Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the Housing Benefits disregard from £5 to £57 for people in supported housing.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department is considering the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.
Despite this challenge, the Housing Benefit taper ensures a person is better off in work than wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence, as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the Housing Benefit taper rate with that of Universal Credit.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department is considering the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.
Despite this challenge, the Housing Benefit taper ensures a person is better off in work than wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence, as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recognising the provision of dementia care to individuals as a qualifying disability service for VAT exemption.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Supplies of welfare services, including the provision of care for people with dementia, are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities.
More generally, VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to consult (a) industry stakeholders and (b) relevant experts on the proposals set out in the Government’s forthcoming strategy on phasing out the use of animal testing.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to supporting non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year.
This transition must be science-led and in lock step with partners. The Government has been consulting industry, academia and civil society as this process unfolds. Minister Vallance hosted a roundtable on 05.09.24 with industry representatives and officials have kept in regular contact with industry since then. Ministers and officials also engage with relevant experts including academics, with Lord Vallance meeting the Harries lab at the University of Exeter, and officials opening the Queen Mary University organ-on-a-chip facility.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders in the (a) life sciences and (b) technology sectors on the potential contribution of artificial intelligence to supporting the uptake of (i) non-animal new approach methodologies and (ii) alternatives to animal testing.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.
Minister Vallance hosted a roundtable on 05.09.24 with industry representatives, including discussing the application of AI and officials have kept in regular contact with industry since then. The Government is also co-funding seven Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI), two of which focus on AI which will support developing alternative methods.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to update regulatory requirements to (a) reduce and (b) eliminate the need for animal testing for (i) chemicals and (ii) pesticides where non-animal New Approach Methodologies are available.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle youth homelessness.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Homelessness levels are far too high, and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We must address this and deliver long term solutions.
The government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million in 2025/26 compared to last year, taking our total investment to £1 billion. Local authorities can use this funding to respond to the needs of their communities.
The government is also considering youth homelessness as part of our long-term, cross-government strategy; working with Mayors, councils and key stakeholders to get us back on track to ending homelessness for good.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to reallocate National Citizen Service funding to the wider youth sector.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives. We know that being part of supportive communities and having access to youth provision can improve a young person’s wellbeing, health and personal development.
The Secretary of State previously committed to set out this department's 2025-26 funding for youth programmes - an investment of over £145 million - to provide stability to the youth sector and ensure young people can continue to access opportunities, as we transition to the new National Youth Strategy.
The Government will publish the National Youth Strategy this Summer. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in the strategy will be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector and will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Equality and Human Rights Commission document entitled An interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment, published on 25 April 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of the EHRC's update on the night time economy.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We appreciate that any reinterpretation or clarification of the Equality Act 2010 may raise operational considerations for businesses, including in the night time economy. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s update aims to support understanding and inform future dialogue rather than mandate specific changes. Employers and other duty bearers should continue to follow the law and take appropriate legal advice where necessary.
The EHRC has launched a consultation on their Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations which closes on 30 June. We encourage stakeholders to engage with the EHRC consultation and make their views heard.
The Government is committed to engaging with both the EHRC and sector stakeholders to ensure that any changes in interpretation or practice are understood and implemented in a proportionate way. The Government will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted, to help provide greater clarity for service providers, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
Asked by: Steve Race (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the night-time economy of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We appreciate that any reinterpretation or clarification of the Equality Act 2010 may raise operational considerations for businesses, including in the night time economy. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s update aims to support understanding and inform future dialogue rather than mandate specific changes. Employers and other duty bearers should continue to follow the law and take appropriate legal advice where necessary.
The EHRC has launched a consultation on their Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations which closes on 30 June. We encourage stakeholders to engage with the EHRC consultation and make their views heard.
The Government is committed to engaging with both the EHRC and sector stakeholders to ensure that any changes in interpretation or practice are understood and implemented in a proportionate way. The Government will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted, to help provide greater clarity for service providers, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.