Every parliamentary written question tabled by Peter Bedford this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 575 · this parliament
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 19 March in response to Question 120757.
Media and Sport, what was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The Home Office does not publish details of the value of non-contractual severance payments separately.However, the Home Office does publish overall special payments spending on a financial year basis and details of this can be found through the links below.Pages 190-191 (pages 198-199 on the reader)Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 2025Pages 190-191 (pages 194-195 on the reader)Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023 to 2024Pages195-196Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023Page 136Home_Office_ARA_21-22_Final_-_Gov.uk.pdf
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The total value of non-contractual severance payments across the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) was £22,500 in 2023, £nil in 2024 and £60,000 in 2025.
Innovation and Technology, what was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s first set of accounts were for 2023/24 where the expenditure on special severance payments was £99,390. Expenditure in subsequent years can be found in the relevant annual report and accounts.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
I refer the hon. Member for Mid Leicestershire to the answer of 7 April 2026 to Question 121697.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Rt Hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings on 30 March 2026 to Question 121274.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The total value of severance payments is set out in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years.
What was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the department in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
I refer the hon. Member to the response provided to Question 121694 on 25 March 2026 to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes). Figures for financial year 2025-26 will be published later this year in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.
What estimate her Department has made of the number of small boat migrants that will enter the UK in 2026.
The Home Office does not make a single estimate of this kind. A range of scenarios are considered for operational planning purposes.
If she will provide the latest data her department possesses on the asylum claim acceptance rate for cases that were decided by Home Office immigration caseworkers that are foreign nationals.
The information requested could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
If she will provide the latest data her department possesses on the asylum claim acceptance rate for cases that were decided by Home Office immigration caseworkers that are British nationals.
The information requested could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration since July 2024 on social cohesion in the UK.
The Home Office will increase existing English language requirements for economic migrants and introduce new English language requirements for dependants of those coming under economic routes.These measures support the integration of those coming here to work here (and their families) into UK communities, as well; as ensuring that those coming to work here are less vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in the workplace.
If she will make an assessment of the suitability of foreign nationals being employed as immigration caseworkers in her department.
The Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR), available on Gov.uk, govern eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality and must be followed by government departments. The CSNR allow for certain posts to be reserved for UK nationals only, which is considered where it is deemed necessary and in accordance with the published criteria. These rules have been in place since 2014.
How are musculoskeletal conditions being prioritised within the neighbourhood health framework.
The Neighbourhood Health Framework is designed to provide clarity and consistency to integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and their partners, in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.The framework outlines the national minimum aims and objectives of Neighbourhood Health Services. This includes improving health outcomes with specific focus on high-priority cohorts, including people with frailty. Whilst frailty and musculoskeletal overlap, we recognise that many people with conditions affecting their joints, bones, and muscles across their life course are not frail.It is important that reforms are locally led, as ICBs and local authorities are best placed to design services that make sense for their local populations. Local systems can choose to go further than the minimum aims set out in the framework, and this could include musculoskeletal services.We know there are areas where we need to go further. Delivering a Neighbourhood Health Service will be an incremental process as local understanding develops and national reforms progress.
What work is being done to investigate the use of body mass index thresholds as a means of determining eligibility for joint replacement surgery.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Rushcliffe on 20 November 2025 to Question 89688.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Inheritance Tax on private pension provision.
Most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension will form part of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. This removes distortions resulting from changes that have been made to pensions tax policy over the last decade, which have led to some pensions being openly used and marketed as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth, rather than as a way to fund retirement. These reforms also remove inconsistencies in the inheritance tax treatment of different types of pensionsThe Government will continue to incentivise pension savings for their intended purpose of funding retirement, with ongoing tax reliefs on both contributions into pensions and on the growth of funds held within a pension scheme. Pensions continue to benefit from very significant tax benefits, with gross income tax and National Insurance contributions relief costing £78.2 billion in 2023-24. It is therefore crucial to ensure that tax reliefs on pensions are being used for their intended purpose – to encourage saving for retirement and later life – rather than for passing on wealth free of inheritance taxEstates will continue to benefit from the normal nil-rate bands, reliefs, and exemptions available. For example, the nil-rate bands mean an estate can pass on up to £1 million with no inheritance tax liability and the general rules mean any transfers, including the payment of death benefits, to a spouse or civil partner are fully exempt from inheritance tax. More than 90 per cent of UK estates will continue to have no inheritance tax liability in 2030-31 following these changes and the reforms will only affect a minority of those with inheritable pension wealth.
Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to betting and gaming levies on illegal gambling operations.
The issue of illegal gambling is a concern for this Government. We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed. As part of the 2025 Budget, the Treasury announced that the Gambling Commission will receive an additional £26 million across three years to increase investment, resources and capacity to tackle the illegal market. The government has also launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce which brings together a wide range of stakeholders to take action against the illegal market. We will continue to engage with the sector and the Gambling Commission to understand any impacts of duty changes.