Every parliamentary written question tabled by Sarah Olney this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 81–100 of 242 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67936 on Manufacturing Industries: Electricity, when he will publish his Department's consultation on a new British industrial competitiveness scheme.
The Department for Business and Trade will launch a consultation on the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme before the end of this year.
Whether the next Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce Meeting will occur before 2026.
The Government intends to convene a further meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in the near future. Officials will be in touch to arrange the specifics of this in due course.
What discussions her Department had with the Mayor of London on the planned closure of front counters in police stations in London.
Decisions regarding the management of local police resourcing and estates, including police stations, is a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents).They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience.
Whether he plans to publish a response to the report by the National Audit Office entitled Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, published on 16 June 2025, HC 951.
The government does not plan to publish a formal, separate response to the National Audit Office (NAO) report, Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, HC 951, published on 16 June 2025. The government has acknowledged and accepted the findings of the report. The report is also being reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee who will provide their recommendations in due course. It should be noted that the government has taken significant steps to improve both the oversight and enforcement of performance standards in the Civil Service Pension Scheme administration, primarily through the new contract with Capita and enhanced internal controls. Capita has been contracted to assume full administrative responsibilities from 1 December 2025.
When the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce next plans to meet.
I intend to convene a further meeting of the Taskforce in the near future to discuss next steps. My officials will be in touch to arrange the specifics of this in due course.
Communities and Local Government, in what way compliance with accessibility regulations for new build homes is monitored.
In the initial stages, a building control application is required for new build homes. This is reviewed by building control bodies to ensure compliance with building regulations, including Part M – Access to and use of buildings.During the build process, progress on site may be checked and monitored, using a number of methods, including on site visits, where the inspector may ask the builders on site to open up parts of the build in order to check compliance, and give advice if needed.At the end of the build process, if a building complies with relevant regulations, a completion certificate will be issued.
When she expects the Legal Aid Agency's digital services covering civil legal aid will return online; and what recent discussions she has had with the Legal Aid Agency on this matter.
We expect that the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) digital platform and services will begin to be restored from early September onwards and this will be a phased return. The LAA has written to representative bodies and providers to update them that the old Portal will be replaced by a new, secure single sign-in tool for LAA online services (SiLAS). This represents a recovery and transformation model which has been subject to testing by a small pilot group throughout August. This is subject to testing, security and legal criteria being met.The expected phased restoration is as follows:In mid-September, Crime systems (Crime Apply, and Submit a Crime Form) will be available for access.From mid to late September, Civil systems (Civil Apply, and the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS)) will be available for access.Services relating to functionality previously provided by the Controlled Work Administration (CWA) system are expected to return from October.The LAA continues to engage with representative bodies to help shape the steps to service restoration in a way which supports legal aid providers most effectively. Regular updates are being provided to providers. The LAA continues to publish information and updates about SiLAS on its FAQ page: Legal Aid Agency cyber security incident: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK.
Whether he plans to conduct a review of blood donation rules for people over the age of 70.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), with further information available at the following link:https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/JPAC is due to conduct a review of the upper age limit for new and returning donors in 2026, following analysis of adverse events over the preceding 12 months since NHSBT, and other UK blood services, adopted its updated guidelines for returning donors in 2024. A copy of the guidelines is attached.The current maximum age of first-time donors was extended from 60 to 65 years old in line with Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 limits on the safe age range for new donors, with further information available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/50/contentsThere is no age limit for regular donors, who may continue to give blood over the age of 72 years old if they remain in good health and have made at least one full donation in the last two years.Returning donors, those who have given blood anywhere in the world without an adverse reaction, can return to donating up to, and on, their 72nd birthday, and then can continue to donate as long as they remain healthy
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to mandate higher accessibility standards for new build homes.
Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities. Everyone deserves to live in a decent home that is suitable for them and meets their needs. The revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, requires local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those of older and disabled people, and to reflect this in planning policies. Where an identified need exists, plans are expected to help bring forward an adequate supply of accessible housing. The Government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.
Communities and Local Government, what are the delivery rates of M4(2) accessible and adaptable homes.
The data requested is not held centrally although the English Housing Survey does collect data on accessibility and adaptations within the home.
What recent progress she has made in drafting the Equality and Human Rights Commission's draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations; and what discussions she has had with relevant organisations on this.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the six week consultation and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The EHRC has sought views from a wide range of affected stakeholders on their proposed changes to the Code. The Government was clear that there should be sufficient time for the consultation to be conducted widely and broadly, listening to diverse voices. The Government will consider the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the minister will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have a 40 day period to consider the Code, at which point it will be published.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the planned higher multiplier for properties with rateable values above £500,000, broken down by business sector.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system. In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025. To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024. Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
What her planned timeline is for the publication of the interim report on business rates.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system. In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025. To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024. Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
What information her Department holds on the proportion of businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector that will (a) not qualify for retail, hospitality and leisure relief and (b) pay a higher multiplier due to business properties with rateable values above £500,000.
At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for business rates reform and invited industry to co-design a fairer business rates system. In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025. To deliver our manifesto pledge, from April 2026, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we also intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from April 2026 - those with RVs of £500,000 and above. This represents less than one per cent of all properties. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) have published data on properties with RVs above £500,000 based on the previous valuation, broken down by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-domestic-rating-property-counts-and-rateable-value-rv-for-properties-in-england-with-rv-over-500000. The VOA also routinely publish data on the whole commercial property stock by sector online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rating-stock-of-properties-2024. Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the VOA. The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect which businesses are within scope of the new higher rate. The revaluation process is ongoing. The VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year.The rates for the new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new multiplier arrangements.
With reference to Table 9.2 of her Department's report entitled Updated Appraisal Report: Airport Capacity in the South East, published in October 2017, whether it remains her Department's estimate that the net present value of a Heathrow northwest runway has a high of £3.3billion and a low of minus £2.2billion.
The latest published information on the net present value of a Heathrow Northwest runway is contained in the “Addendum to the Updated Appraisal Report” published June 2018 which updated the Department’s estimate to a net present value of £2.9bn to minus £2.5bn in 2014 prices[1]. Economic benefits as reported in the Updated Appraisal Report also fed into the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS). The Department has committed to reviewing and updating the ANPS, and has invited proposals for a third runway to be brought forward by the summer. Once proposals are received, the government will review the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) which provides the basis for decision making on granting development consent for a new runway at Heathrow. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airport-expansion-updated-cost-and-benefits-appraisal.
What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the UK Climate Change Committee's report entitled the Sixth Carbon budget, published in December 2020.
As the UK’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, transport has an important role in the UK economy meeting the Sixth Carbon Budget. Transport emissions reduced by 10% between 2019 and 2023, but must fall faster to achieve our legal targets. The Government is committed to achieving this through turbocharging the rollout of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, overhauling public transport services to make sustainable choices more convenient for more users, making the UK a world-leader in the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels, and delivering our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy. The Government will produce an updated delivery plan for meeting legislated carbon budgets later this year, with policy detail for all sectors provided up to the end of the Sixth Carbon Budget.
With reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to support manufacturing industry before the British industrial competitiveness strategy is published in 2027.
This government recognises that high electricity costs are a key challenge for British businesses.Alongside commitments set out in the Industrial Strategy, our clean power mission is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our Clean Power 2030 Plan published in December 2024 outlines how we will make Britain a clean energy superpower - clean homegrown energy that we control will protect households and businesses alike from the rollercoaster of global energy prices.We will set out further details on plans to decarbonise and electrify our manufacturing sector, in the forthcoming Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan in October.
With reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what his Department's timetable is for publishing its consultation on a new British industrial competitiveness scheme.
From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour, which could benefit over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors, like automotive, and foundational manufacturing industries in the supply chains, like chemicals. Eligible businesses will be exempt from paying the costs of the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market. My department is working towards launching a consultation to determine eligibility which will open shortly. The scheme is subject to review in 2030.
With reference to p.30 of The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, what steps he plans to take to support manufacturing businesses with high energy costs that are not part of the British industrial competitiveness scheme after it launches in 2027.
This government recognises that high electricity costs are a key challenge for British businesses.Alongside commitments set out in the Industrial Strategy, our clean power mission is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Our Clean Power 2030 Plan published in December 2024 outlines how we will make Britain a clean energy superpower - clean homegrown energy that we control will protect households and businesses alike from the rollercoaster of global energy prices.We will set out further details on plans to decarbonise and electrify our manufacturing sector, in the forthcoming Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan in October.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure the provision of accessible housing for disabled Ukrainian refugees.
We provide a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival to councils. Councils can use this funding flexibly to support households as best suits the local area, including using the funding for measures to support guests to access secure and appropriate accommodation in the private rental sector. All Ukrainian guests have access to public services, including benefits to support the costs of private rented housing. The Citizens Advice Bureau can advise on which benefits individuals may be eligible for and how to apply for those. Council housing teams can also offer advice to Ukrainians about the range of housing options available locally.