would be in the market for illicit cigarettes. However, in practice, the number of illicit cigarettes consumed fell by 25% from 10 billion in 2005/06 to 7.5 billion in 2007/08. Overall, the consumption of illicit cigarettes has gone from 15 billion cigarettes in 2000/2001 to 1.5 billion cigarettes in 2022/2023.The Government is investing over £100 million over five years to boost HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force’s enforcement capabilities to tackle illicit tobacco, supporting their Illicit Tobacco Strategy. In 2025/26, we will invest £30 million of new funding in total for enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards, Border Force, and HM Revenue and Customs, to tackle the illicit and underage sale of tobacco and vapes.We have invested £3 million over two years specifically to enhance the work led by National Trading Standards to tackle underage and illicit vape sales. This is done through enhancing market surveillance, enforcement action at ports, intelligence development, and financial support for the storage and disposal of vapes. The new funding for 2025/26 will build on this work to tackle underage and illicit vape sales.On alcohol, the Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol in England and Wales, and sets out offences relating to the purchase and consumption of alcohol by children. The protection of children from harm is one of the four licensing objectives under the act, and the statutory guidance that accompanies this act makes it clear that the illegal purchase and consumption of alcohol by minors is a criminal activity that may arise in connection with licensed premises, and that this should be treated particularly seriously by licensing authorities. The guidance also sets out that licensing authorities are expected to maintain close contact with the police, young offenders’ teams, and trading standards officers about the extent of unlawful sales and consumption of alcohol by minors, be involved in the development of any strategies to control or prevent these unlawful activities, and to pursue prosecutions.Since 2016, HM Revenue and Customs has operated a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit alcohol. This initiative has seen duty losses successfully reduce by over £500 million annually. This has been achieved through the introduction of measures such as the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme, which controls the supply of wholesale alcohol in the United Kingdom. Collaborative efforts with other enforcement agencies such as Trading Standards and Border Force have also enhanced compliance and enforcement, significantly reducing the availability of illicit alcohol.