Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish an equality impact assessment for the means-testing of Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In making its decision on Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, the Government had regard to an equality analysis in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty requirements. The equality analysis was published on Friday 13th September, and can be found here: GOV.UK.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to support people who will become ineligible for Winter Fuel Payment as a result of the planned introduction of means-testing in Maidstone and Malling constituency.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.
The State Pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so protecting 12 million pensioners through the triple lock. Based on current forecasts, the full rate of the new state pension is set to increase by £1,700 over the course of this Parliament.
We are also providing support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.
The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.
The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking step to use the career of Sir Andy Murray to encourage more people to play tennis.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.
The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.
Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.
Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.
Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take steps to recognise the retirement of Sir Andy Murray.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.
The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.
Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.
Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.
Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to invest in tennis facilities to support more people to play tennis year-round.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.
The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.
Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.
Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.
Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to continue funding the Park Tennis Court Programme.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.
The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.
Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.
Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.
Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to fund (a) grassroots and (b) community tennis.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.
The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.
Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.
Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.
Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the delivery of the local nature recovery strategies.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are currently being prepared across England. They will identify and prioritise actions and areas for nature recovery and nature-based solutions. The first strategies are expected this autumn with the remainder following in the first half of 2025.
In July, the Secretary of State announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to ensure it is fit for purpose to deliver our legally binding environmental targets. Defra is working with stakeholders to undertake this review, including looking at the role of, and support for, LNRSs in its delivery.