Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 monitor the impact of extended producer responsibility fees on the growth of the hospitality industry.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) is being evaluated as part of the Resources and Waste Policy Programme Evaluation for England, and the UK-wide elements of the Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR) Evaluation. This evaluation includes reviewing the impacts on businesses who are obligated packaging producers. The combined evaluation programme is expected to report in 2029. The Government has also committed to a post-implementation review on the impacts of pEPR in 2027/2028 financial year.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2023-24, published in September 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing levels of awareness of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in privately funded and arranged care settings.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of both the Annual Review and Triennial Review from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and support the work they do to ensure that those receiving care, whether self-funded or placed by their local authority, are aware of the options available to them if they wish to escalate their complaint. We are working across the Government on a response to the LGSCO’s recommendations, including on increasing awareness of the role of the LGSCO for those privately funding their care.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2023-24, published in September 2024, if he will undertake a review of the proportion of complaints received from privately funded care.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of both the Annual Review and Triennial Review from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and support the work they do to ensure that those receiving care, whether self-funded or placed by their local authority, are aware of the options available to them if they wish to escalate their complaint. We are working across the Government on a response to the LGSCO’s recommendations, including on increasing awareness of the role of the LGSCO for those privately funding their care.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2023-24, published in September 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of both the Annual Review and Triennial Review from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and support the work they do to ensure that those receiving care, whether self-funded or placed by their local authority, are aware of the options available to them if they wish to escalate their complaint. We are working across the Government on a response to the LGSCO’s recommendations, including on increasing awareness of the role of the LGSCO for those privately funding their care.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extended producer responsibility fees on the hospitality sector; and whether hospitality businesses are required to pay fees when a closed-loop waste and recycling system is in place.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In October 2024 the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme on packaging recycling rates. The impact assessment did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors, such as hospitality.
We are considering further improvements to the scheme, including how to treat businesses which run closed loop recycling systems that support the environmental outcomes of the scheme. My officials are reviewing options to bring forward an offset where obligated producers are operating closed loop recycling systems for food-grade plastic at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many funding awards under consideration focus on the (a) diagnosis, (b) care and (c) treatment of endometriosis.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.
In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.
The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what active funding streams are focused on research into endometriosis.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR supports research with a focus on endometriosis through a range of funding streams. For example, the Health Technology Assessment Programme is currently considering applications submitted to a call for research into pain management programmes for endometriosis. Details of successful funding awards will be published on the NIHR website later this year.
In addition, the NIHR is currently funding two doctoral fellowships with relevance to endometriosis, thus supporting the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues.
The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any area of women’s health, including endometriosis.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which representative bodies she intends to meet to hold preparatory discussions with on proposals to reform the business rates system in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury releases a quarterly record of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations. This can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
At the Autumn Budget, the Government published the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper, which sets out priority areas for reform. This paper invited stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.
On 17 February the Government published a ‘forward look’ of the expected timeline for reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024, and how stakeholders should engage the Government. This will be updated when further information is available.
In the summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she had had with stakeholders on proposals to reform the business rates system in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury releases a quarterly record of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations. This can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
At the Autumn Budget, the Government published the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper, which sets out priority areas for reform. This paper invited stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.
On 17 February the Government published a ‘forward look’ of the expected timeline for reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024, and how stakeholders should engage the Government. This will be updated when further information is available.
In the summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Midlands Rail Hub on economic growth in Hinckley and Bosworth constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Midlands Rail Hub would unlock thousands of homes and drive economic growth, with better connections regionally and nationally and more reliable trains. This means more opportunities for the people of Hinckley.
In December the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a ‘zero-based’ review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value for taxpayers.