Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the protection of free speech in Scotland.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
This Government is committed to protecting free speech.
It is the responsibility of the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament, working with Police Scotland, to ensure that the hate crime legislation is implemented and enforced in a way that protects freedom of speech and has the confidence of people in Scotland.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the early learning and development of children at home.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is investing over £300 million to enable 75 local authorities to create family hubs, and to improve vital services to give every baby the best start in life, including support for parenting, perinatal mental health and parent infant relationships, and infant feeding. An additional £29 million has been made available to these local authorities to improve early language development, by supporting parents to help their children learn at home through the provision of evidence-based support with home learning.
In January 2024, the department launched a national campaign ‘Little Moments Together.’ It offers free resources and advice for parents to enhance children’s language and communication development on the NHS Better Health Start for Life website at: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/. The department’s focus is on educating parents about brain development in the first five years of life, and the crucial role they play. The campaign encourages parents to chat, play, and read more with their children, suggesting ways to fit opportunities into their busy schedules in and around the home. The ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign can be viewed online at: https://campaignresources.dhsc.gov.uk/campaigns/better-health-start-for-life/better-health-start-for-life-home-learning-environment-2024/.
In addition, the department is working with early years national voluntary and community sector partners, including the National Literacy Trust, to assist family hubs to deliver home learning support to disadvantaged and low-income families. The department has provided £4.5 million in grant funding for partners to develop resources using the ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign messaging, offer peer-led activities directly to parents, and to engage with disadvantaged groups locally on home learning through the developing family hub networks.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance entitled Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, published on 6 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the changes from the guidance published ahead of the 2015 general election; and whether the Commission consulted political parties during the development of the revised guidance.
Answered by Cat Smith
The Commission sought external legal advice on the requirement for the reporting of spending during the long campaign, after receiving feedback from political parties. That advice differed from the position established by the Commission. The Commission is now in the process of reflecting that advice in its guidance.
The Commission has a responsibility to provide guidance for political parties and campaigners which helps them meet their legal obligations. It considers the impact that changes to its guidance have on its regulated community, but has a duty to accurately reflect the law.
The Commission has a constructive relationship with the party panels, and it regularly consults on key areas of its work, both formally and informally. The Commission always welcomes feedback from political parties on areas where it can better help them meet their legal obligations.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance, Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, what the evidential basis is for the assertion that an item of candidate spending provided by a party counts towards both (a) the long campaign spending limit for a candidate and (b) the party spending limit; how the treatment of notional expenditure and agent-authorised expenditure differs; and whether the Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact on party spending limits.
Answered by Cat Smith
The Electoral Commission’s guidance aims to support campaigners to meet their obligations which are set by the UK’s complex political finance laws. It develops guidance based on legal advice and interpretation of these laws.
The Commission sought additional external legal advice on reporting of spending during the long campaign and is in the process of reflecting that legal advice in guidance.
The guidance will provide clarity on the parts of the candidate spending laws that impact how a candidate should report spending in the long campaign.
It will also clarify that there is a requirement for a candidate return for spending during the long campaign and therefore spending is not reportable in a party return.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance, Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, whether it is a requirement for a candidate to publish a candidate spending return for the long campaign; and what guidance the Commission has provided to hon. Members on that issue.
Answered by Cat Smith
It is a requirement for candidates to provide any candidate spending during the long campaign in a return to their Returning Officer.
The Commission provides guidance for all candidates to help them meet their legal obligations, which is applicable to those Hon. Members seeking re-election at the next UK parliamentary general election.
It also provides additional bespoke advice and support to Hon. Members and their staff, as it does for all other political parties, campaigners and candidates.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance, Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, what assessment the Commission has made of the impact of General Data Protection Regulations on its (a) interpretations of and (b) guidance on long campaign returns and spending.
Answered by Cat Smith
Candidates have a legal requirement to submit a spending return for the long campaign to the Returning Officers who in turn must forward them to the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission and Returning Officers must process the data in the return according to their respective functions as set on in UK law. All data collected by the Commission is processed according to its obligations under data protection laws.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of energy tariff standing charges on small businesses.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem issued a Call for Input on standing charges which closed on 20 January 2024. It included an invitation to submit views on the issues affecting standing charges in the non-domestic retail sector. Ofgem are currently analysing responses and reviewing the make-up and structure of standing charges.
The Government recognises that businesses are facing pressure through their energy bills. That is why on 30 March 2024, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State and I wrote to Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.
https://twitter.com/ClaireCoutinho/status/1774001008953217079
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions she has had with Ofgem on trends in the level of commercial energy tariff standing charges.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 30 March, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State and I wrote to the Chief Executive of Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.
Ofgem launched a call for input in November 2023 on standing charges in the non-domestic and domestic retail markets, looking at how they are applied to energy bills and what alternatives could be considered. Ofgem is currently analysing the responses and will publish its response in due course.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department has taken to help SMEs pay their energy standing charges.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Standing charges are a matter for Ofgem as the independent economic regulator. Ofgem recently conducted a call for input looking at how standing charges are applied to energy bills. Ofgem is analysing the submissions it received and will publish its response in due course. www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/launch-review-standing-charges-energy-bills
The Government recognises that businesses are facing pressure through their energy bills. That is why on 30 March 2024, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State and I wrote to Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.
https://twitter.com/ClaireCoutinho/status/1774001008953217079
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance her Department issues to companies that have difficulties paying the standing charges on their commercial energy tariffs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The standing charge is matter for Ofgem. Ofgem launched a call for input in November 2023 looking at how standing charges are applied to energy bills and what alternatives could be considered. Ofgem is analysing the responses and will publish its response shortly.
Contract negotiations are a matter for businesses and their energy supplier. If a company is concerned about their ability to pay their energy bills, the Government suggests contacting their supplier as soon as possible. It may be possible to negotiate a new contract, including whether a contract without standing charges is available, or to agree a payment plan to help the company to better manage its energy payments.