Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the forthcoming Local Power Plan will take to support partnerships between schools, local authorities and community energy groups to deliver increased levels of community energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The forthcoming Local Power Plan will be a joint document owned by GBE and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero which will outline our shared vision for the local and community energy sector.
We are continuing to develop the Local Power Plan with GBE and updates will be provided soon.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is in place to support local authorities with Best Start Family Hubs to ensure their offer is effective and evidence-based.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Through the delivery grant, all local authorities will receive funding from the department for developing and implementing Best Start local plans. This includes funding for a Best Start in Life system leadership function to take forward transformation activity locally, connecting and integrating local partners to respond to local needs.
Further detail on this was shared with local authorities via funding allocation letters on 7 November, covering the three financial years 2026-29. Evidence based intervention (EBI) menus have also been developed and shared to support local authorities in selecting programmes that are both impactful and feasible to deliver starting from April 2026.
Local authorities will be supported to embed and enhance their family hubs models, be ambitious in their approach, and integrate EBIs. The National Centre for Family Hubs, which is a delivery support provider is also working closely with local authorities to help them to identify the right EBIs suited to their population needs.
Asked by: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what process will be used to value family businesses after the changes to Business Property Relief are introduced.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The inheritance tax value of a person’s estate is the open market value of all their assets and liabilities. The forthcoming changes to business property relief will not change the existing rules on valuing a business. Valuation assumes a sale between a hypothetical seller and buyer, reflecting reality for all other factors such as industry conditions, trading history, and prospects, according to industry standards.