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Written Question
Housing: Construction
Monday 28th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 30 June (HC61433), whether the proposed restriction on installing gas boilers for newly constructed dwellings applies to the development of blended green hydrogen and natural gas for heating purposes.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Future Homes Standard (FHS), to be introduced through the Building Regulations in autumn this year, will effectively preclude the use of gas boilers in new homes. A consultation setting out detailed technical proposals for the FHS was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. Hybrid and hydrogen-ready boilers would not meet the standards proposed in the consultation. We are carefully considering the feedback we received to the consultation and intend to publish the government response confirming our final position in due course.

Written Question
Immigration: Fees and Charges
Thursday 24th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 8 July (HL8809), whether (1) a certificate of sponsorship fee, and (2) an immigration skills charge, constitute a taxable benefit for employers in circumstances where those costs cannot be passed on to employees.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

If an employer pays for a certificate of sponsorship fee and the immigration skills charge, as a result of sponsoring a worker from overseas, these costs could be liable to Income Tax. Whether tax is payable will depend on individual circumstances as tax exemptions may apply. For this reason, each circumstance will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Government has no plans to change the tax treatment of immigration fees. However, all taxes are kept under review as part of the tax policymaking process.

Division Vote (Lords)
23 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 131 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 198 Noes - 198
Division Vote (Lords)
23 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 132 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 271 Noes - 138
Division Vote (Lords)
23 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 137 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 290 Noes - 143
Division Vote (Lords)
23 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 130 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 171 Noes - 189
Division Vote (Lords)
22 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 116 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 17 Noes - 120
Division Vote (Lords)
22 Jul 2025 - Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2025 - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 145 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 267
Division Vote (Lords)
21 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 136 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 106 Noes - 140
Division Vote (Lords)
21 Jul 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Blunkett (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 266 Noes - 162