Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to mandate public electric car charging providers to display the price of electricity clearly at the service station.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help protect private renters from rent increases after landlords invest to improve the energy efficiency of homes in line with the new energy efficiency standards.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is standing up for renters through new minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector, and proposed standard for the social rented sector, which will lift around 650,000 households out of fuel poverty.
Landlords should provide clear communications about any changes, and government will provide guidance for landlords and tenants so that tenants know what to expect. There is also support available for landlords, including financing options.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 delivers stronger protections for tenants, including the right to appeal above‑market rents, the removal of Section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions, and a simplified tenancy structure. These measures increase security for renters and support them to challenge poor practice, and unfair rent rises without risking eviction.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact assessment has been done for the removal of Sports England as a statutory consultee for the planning application involving playing fields.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Defence and (b) Energy Security and Net Zero on the development of a coordinated supply chain and training opportunities for defence and civil nuclear.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As part of our Industrial Strategy, we are delivering this government’s vision for a Nuclear Nation – with £14.2 billion for Sizewell C, over £2.5 billion for the Small Modular Reactor programme across the Spending Review period, and the largest defence nuclear infrastructure programme in a generation. We will continue to increase alignment between civil and defence nuclear sectors to maximise the benefits for our advanced nuclear nation. DBT, MOD, DESNZ and all relevant departments continue to work together with industry, including through the Nuclear Skills plan, to grow a robust nuclear skills base.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations she has had from (a) pubs and licensed premises, (b) leisure arenas, (c) community sports clubs and (d) music venues on business rates increases in the next financial year.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on business rates in advance of the Budget and continues to do so.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues, Football authorities and the Football Association on the potential visa requirements of the US government to provide information about their social media activity in the last 5 years for people travelling to watch the world cup.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working across Government and with sporting bodies to support UK fans travelling to matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The FCDO is in contact with US authorities to ensure we have the latest information on immigration rules, and we encourage those travelling to the US to consult our USA (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements) and World Cup (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/world-cup-2026) travel advice pages before making travel arrangements.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will extend the ‘Respond by’ deadline on the technical consultation on the International Student Levy until after her Department has published the research it commissioned on student price elasticities in Spring 2026.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The international student levy forms part of our wider plan for higher education student finance and funding reform, as set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which puts the sector on a secure financial footing whilst also ensuring it contributes to wider governmental objectives.
The department is continuing to engage with providers on the implementation of the levy, to ensure its effective introduction and operation. Our technical consultation gives stakeholders the opportunity to contribute their views and shape how the levy will be delivered. It is open until 18 February 2026 in line with usual practice for consultations.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a Government-backed social care investment fund to offer low-cost loans to support the development of the (a) infrastructure and (b) services of not-for-profit care providers, including digital approaches to (i) social care services and (ii) back-office functions; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of capital investment in social care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A Government-backed social care investment fund is not an idea that we are currently considering. Funding for adult social care is provided by central Government to local authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements. Local authorities have discretion over how to best use this funding in order to meet the diverse needs of all local people.
We know that digital transformation has the potential to drive improvement in adult social care, improving experiences and outcomes for people seeking and receiving care. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is funding projects that support the adoption and use of advanced technologies in social care settings. DSIT’s £44 million 5G Innovation Regions Programme has funded ten regions across the United Kingdom to demonstrate the benefits of adopting technologies and solutions that rely on advanced connectivity services in a range of sectors, including health and social care.
The Department has not carried out a specific assessment on the adequacy level of capital investment in social care.
To build consensus on plans for a National Care Service, Baroness Casey is chairing an Independent Commission to shape the medium- and longer-term reforms needed, with phase 1 reporting next year. Details about how to engage with the Commission are available at the following link:
https://caseycommission.co.uk/
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of the government’s new ECG scheme with the principle of market competition.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant is fully compatible with the principle of market competition.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria of the Electric Car Grant.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.
Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.
Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.