Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 64258 on Companies House: Proof of Identity, what the cost to the public purse is for (a) the Government's verification service and (b) third-party verification services since the Companies House identity verification system was established.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State gave on 4th July 2025 to Question 64258.
GOV.UK One Login’s total budget to onboard all central government services for the three years from 2022/23 to 2024/25 was £305.4 million, and is currently undergoing HMT approvals for a new Business Case which will run until 2027/28.
GOV.UK One Login works with third-party providers to help verify a user’s identity. These costs are included in the programme budget.
Companies House provides an alternative IDV route via Authorised Corporate Service Providers.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce levels of plastic waste.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. We will publish proposals for the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England this autumn. It will include a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis. One of the six sectors we will start with is the chemicals and plastics sector. As a part of the transition to a circular economy, managing and reducing plastic waste will be crucial. This will build upon the existing Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR) programme which is central to the Government’s mission to minimise waste, promote resource efficiency and move towards a more circular economy.
We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of fossil fuel lobbying groups on the effectiveness of the Global Plastics Treaty.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to reaching agreement on an ambitious and effective treaty to end plastic pollution when negotiations resume in August 2025 and will be working closely with a range of countries both within the High Ambition Coalition and outside it to achieve this.
The UK is committed to an open, transparent and inclusive approach to negotiations to ensure that all have equal opportunity for their views to be heard.
The UK Government, at all stages of the INC process, has made it a priority to engage with a broad range of stakeholders. We partnered with the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network to run the UK Treaty Dialogues ahead of each round of negotiations. These brought together stakeholders from across the plastics value chain, including trade associations representing fossil fuel and petrochemical industries, but also academia, eNGOs and other civil society organisations.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on signing the Global Plastics Treaty.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
For too long, plastic has littered our ocean and threatened our wildlife. We urgently need an ambitious and effective international agreement to end plastic pollution by 2040.
The UK has been a leading voice in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and as a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution (HAC), the United Kingdom is committed to achieving an ambitious treaty.
Negotiations will resume in August with the aim of concluding negotiations on a new treaty. The UK is working with other countries, including allies in the High Ambition Coalition to achieve this.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has produced an impact assessment on the potential impact of changing the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on trends in levels of excess deaths.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In line with the obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, the Department has conducted an equality analysis on expanding eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales and have considered the impacts of this policy. The Government will publish the equality analysis alongside the Winter Fuel Payment regulations.
With respect to trends on levels of excess deaths, a very wide range of factors impact changes in mortality. Details of excess winter deaths in England and Wales can be found at: Excess mortality in England - GOV.UK
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the Access to Work system from applicants applying for each job role to a centralised system containing relevant pre-filled information.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As part of the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of the Access to Work scheme. Following the conclusion of the consultation, we are now considering our responses and will set out our plans in due course.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of a public information campaign for drivers of vehicles fitted with daytime running lights of the need to manually switch on their rear lights when weather conditions necessitate.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Road vehicle lighting is governed by combination of national and international regulations. As per the advice in the Highway Code drivers must use appropriate vehicle lighting for the prevailing conditions and should ensure that they are familiar with the operation of all vehicle controls.
No assessment has been made of the merits of a public information campaign to support the correct use of daytime running lamps.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much (a) has been spent to date and (b) he expects to spend on measures to continue the operation of the Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As I sent out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 1 July 2025, the Government is providing the Official Receiver with short-term funding to cover the essential operating costs of the refinery as a result of the unexpected insolvency of the company. The final operating cost will depend on market conditions and the strategy adopted by the Official Receiver, and this will be subject to close scrutiny and governance by the Government and the insolvency office holders. This funding is necessary to provide the Official Receiver with the necessary tools to fulfil their statutory duties and to avoid an immediate, unsafe shutdown of the refinery.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the new Companies House identity verification system; who pays for the third-party ID verification service connected to that system; and what the annual cost is for that system.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Companies House identity verification (IDV) system is provided by GOV.UK One Login (‘the service’) delivered by the Government Digital Service (GDS).
Inclusivity and accessibility is a top priority. The service offers simple online content, in-person IDV at the Post Office where appropriate and contact centre assistance. Regular user research and testing with people from various backgrounds and needs ensures the service works for as many people as possible.
Some parts of the service are provided by third-parties. The service is centrally funded to provide IDV across central government, including Companies House
As an alternative, Companies House accepts IDV via Authorised Corporate Service Providers.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Mildenhall-based KC-135s were deployed in support of the US Operation Midnight Hammer.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the operational activity of other nations, including third party use of UK bases. The UK was not involved in Operation Midnight Hammer.