Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Lord Young of Cookham, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
A Bill to require tobacco manufacturers to print health warnings on individual cigarette sticks and cigarette rolling papers
A Bill to make provision requiring landlords exercising a right of forfeiture or re-entry in relation to a property subject to a long lease to account to the tenant for the tenant’s equity in that property and to hold the tenant’s equity on trust; to restrict the landlord’s right to legal and administrative costs; and for connected purposes.
Lord Young of Cookham has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
No. Members applying for leave of absence are required under Standing Order 21 to specify in their written application both their reason for seeking leave of absence and either a date by which they expect to return to the House or, if they are unable to specify a date, the circumstances which will allow their return. Letters requesting leave of absence may therefore contain sensitive personal information, which it would be inappropriate to disclose.
Under Standing Order 21(8) the Clerk of the Parliaments, in applying the provisions of the Standing Order, may seek the advice of the Leave of Absence Sub-Committee of the Procedure and Privileges Committee. The ex officio members of the Sub-Committee are the Senior Deputy Speaker (as Chair), the Chief Whips of the three largest parties and the Convenor of the Crossbench peers. The Sub-Committee last met formally on 13 July 2015, but the Clerk of the Parliaments consults me, and other individual members of the Sub-Committee as appropriate, when issues relating to the operation of the scheme arise.
The SFO is an independent law enforcement agency, superintended by the Attorney General’s Office. As set out in the Framework Agreement between the two organisations there are regular meetings between the Law Officers and the Director of the SFO to discuss both the SFO performance at an organisational level and to provide an oversight of high-profile casework.
Following a three-year investigation into British American Tobacco, in January 2021 the SFO determined that this case did not meet the evidential tests as defined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. As with all cases that fail this first limb of the Code, it was therefore not in the public interest to continue with the investigation.
The SFO is aware of the allegations made in the BBC’s Panorama programme in September 2021.
The SFO continues to assist its international law enforcement partners with ongoing investigations related to this matter, and will assess any new material on its merits, as with any allegation of serious fraud, bribery or corruption. The SFO does not disclose the actions it takes to assess allegations.
To protect the interests of all involved the Government does not comment on the specifics of ongoing process.
The Prime Minister will make any decision on the matter public once the process has concluded.
Further to the question posed during the debate on 14 July, a letter was sent on 21 July.
Further announcements will be made in the usual way.
None. Local Trading Standards offices operate independently of central Government and their enforcement priorities are a matter for local authorities.
BEIS does not hold this information. Trading Standards services are provided by local authorities who operate independently from central government and are therefore responsible for their own enforcement activity and are accountable to their local electorate.
The department is currently developing the transition arrangements for introducing the National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators as the new mandatory qualification for those in the role.
All arrangements, including those around the delivery and start dates, will be communicated in the coming months.
On 2 March the department published the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan in response to the SEND Review Green Paper. This outlines the department’s mission for the SEND and AP system to fulfil children’s potential, build trust and provide financial sustainability.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sets targets and financial incentives on NATS (En Route) Plc’s service quality for three measures related to delays - average delay, peak delay and delay impact score and one environmental measure relating to flight efficiency. In the Reference Period (RP) 2 period (2015-2019), penalties were applied in relation to NERL’s delay performance for both 2016 (£0.42 million) and 2018 (£0.26 million) where it contributed to delays that were above its target levels.
The Department is considering the budget for Active Travel England and for active travel more generally as part of its examination of all future spending plans following the Autumn Statement.
Based on findings from the Department’s Transport and Technology Tracker, we estimate that as of June 2021 roughly 750,000 individuals aged 16+ owned a private e-scooter in England. We currently do not have data for the whole of the UK, or data for 2022.
Alongside the national evaluation of the e-scooter trials, we are continuing to gather wider evidence on the safety of private e-scooters, including through DfT official statistics (such as STAT19), social behavioural research, as well as by following research conducted by external bodies. The findings report from the evaluation, and underlying datasets, are due to be published later this year.
Based on findings from the Department’s Transport and Technology Tracker, we estimate that as of June 2021 roughly 750,000 individuals aged 16+ owned a private e-scooter in England – we do not have data for the whole of the UK, or data for 2022 currently.
Alongside the national evaluation of the e-scooter trials, we are continuing to gather wider evidence on the safety of private e-scooters, including through DfT official statistics (such as STAT19), social behavioural research, as well as by following research conducted by external bodies. The findings report from the evaluation, and underlying datasets, are due to be published later this year.
Based on findings from the Department’s Transport and Technology Tracker, we estimate that as of June 2021 roughly 750,000 individuals aged 16+ owned a private e-scooter in England – we do not have data for the whole of the UK, or data for 2022 currently.
At Spring Budget the Chancellor announced a six-month extension of the Household Support Fund, to continue to provide targeted support to those most in need. The government is providing an additional £500m to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means that Local Authorities in England will receive an additional £421m to support those in need locally through the Household Support Fund.
This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society, including pensioners and those with disabilities. Carer’s Allowance is available to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who are not able to work full time because of their caring responsibilities. The rate of Carer’s Allowance is £76.75 a week, from April 2024 this will increase to £81.90 a week. Since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance will have increased from £53.90 to £81.90 a week from April 2024, providing around an £1500 a year for carers through Carer’s Allowance.
In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively.
Receiving a means-tested benefit can act as a “passport” to other support, including help with fuel costs through schemes such as the Warm Home Discount, so carers who are not receiving a means-tested benefit already are encouraged to check whether they might be entitled. Full details of all DWP benefits are available on Gov.UK. Help and Advice can also be sought from bodies such as Carers UK, Carers Trust, and Citizens Advice through their Help to Claim support.
Where an allegation of financial abuse is confirmed, that is, that the DLA received by the appointee has not been used in the best interests of the claimant, the appointment is revoked. However, compensation is not paid.
The Department of Work and Pensions does not offer pre-paid cards. The main method of paying customers is into a standard bank, building society or credit union account. However, there are exceptions in limited circumstances.
The Department currently provides two Payment Exception Services which allow customers access to their payments. These are Her Majesty’s Government Payment Exception Service (HMG PES) and the Post Office Card account.
The Payment Exception Service is aimed at those customers who are unbanked and are either unable to open or use a bank account. It is designed for access to cash only. The contract expires 30 September 2021, but a similar procured new Payment Exception Service will replace HMG PES.
The Post Office Card Account is a basic deposit service for benefits and pensions, delivered by Post Office Limited on behalf of the Department. This service is due to end and customers will either convert to a standard bank, building society or credit union account. Those customers who are unable to open or use an account will be migrated to the new Payment Exception Service on a staged basis from August 2021.
From the latest published benefit expenditure and caseload tables, in 2019/20 the average caseload of people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance was 1.539 million, with nominal terms expenditure of £7.233 billion.
From the latest published benefit expenditure and caseload tables, in 2019/20 the average caseload of people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance was 1.539 million, with nominal terms expenditure of £7.233 billion.
Appointments are made under regulation 33 of The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987/1968 for legacy benefits and regulation 57 of The Universal Credits, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013/380 for the New Style benefits. Both are supplemented by detailed guidance and provide a sound basis for the department’s appointee system.
Information about the amount of benefit paid to appointees is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
In the United Kingdom, smoking is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths a year and causes approximately one in four cancer deaths. It also costs the UK £17 billion a year and puts a huge burden on the National Health Service. This is why, alongside our plans to create a smokefree generation, we are also supporting more smokers to quit by nearly doubling funding to local stop smoking services.
In respect to the remarks made on 25 January 2024, these relate to a response to the Tobacco levy consultation published by HM Treasury in 2015. This cites HM Revenue and Customs analysis which, at the time, showed that a tobacco levy of £150 million would only raise £25 million. A copy of the Tobacco levy consultation is attached.
However, the Department continues to work with HM Treasury regarding tobacco taxation and revenue. This includes reviewing options for the most effective way to raise additional funds to further support smoking cessation services moving forward.
The Department has written to other Government Departments who may engage with the tobacco industry to inform them of the publication of ‘Guidance for government engagement with the tobacco industry’ that was published 19 June 2023. A copy attached. A version of the guidance tailored to local authorities developed in collaboration with the Local Government Association will be published shortly.
The Internal Capital Guidance was set and implemented whilst Reclaim Fund Ltd was a private company, as such it did not have access to the Government Actuary‘s Department. Nonetheless Reclaim Fund Ltd received, and continues to receive, external specialist advice.
Reclaim Fund Ltd (RFL) has distributed the following amounts in each of the past five years to dormant account owners:
Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 |
Reclaims (£m) | 15.7 | 13.9 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 15.4 | 15.3 |
In line with its statutory obligation, RFL continues to meet customer reclaims in perpetuity. Reclaim rates have remained broadly consistent since the inception of the Dormant Assets Scheme in 2011.
NS&I’s core purpose is to raise cost effective financing for the Government and must balance the interests of savers, taxpayers and the wider market when setting interest rates. On 30th June, NS&I announced increases to the rates on Direct Saver and Income Bonds to 3.40% and Premium Bonds to 4.00%, the highest rate since 2007.
NS&I continues to keep all interest rates under review.
HMRC is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website. From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.
Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by an eight-digit commodity code. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff on the gov.uk website.
HMRC are unable to provide the requested information due to the way E-scooters are classified. E-scooters do not have their own specific commodity code. Instead, they are classified within more general codes, dependent on a few factors. For example, commodity code 8711601000 covers bicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles, with pedal assistance, with an auxiliary electric motor, and with a continuous rated power not exceeding 250 watts. However, there are other commodity codes that could also be applicable to E-scooters.
More information about any specific commodity code within the UK Trade Tariff can be accessed via UK import and export statistics on the UK trade information website.
Over 250 responses were received, and they are currently being analysed.
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Qualifying shared ownership leaseholders are protected from all cladding remediation costs. Additionally, where capped contributions for non-cladding and interim measure costs are required, they are reduced in proportion to their equity stake in the property. Where the landlord is associated with the developer, the landlord has an obligation to pay for all costs associated with the remediation of all defects and any associated interim measures.
All leaseholders can benefit from the funding available for cladding repairs for buildings over 18 metres through the Building Safety Fund and, potentially, the new scheme for 11-18 metre buildings (currently at pilot stage) where developers or building owners are not currently funding cladding remediation.
For those shared ownership leaseholders looking to increase or 'staircase' their ownership share, on 20 December 2022, the six largest mortgage lenders confirmed that lenders will consider mortgage applications on properties in buildings in England of 11 metres or 5 storeys and above in height with building safety issues, providing it is being self-remediated by developers, is covered by a recognised government scheme, or the property is protected by the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act.
For shared ownership leaseholders who need to move for work or family reasons, the Government has also made it easier for those living in buildings that require remediation to sublet their homes.
I refer my noble friend to the impact assessment for the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill here.
The Government wants to make it easier for leaseholders to come together to take on responsibilities for their properties. We are currently considering the Law Commission's report and recommendations on improvements to the Right to Manage for leaseholders. We will also continue to monitor the operation of the Statutory Instrument.
Information on the number of high-rise (over 18 metres) residential and publicly-owned buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations is available in the Building Safety Programme data release here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/aluminium-composite-material-cladding#acm-remediation-data.
For high-rise residential buildings with unsafe non-ACM cladding, the Department is continuing to work with building owners to progress applications for the Building Safety Fund at pace so more remedial works can begin as swiftly as possible. Information on the Building Safety Fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-safety-fund-registration-statistics.
We have begun a pilot data collection project for 11-18m residential buildings to identify materials in use and to inform the design of a wider national 11-18m data collection exercise. We will publish further details in due course.
We have asked developers to provide comprehensive information on all buildings over 11m which have historic fire-safety defects and which they have played a part in constructing in the last 30 years. We are reviewing this data, alongside other data we have received, to ensure fire safety issues in these buildings are identified and addressed as quickly as possible.
The principle of protecting leaseholders living in their own homes is paramount.
It is fundamentally unfair that innocent leaseholders, most of whom have worked hard and made sacrifices to get a foot on the housing ladder, should be landed with bills they cannot afford to fix problems they did not cause.
We have been in intensive talks with the housebuilding sector to come forward with proposals on how it will make right its historic mistakes by taking responsibility for fixing the stock of unsafe buildings which have been built over decades.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up made clear in his building safety statement on 10 January 2022 that the Government is focused on making sure the Building Safety Fund is more risk driven and delivered more quickly to protect leaseholders. The monthly Building Safety Fund statistics on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-safety-fund-registrations-private-sector-and-social-sector show the progress that is being made with the Fund. Over £1 billion of funding has been allocated and over a thousand buildings are proceeding with a full application to the Building Safety Fund. This means that owners of over 80 thousand homes within high-rise blocks are covered by Building Safety Fund applications and leaseholders and residents can be assured the fire risks caused by the unsafe cladding will be addressed at no cost to them.
As set out in our statement to Parliament on Building Safety on 10 January 2022, building owners and industry should make buildings safe without passing on costs to leaseholders, and leaseholders living in their own medium rise buildings should not pay a penny to remediate historic cladding defects that are no fault of their own. We have clarified that we have no intention of excluding leaseholders who have moved out and sublet from the protections that will be in place (including those in shared ownership) for buildings below 18 metres in England. We will explore whether this support should extend to other leaseholders, such as buy-to-let landlords.
Levelling up is a transformative agenda and the Department’s priority is to produce a White Paper which matches our ambition, building on existing action we are already taking across Government and setting out a new policy regime that will drive change for years to come.
Work is progressing well and we plan to publish the White Paper soon.
The Government is clear that no one should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live and the time has come to reconsider the Vagrancy Act.
Work is ongoing to look at this complex issue and it is important that we look carefully at all options.
We will update on our findings in due course.
The Government has announced a globally unprecedented investment in building safety and hundreds of thousands of leaseholders will be protected from the cost of replacing unsafe cladding on their homes.
On 10 February the Government announced it will provide an additional £3.5 billion grant funding for removal of unsafe cladding on buildings over 18 metres, which brings the total investment in building safety to an unprecedented £5 billion.
Lower-rise buildings between 11 and 18 metres, with a lower risk to safety, will gain new protection from the costs of cladding removal through a generous new financing scheme. As part of this financing scheme, no leaseholder will pay more than £50 per month towards the cost of cladding remediation.
This builds on steps already taken to support leaseholders, including £1.6 billion of funding to remediate unsafe cladding, the £30 million waking watch fund to help end excessive costs and new legislation in the Building Safety Bill which will ensure homes are made and kept safer in future.
The schemes will be launched in due course, and we will publish more details on how these will work as soon as we are in a position to do so.
The Government has worked with the lending industry and the regulators to prevent both homeowners and landlords from facing unaffordable bills or repossession if they can’t work, or if their tenants can’t pay rent due to the impact of coronavirus.
Mortgage holidays have been extended, with applications open to 31 March 2021. Borrowers that have been impacted by coronavirus and have not yet had a mortgage payment holiday will be entitled to a six-month holiday, and those that have already started a mortgage payment holiday will be able to top up to six months without this being recorded on their credit file. Current FCA guidance states all mortgage holidays must end by 31 July, so while no one can have more than a six-month deferral, any consumer applying now for their first payment holiday will not be able to take the full six months. Information on mortgage payment holidays is set out on the FCA website: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-confirms-support-mortgage-borrowers-impacted-coronavirus
The FCA has been clear that for borrowers who have taken six months’ holiday and continue to face ongoing financial difficulties, firms should continue to provide support through tailored forbearance options. This could include granting new mortgage payment holidays. Mortgage customers in this situation should speak to their lender to discuss their options.
A mortgage holiday is not the right solution for everyone, and a prolonged payment deferral may not be in a consumer’s best interest - it is important to remember that whilst someone takes a payment holiday, they will still owe the amount they don’t pay during the deferral period, and interest will continue to accrue. Where consumers can afford to re-start mortgage payments, it is in their best interest to do so.
Evidence gathered by the consultation on raising accessibility standards for new homes will help government consider whether to mandate a higher baseline accessibility standard or to reconsider the way existing optional standards are used. We are currently analysing responses and will publish a government response in due course.
The most effective way to make buildings with unsafe cladding safe and eliminate the need for interim measures and associated costs is to have the unsafe cladding removed as quickly as possible. That is why we are prioritising £1.6 billion public subsidy on remediation of unsafe cladding. However, we recognise residents’ concerns about the cost of waking watch measures and the lack of transparency of these costs. That is why we have collected and published information on waking watch costs. This will enable those that have commissioned it to make comparisons and challenge providers on unreasonable costs. The data is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-waking-watch-costs
The Government also welcomes the National Fire Chiefs Council update to its guidance on Simultaneous Evacuation published in October (available at: www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/Simultaneous-evacuation-guidance). We have asked the Fire Protection Board to advise Fire and Rescue Services on how best to operationalise the revised guidance including looking into other measures such as installing building-wide fire alarm systems to reduce the dependency on waking watches wherever possible.
The national smoke-free seating condition in the Business and Planning Act was agreed with the Department of Health and Social Care, as was the associated guidance. Ministerial correspondence is not generally cleared across Government.
The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect tenants and landlords throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with support for businesses to pay staff salaries and strengthening the welfare safety-net with a nearly £9.3billion boost to the welfare system. This includes an extra £1billion to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they cover the lowest 30% of market rents. These measures are supporting both landlords and tenants by enabling renters to continue paying their rent.
For those renters who require additional support, there is an existing £180 million of Government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments made available this year, an increase of £40 million from last year and which is for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely throughout the Autumn and Winter.
The new pavement licence provisions provide vital support for businesses, particularly in the hard-hit hospitality sector, helping with their economic recovery following the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Under the pavement licence provisions in the Business and Planning Act 2020 all pavement licences are subject to a national condition which requires provision for non-smoking seating. The Government will work with the Local Government Association to assess the uptake of the pavement licence provisions and the conditions that apply as part of this.
I refer my noble Friend to the answer I gave Baroness Altmann on 14 November 2022 to question HL3027.
The consultation exposed a number of issues that required further consideration. We have continued working with relevant stakeholders to unpack these further to test the feasibility and design of any scheme, in particular the safeguards required and practical considerations to meet the aims of simplicity.
We have also been working with the Court of Protection to consider operational improvements. We are preparing the Government response to the consultation and will provide the House with a further update in the autumn.