Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to update the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 to (a) remove chemical flame retardants, (b) provide additional support to furniture manufacturers, (c) improve fire safety, (d) increase recycling and (e) align with international best practice; and if she will publish a timetable for updating those regulations.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The policy paper ‘The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture’, published on 22 January, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level of fire safety while facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants.
The Department for Business and Trade has been carrying out extensive, targeted stakeholder engagement this year to inform decision making, and the Government will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether physician (a) associates and (b) assistants are permitted to (i) discuss (A) Do Not Resuscitate and (B) Respect forms with patients at (1) NHS trusts and (2) GP surgeries and (ii) initiate conversations on end of life.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. With regard to palliative care and end of life care, this must include the opportunity for individuals to discuss their wishes and preferences so that these can be taken fully into account in the provision of their future care. This is also known as advance care planning (ACP). ACP is a voluntary process of person-centred discussion between an individual and their care providers about their preferences and priorities for their future care. ReSPECT is one tool that can be used to support wider ACP conversations. NHS England has published Universal Principles for ACP, which facilitate a consistent national approach to ACP in England. Further information on the Universal Principles for ACP is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/universal-principles-for-advance-care-planning/
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decision policies are determined locally by organisations providing National Health Service care. The Resuscitation Council UK, British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Nursing have jointly produced guidance on decisions about CPR. It states that the overall clinical responsibility for decisions about CPR, including Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decisions, rests with the most senior clinician responsible for the person’s care, as defined explicitly by local policy.
The Government commissioned Professor Gillian Leng CBE to lead an independent review of the physician and anaesthesia associate professions. The review considered the safety of the roles and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
The review has now concluded and will be published shortly. The conclusions of the review will inform the workforce plan to deliver the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as future Government policy.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the Creative Industries Sector Plan does not include the publishing sector; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating that plan to include that sector.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Creative Industries Sector Plan is a growth plan for all creative sectors, including publishing.
It recognises the vital role of publishing in the creative ecosystem, and provides substantial support for all creative businesses, including publishers, with cross-cutting measures for access to finance, innovation, IP protection, skills development, and export support.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it his policy that people with tattoos are able to join the Army.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Individuals with tattoos are able to join the Army, subject to some restrictions. There have been some recent changes made to the Army’s visible tattoo policy following a review this year. I can confirm that, moving forwards, only tattoos on the face and front of the ear will be a bar to entry, in addition to tattoos that are deemed as offensive, obscene or racist.
Further information and guidance for prospective candidates can be found online: https://jobs.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-apply/tattoos-and-piercings/
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making her advice to Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill available in the public interest.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised, and the content of their advice, must not be disclosed outside government without their authority. This principle is known as the Law Officers’ Convention and can be found at paragraphs 21.27 of Erskine May and 5.14 of the Ministerial Code. Such authority is rarely given since it would generally not be in the public interest to do so as it undermines the Convention
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the loss of supply routes to the US following the imposition of tariffs on UK companies; and if he will consider tariffs on imported metal goods.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Department for Business and Trade are working closely with colleagues in DfT to understand and assess the impacts on supply routes of goods globally due to US tariffs. This is complex analysis and requires collaboration between multiple government departments.
We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal and this government will do what is necessary to defend the UK’s national interest. That is why on 3 April, the government launched a Request for Input from businesses, to keep all options on the table; and help inform the UK's response to US tariffs.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what Rural Payments Schemes are available to (a) farmers and (b) rural businesses in the next financial year; and how much has been paid out under those schemes in this financial year.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra operates a page on gov.uk, “Funding for farmers, growers and land managers” ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-farmers ). This page advises about grants and other funding currently open or opening soon and includes links to the relevant scheme or grant webpage.
The farming blog published on Wednesday 12th March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes.
Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.
In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.
Separately, the Rural England Prosperity Fund funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure in rural areas. The REPF provided £110 million of funding to eligible local authorities between 2023 and 2025. Additional funding of up to £33 million will be available in 2025/26.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, whether he has produced legal advice on the compatibility of (a) Article 2 of the European Commission on Human Rights, (b) probate law and (c) civil procedure rules with the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by, or requested of, the Law Officers, and it applies to your question.
The Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:
“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making her advice to Cabinet colleagues on the legal implications of bills available to the police.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The fact that the Law Officers advise on Bills through the government collective agreement process before they are introduced to Parliament is public knowledge. However, on specific matters, the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised, and the content of their advice, must not be disclosed outside government without their authority. Such authority is rarely given. This principle is known as the Law Officers’ Convention and can be found at paragraphs 21.27 of Erskine May and 5.14 of the Ministerial Code.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall and Bloxwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) impact, (b) economic and (c) equalities assessments for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill before 8 May 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government expects to publish the impact assessment and equalities impact assessment before Members consider the Bill on Report.