Allan Dorans

The rule of law is at the heart of the UK constitution. The duty of the Law Officers is to ensure that the Government acts lawfully at all times. I take that responsibility seriously including in my role as legal adviser to the Government and when attending Cabinet, and that will not change.

The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was one of the most notorious crimes of the past 40 years and my thoughts remain with all who loved her.

However, as is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, the report and the other records relating to this matter have been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.

The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was one of the most notorious crimes of the past 40 years and my thoughts remain with all who loved her.

However, as is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, the report and the other records relating to this matter have been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.

The murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher was one of the most notorious crimes of the past 40 years and my thoughts remain with all who loved her.

However, as is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, the report and the other records relating to this matter have been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2021.

The UK Government regularly engages the devolved administrations on the negotiations and preparations for the end of the transition period. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) on 3 September, attended by devolved administration Ministers, which included a discussion on readiness. I also chaired one of my regular meetings on readiness with devolved administration Ministers on 1 October. The Government remains committed to continuing this engagement.

There is no deep sea mining activity underway or approved in UK territorial waters.

The UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards are in place.

We would engage in public consultation ahead of making a decision to issue any UK-sponsored deep sea mining exploitation licence.

Safety is our overriding priority at Sellafield. The annual environmental monitoring and dose assessment reports from Sellafield Ltd and the annual Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) reports produced by the environmental regulators (including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) provide comprehensive assessments of the impacts of discharges from the Sellafield site to the environment.

The RIFE report for 2022 shows that total radioactive discharges from Sellafield decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021.

Their assessments are based on the extensive environmental monitoring programmes conducted by the operators and regulators and both programmes are conclusive that the environmental impacts of the Sellafield site are within legal limits. This work is subject to independent scrutiny through the Department of Health and Social Care Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment Contaminations working group and the West Cumbria Sites Stakeholder Group.

It is essential that consumers of heating oil get a fair deal.  There is an open market for the supply of both domestic and non-domestic heating oil in the UK. This provides the best long-term guarantee of competitive prices.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave my Hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South on 28 February 2022 to Question 125580.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave my Hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South on 28 February 2022 to Question 125580.

Data regarding the electricity generation in megawatt-hours derived from burning wood pellets at the Drax power station is not available due to commercial confidentiality.

The supply chain target for biomass supported under the Renewable Obligation and Contracts for Difference scheme is 240 kgCO_2eq per MWh (from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2020), and 200 kgCO_2eq per MWh (from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025), though generators may perform lower than that.

The Department does not hold supply chain emissions data for coal.

In accordance with the Government’s strict sustainability criteria, biomass needs to be sourced from areas managed in a way that is consistent with sustainable forest management practices, irrespective of the sourcing location. Further information on sustainable forest management that informs the UK’s sustainability criteria can be found at:

https://foresteurope.org/workstreams/sustainable-forest-management/#.

DCMS is working to enable the development of a secure and trusted digital identity marketplace in the UK so that people can more easily and safely prove their identity and eligibility for goods and services, and businesses can save time and money by using digital technologies with confidence in their identity verification processes. The latest prototype (beta version) of the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework is published on GOV.UK.

As of 6 April 2022 ID checks required as part of pre-employment, right to work, right to rent and criminal record checking processes have been enabled to be carried out digitally by identity providers certified against the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework. We have no plans to make digital identities compulsory.

The Gambling Act Review is wide-ranging and aims to ensure that the regulation of gambling is fit for the digital age. We will publish a white paper setting out our conclusions and next steps in the coming months, with appropriate consideration of impacts being made at all stages.

The Government welcomed the English Premier League’s decision to show live games on the BBC for the first time in its history, whilst fans cannot attend matches.

However, scheduling decisions are for the BBC and the department does not hold data on the number of English and Scottish club matches shown live on any BBC channels.

Emissions from aircraft are strictly regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO sets global standards to limit emissions of oxides of nitrogen, particulates and some other air pollutants from aircraft engines.

Most recently, ICAO set particulate emissions standards for aircraft engines in 2019, which have now been adopted into UK law and came into force on 1 January 2023. These were the first scientifically based global certification standards for aircraft particulate emissions.

Defra monitors air quality and assesses its impacts on an ongoing basis. Data from our nationwide monitoring networks can be found on UK-AIR.

National soil monitoring under the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme began in 2022. NCEA will provide high quality data to assess the state and condition of natural capital assets, ecosystems, and biodiversity in terrestrial and freshwater environments. As part of this, up-to-date and comprehensive soils data is a priority of the programme and is being measured through projects such as the strategically sampled England Ecosystem Survey and the England Peat Map.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are continuing to develop an electronic permitting (e-permitting) system through which traders and individuals would be able to apply for CITES permits and certificates online. The system would be accessible for all CITES listed specimens including live falcons.

Timelines for progressing this work are currently subject to further discussion however we remain committed to delivering an efficient and modern domestic regime.

On 1 June 2020, the Export Health Certificates (EHC) Online service was made available by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This service allows exporters to apply for certain EHCs using a fully online application process.

The EHCs to export captive birds (live falcons) to the United Arab Emirates and Japan were released on the EHC online service on 1 June 2020, replacing the paper-based application process.

A further 13 EHCs for the export of captive birds to various countries will be available for use via the online service by the end of 2020.

We are monitoring the situation carefully and are aware of the recent Covid-19 cases in mink. However, there is currently no evidence suggesting there being a link between the spread of Covid-19 and the global trade in fur. Farming for fur was banned in England and Wales in 2000 and in Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2002, and there are no mink farms in the UK. Therefore the risk to the UK population from these outbreaks in mink is negligible.

Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on the findings that mink can effectively maintain the virus which causes Covid-19.

The UK Government works to ensure that Christian and other religious minorities are not discriminated against during the distribution of UK aid.

The UK is committed to delivering its aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.

Vulnerable religious minority groups will experience crises such as COVID-19 outbreaks differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.

The situation of minority communities is taken into account when assessing those most in need of protection and assistance. This includes when a community is being targeted or is otherwise vulnerable because of their faith. We actively consult civil society including faith-based organisations to understand how best to support vulnerable groups. DFID’s due diligence assessments ensure that all organisations have the correct procedures in place to tackle any discrimination including religious minorities. We regularly challenge our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities.

On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable, including those people who are most vulnerable because of their faith.

The UK is committed to delivering its humanitarian aid according to internationally recognised humanitarian principles. These principles ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance. This includes vulnerable religious minorities.

DFID’s use of country context analysis has increased the extent to which religious dynamics and religious groups are factored into all of our country programmes. DFID undertakes interdisciplinary analysis of a country’s politics, society, state and economy to identify the most significant problems that hinder development and the main entry points and opportunities to create change. There is a strong emphasis on how politics, security, and demographics interact with economic growth and human development. This includes the role of religion and the persecution of religious minorities.

Vulnerable groups such as disabled people and religious minorities, will experience crises such as COVID-19 differently. Crises are likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of vulnerable religious communities and other vulnerable groups should be taken into account when developing practical programmes of assistance.

On 8 June, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State responsible for Human Rights, hosted a roundtable to hear from faith leaders and faith-based development organisations about the specific challenges minority faith communities are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Network Rail is committed to keeping Ayr station operating safely. The derelict hotel building adjacent to the Station is owned by a private landlord. It is undergoing a feasibility study into the long-term future of this building, this is being led by South Ayrshire Council and is due early this year. Once Network Rail have assessed the results of the feasibility study they will continue the conversation around Ayr station to find a workable solution.

In 2018, the Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy Model. The model provides a clear assessment of the relative environmental impacts, including on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality, of a range of fuel and powertrain options for cars, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles over the period to 2050, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The Transport Secretary is exploring options for green hydrogen in transport across freight, buses, trains, maritime and aviation and how the UK can lead the world in its deployment and use. Further details will follow in due course.

The Government announced on 30 June that it will work with devolved administrations to carry out a connectivity review, looking at how best to improve road, rail, air and sea links between our four nations.

The Department anticipated, and then saw, an increase in demand for its services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It responded by rapidly expanding the space available, on a temporary basis, predominantly in major conurbations. The focus was on areas with good transport links and in buildings that were accessible for both colleagues and customers.

This enabled the Department to provide a workplace that was safe for claimants and colleagues and ensured we could adhere to the Government guidance in place at the time. To ensure flexibility, premises were acquired on short-term, flexible lease arrangements to ensure we could reduce the size of the estate at the appropriate time.

DWP already uses a secure electronic system to allow customers to upload certain categories of evidence to the department.

We have been carrying out extensive research to expand this capability to cover other services such as pensions. Our expectation is that this capability will possibly be available towards the end of the next financial year 2022/3.

I have not had these conversations with the Chancellor because a Universal Basic Income is not targeted at the poorest in society and is not an appropriate way for the Government to distribute money.

This Government set out a substantial package of targeted measures to provide support to people affected by coronavirus, which can be delivered quickly and effectively through existing systems.

The Coronavirus Record Service shows an individual’s dates of vaccination, the vaccine administered and the vaccination site, which is available at the following link:

www.coronavirus-record.service.nhs.uk

The NHS COVID Pass also shows vaccination details or test results and is available through the NHS App, NHS.UK and by letter, which can be requested through NHS.UK or via 119. Individuals will usually be able to get their pass within 24 hours of having received a vaccination.

The NHS COVID-19 app has been designed for use by people in England and Wales and does not recognise postcodes from elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government has developed their own contact tracing app, Protect Scotland, and people resident in Scotland are encouraged to use this app. Contacts between users of these apps will be detected and users will be notified of potential exposures. Scottish app users can continue to use the Protect Scotland app whilst visiting England and Wales.

We have some of the finest, globally-recognised medical research charities right across the United Kingdom, which are an integral part of our world-leading life sciences sector. Last week I met medical research charities to discuss what more we can do to support them and our life sciences sector as a whole go from strength to strength across all parts of the UK.

It is vital that a significant proportion of people who are offered take up a COVID-19 vaccine in order to protect themselves as well as other vulnerable individuals. However, there are no plans at present for a COVID-19 vaccine to be mandatory as the Government operates a system of informed consent for vaccinations.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will provide advice on clinical prioritisation based on the best available clinical, modelling and epidemiological data. This will depend on the properties of the vaccine, those most at need (including health and care workers) and the unique medical circumstances of individuals.

Whilst the pandemic is ongoing, no travel is risk free. Advice on air travel will remain under constant review to take into account the latest situation in each country. Healthcare will remain accessible to all and there are no plans to exclude unvaccinated individuals from key services or activities.

We regularly raise our concerns regarding our exclusion from the list of countries eligible for e-visas with the Government of India (GoI). The Prime Minister, whilst Foreign Secretary, raised this matter with the Indian External Affairs Minister during her visit to India in March. We continue to work closely with the GoI on this issue, while respecting it is for them to determine the types and validity of the visas it offers. British nationals can continue to use the GoI's regular/paper visa application services for all visa categories. We will update India Travel Advice with the latest information if there are any changes in India's visa rules.

The UK Government understands the impact that the ongoing suspension of direct flights has had on the business, academia and tourism sectors, as well as those separated from family and friends. The Department for Transport and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been working together to seek agreement from the Chinese Government for the necessary conditions to be met to provide for the resumption of direct scheduled passenger services. We continue to raise this in Beijing and London at the highest levels.

The UK uses several tools to put pressure on the Syrian regime to release detainees, which is a key tenet of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We recognise that justice and accountability for detainees is a central issue for the UN-led political process and we fully support the UN Syria Envoy's efforts to work for the release of detainees, as a vital step towards a political settlement to end the conflict. The UK has contributed over £13 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations. Additionally we continue to pursue sanctions as a policy tool to hold the Syrian regime to account and to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict. We have raised the plight of detainees at the UN Security Council and through our leadership at the Human Rights Council where we have included language on enforced disappearance in recent Syria Resolutions. We support the UN's call to the Assad regime and Syrian armed groups to release a sufficient number of detainees to prevent COVID-19 spreading in detention facilities, as well as their urgent request to allow humanitarian actors and medical teams unhindered access to prisons.

Advancing gender equality and women's rights are a core part of the UK Government's mission, and Global Britain's role as a force for good in the world, including fulfilling every girl's right to 12 years of quality education. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to this agenda.

The new FCDO will continue to be a progressive force for women and girls, including for their sexual and reproductive health and rights and ensuring that their needs are central to our COVID-19 humanitarian response. We will work closely with partners across HMG to leverage the best development, diplomatic, defence and trade approaches to achieve maximum impact.

As part of the launch of the new Department, we will refresh and build on existing strategies, as well as develop new approaches, but we do not see the core ambitions of the Strategic Vision for Gender Equality changing. The challenges of advancing girls' education, sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), women's political empowerment, women's economic empowerment and ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) are as acute now, if not more so, as when we published the strategy in 2018.

We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang including the extra-judicial detention of over one million Uyghurs in political "re-education camps", and reports of children being forcibly separated from their parents.

On 30 June, the UK read out a statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting concerns about arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions in Xinjiang, urging China to allow the High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to the region. On 9 March, the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi.

I set out during an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on 29 June, these reports add to our concern about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and we are considering them carefully.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including the financial services regulators, on an ongoing basis.

Insurers make commercial decisions about the pricing of insurance based on their assessment on the likelihood and expected cost of a claim. The Government does not intervene in these commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent regulator and responsible for supervising the insurance industry. The FCA have introduced several reforms, including the Consumer Duty rules, to ensure consumers are treated fairly in regard to pricing.

The Government is committed to maintaining trust in the tax system and protecting customers. However, the Government is aware that some taxpayers face issues and feel misled when using companies that specialise in claiming tax refunds from HMRC. This service is provided at a cost (often on a no-win, no fee commission basis) unlike claiming directly from HMRC which is free of charge.

Following a consultation last year, ‘Raising standards in tax advice: Protecting customers claiming tax repayments’, the Government is taking action to address concerns raised. This includes introducing new transparency requirements in the HMRC Standard for Agents, published in January 2023, to ensure customers are clear on the agent’s fees and charging structure.

The Government has also introduced legislation in the Finance Bill 2023 to end the use of assignments in income tax repayment claims and announced on 27th April the introduction of a requirement for repayment agents to register with HMRC.

There are many ways in which a customer can authorise a third party to act on their behalf. Following the consultation, HMRC is also undertaking further work to develop options for a more modern and secure approach to agent authorisation.

HMRC monitors agents and challenges them when there are potential concerns about their practices. HMRC will take action if a tax agent does not adhere to the HMRC Standard for Agents including suspending claim processing until any issues are resolved.

This government cares deeply about helping those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This is why we have announced two visa schemes which both support the integration of Ukrainian refugees by providing them with full access to social services and welfare in the UK for up to three years.

The Ukraine Family Scheme is similar to existing family visa routes, and provision of public services from this route will be managed in the usual way. The UK-based family member is expected to provide support and accommodation for those coming to join them, who in turn benefit from the wider integration advantages in joining an existing family network.

Homes for Ukraine on the other hand is a unique scheme that has been set up specifically to support those escaping the conflict in Ukraine who are not able to rely on family support. The government is providing additional funding to local authorities which includes resource to enable them to carry out sponsorship-specific functions such as safeguarding checks and property checks, administering payments, as well as providing support such as English language training to help their integration into communities.

No such estimate has been made of the effect of changes to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s on revenue accruing to the Exchequer.

The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women.

Raising State Pension age in line with life expectancy changes has been the policy of successive administrations over many years

DWP estimate that the total additional cost if we had not implemented any increases in State Pension age would be in the region of £215bn for the period 2010/11 to 2025/26, in 2018/19 prices. This figure takes into account State Pension, other pensioner benefits, and savings made on .working age benefits.

Revenue and Customs Digital Technology Services Limited (RCDTS) has never participated in disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes, for example by remunerating contractors through loans or payments to trusts. Since RCDTS engages contractors via agencies or via companies providing services, it is possible for contractors to use disguised remuneration without the participation or knowledge of RCDTS.

It is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to provide details of any employers, promoters or schemes due to their statutory duty of confidentiality.

Use of disguised remuneration schemes continued after the enactment of the Finance Act 2017 because promoters continued to sell them, despite the clear view of HMRC that these schemes do not work.

Any RCDTS contractor identified in the course of HM Revenue and Customs’ compliance work as using a disguised remuneration scheme would be investigated in the same way as any other contractor. Where the use of disguised remuneration is found to be current, the relevant engagement is terminated with immediate effect.

The Revenue and Customs Digital Services Ltd accounts ending 31 March 2018, 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2020 were audited by the NAO under Statute.