Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to maintain the existing terms of the universal service obligation for Royal Mail delivery services.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is committed to ensuring the provision of a financially sustainable and accessible universal postal service which meets consumer needs.
The Government will consider any recommendations that Ofcom puts forward, but we have made clear the importance of maintaining a Saturday delivery service and we are not currently minded to introduce new legislation to change the current obligations on postal deliveries.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) economic inactivity rate, (b) employment rate and (c) unemployment rate was for people aged 16 to 24 in the period between February and April 2010.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The 16-24 UK economic inactivity rate was 36.2% between February and April 2010. The 16-24 employment rate was 50.9% between February and April 2010 and the 16-24 unemployment rate was 20.2%.
Employment and unemployment data is published and available at:
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people with hidden disabilities.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
People with non-visible disabilities can experience difficulties or be disadvantaged in their ability to access services. Their difficulty can be exacerbated because service provider personnel, and the general public, are unaware of their disability and any different or additional needs they may have. Non-visible disabilities are varied, and can include mental health conditions, learning disabilities or different cognitive functions.
Some individuals prefer to make their non-visible disability known to others by wearing a visible indication of their disability - the Sunflower Lanyard scheme is one such option. During the pandemic, the green Sunflower Lanyard scheme gained popularity to indicate an individual's non-visible disability in relation to mask exemption. The Sunflower Lanyard scheme is recognised by some retailers and transport authorities as an indication that a customer or passenger may need additional help because of a non-visible disability. These measures are intended to increase accessibility to services whilst educating the public about people in their midst, increasing understanding and reducing the stigma of disability and long term health conditions.
However, this is a personal choice and it is not the government's intention to promote any one voluntary scheme nor to suggest that disabled people should feel that they have to make their disability known to others.
The Disability Unit’s general work to improve inclusion in society and improve disabled people’s lives through the Disability Action Plan and the National Disability Strategy is aimed at people with both visible and non-visible disabilities.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to support those who live off-grid and rely on (a) oil and (b) liquified petroleum gas to heat their homes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Last winter, the Government provided a £200 support payment to those households who use alternative fuels through the Alternative Fuel Payment. Since then, prices of such fuels have decreased significantly, and consequently the Government does not intend to repeat the scheme this winter.
The Government is continuing to support those who need it the most, with millions of households receiving up to £900 in further cost of living payments. This is in addition to established support for vulnerable and low-income households through the Winter Fuel Payment worth £250 - £600 and the £150 Warm Home Discount, which has been extended to reach around a million more people compared with the previous scheme prior to winter 2022.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to support abattoirs to ensure animals' journey times to slaughter are minimised; and whether he is taking steps to help improve transport conditions for animals when they undertake a journey.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with our aim to support the highest standards of animal welfare, the Government launched the Smaller Abattoir Fund on 13 December 2023 to provide £4 million in grant funding to support smaller abattoirs, with one of the fund’s aims being to help preserve a sustainable network of local smaller abattoirs, which will in turn help maintain reduced journey times to slaughter for livestock.
The Government is also banning export journeys to slaughter through the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill which is progressing through Parliament.
We have consulted on a number of improvements to welfare in transport, such as maximum journey times, space allowances and temperature ranges. We published the summary of responses and Government response to this consultation in August 2021. We have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders across all sectors on the next steps.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will provide £20 million of funding for research for the Lobular Moon Shot Project.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR invests in research, clinical expertise, specialist facilities, workforce and support services across a range of clinical areas. NIHR expenditure on cancer research was £121.8 million in 2022/23.
The Department and NIHR are aware of lobular breast cancer and issues in detection and treatment. Lobular breast cancers can be hard to detect through screening. Relevant research includes a £1.3 million NIHR research project to determine whether an abbreviated form of breast magnetic resonance imaging can detect breast cancers missed by screening mammography. We would urge researchers working on lobular breast cancer to submit research bids for NIHR funding, including applications to fund the United Kingdom arm of international studies. Details on eligibility and how to apply for Departmental research funding through the NIHR is available and updated on the NIHR website.
Since 2021/22, there have been five research grant bids for NIHR funding into lobular breast cancer. The above project was a successful research bid, while there were four unsuccessful applications judged by a scientific panel of peers during the same period. NIHR also supports research on lobular breast cancer through its research infrastructure including Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs). Researchers at NIHR Manchester BRC have shown that women at increased risk of breast cancer who were offered enhanced screening were more likely to survive in the long-term. In addition, NIHR supports breast cancer research funded by research partners in the charity and public sectors through the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network (CRN). Over the last five years the CRN has supported 10 lobular breast cancer-related studies.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including lobular breast cancer. The Department also continues to work closely with research funding partners such as Cancer Research UK and cancer charities, who fund research into new scientific discoveries.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that abattoirs are appropriately staffed; and whether he is taking steps to help ensure the resilience of the carbon dioxide supply required for the slaughter of pigs and poultry.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK benefits from having a resilient and successful meat processing sector. However, we recognise the challenges it continues to face with the recruitment of skilled labour. The Government supports the industry in its recruitment and training of more domestic workers including through apprenticeship schemes, and in utilising the benefits that automation can bring. Defra also works closely with stakeholders across the food industry, including the meat processing sector, to encourage CO2 contingency planning and resilience. The recent tightness in the supply of CO2 has eased with the market now more stable. The industry has also taken steps to make efficiencies and to use alternative CO2 sources where possible.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of Fujitsu on compensation for subpostmasters affected by the Horizon case.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Whilst DBT Ministers have not met Fujitsu, officials in this and other Government Departments have done so. The subject of those discussions is commercially confidential.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is he taking to support the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a critical delivery partner for the UK, Welsh, and Scottish Governments, helping to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment, and the economy.
APHA’s achievements and financial position for 2022/23 are set out in its latest Annual Report and Accounts, published in July 2023. Recognising the impact of persistent incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 into the UK over the last two years, additional funding has been made available this year to APHA to ensure it has the resources needed to meet the increased demands of HPAI without affecting other vital biosecurity work. The Government continues to invest substantially, including £200m across the current spending review, in the Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) Programme that oversees major re-development of APHA’s Weybridge labs, safeguarding its long-term future as a centre for scientific excellence in tackling high-risk diseases.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support the hospitality industry; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing VAT for that industry.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Autumn Statement 2023, the Government announced a package of business rates changes and tax cuts, including extending the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief scheme at 75 per cent, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2024-2025. This is tax cut worth almost £2.4 billion for around 230,000 properties.
VAT is the UK's third largest tax forecast to raise £173 billion in 2023/24, helping to fund key spending priorities such as important public services, including the NHS, education and defence. The previous VAT relief for tourism and hospitality cost over £8 billion and reintroducing it would come at a significant further cost.
While there are no plans to reduce the rate of VAT paid by hospitality businesses, the Government keeps all taxes under review.