Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Washington and Gateshead South constituency are covered by the pension triple lock.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Caseload statistics for State Pensions are available via Stat-Xplore - Log in. The latest published data currently relate to the quarter ending May 2025.
The State Pensions Triple Lock applies to recipients of the core element of State Pension. Based on latest data, the number of pensioners resident in the Washington and Gateshead South constituency who are in receipt of the State Pension, and therefore covered by the Triple Lock, is 20,085.
This total has been adjusted to exclude a very small number of individuals, who receive only Graduated Retirement Benefit, a category of the Pre-2016 State Pension system, as such payments are uprated using CPI.
The constituency referenced above encompasses Gateshead South as well as the entire Washington area, including Washington Central, Washington South, Washington North, Washington East and Washington West.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will meet with fireworks industry stakeholders, such as Fireworks Impact Coalition, to discuss calls for a comprehensive review of fireworks legislation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on fireworks-related issues. I also recently met with the Scottish Government, and a number of MPs to discuss fireworks policy and hope to meet with the Fireworks Impact coalition in the near future.
The insights from these discussions, as well as other evidence gathered on the impact of fireworks will guide future action.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to adopt a UK-wide model similar to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Act (Scotland) 2022.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There are currently no plans to adopt a model similar to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Act (Scotland) 2022 on a UK-wide basis.
I recently met with Siobhian Brown MSP, Minister for Victims and Community Safety in the Scottish Government to understand the impact of changes made in Scotland. In addition to this meeting, I will engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks. The safety of the public and the impact on people, animals and property will be central in decisions on how the Government proceeds in relation to the regulation of fireworks.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made to determine whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer fireworks is sufficient to protect animals and vulnerable people from harm.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.
I launched a public campaign on fireworks safety in October, just ahead of the fireworks season. Ensuring that these materials were shared widely helped to increase their impact. The campaign featured new guidance for those running community fireworks events, as well as social media materials that emphasised the risks associated with the misuse of fireworks.
To inform any future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks, I will engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks. The safety of the public and the impact on people, animals and property will be central in decisions on how the Government proceeds in relation to the regulation of fireworks.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment of the fireworks black market his Department has made to determine whether further restrictions on sales and use of fireworks would fuel illegal trade.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.
I launched a public campaign on fireworks safety in October, just ahead of the fireworks season. Ensuring that these materials were shared widely helped to increase their impact. The campaign featured new guidance for those running community fireworks events, as well as social media materials that emphasised the risks associated with the misuse of fireworks.
To inform any future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks, I will engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks. The safety of the public and the impact on people, animals and property will be central in decisions on how the Government proceeds in relation to the regulation of fireworks.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will conduct a review into fireworks legislation.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.
I launched a public campaign on fireworks safety in October, just ahead of the fireworks season. Ensuring that these materials were shared widely helped to increase their impact. The campaign featured new guidance for those running community fireworks events, as well as social media materials that emphasised the risks associated with the misuse of fireworks.
To inform any future decisions in relation to the regulation of fireworks, I will engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on the issues and impacts of fireworks. The safety of the public and the impact on people, animals and property will be central in decisions on how the Government proceeds in relation to the regulation of fireworks.