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Last week the Committee heard from Claire Dykta, the director of strategy and policy at NESO, who told us:
“Operational decisions are taken by authorised, trained personnel only.”
Her comments were confirmed by Alastair Martin, the chief strategy officer at Flexitricity, who, in the same session, said:
“I do not think the idea...
Last week the Committee heard from Claire Dykta, the director of strategy and policy at NESO, who told us:
“Operational decisions are taken by authorised, trained personnel only.”
Her comments were confirmed by Alastair Martin, the chief strategy officer at Flexitricity, who, in the same session, said:
“I do not think the idea...
As the Minister has just said, new nuclear is essential for energy security. It is also essential as an alternative career for workers in oil and gas. Does the Minister agree that by blocking new nuclear in Scotland—in contrast to what is happening in England and Wales—the Scottish Government are undermining not just the energy transition and our energy security, but alternative jobs for the very people whom they claim to represent?
As the Minister has just said, new nuclear is essential for energy security. It is also essential as an alternative career for workers in oil and gas. Does the Minister agree that by blocking new nuclear in Scotland—in contrast to what is happening in England and Wales—the Scottish Government are undermining not just the energy transition and our energy security, but alternative jobs for the very people whom they claim to represent?
My hon. Friend is right. The industry estimates that more than 5,000 Scots are currently working in the nuclear industry, but not in Scotland. There is a huge potential for the expertise and experience of oil and gas workers to build the new nuclear power stations of the future, and to work in them as well. We need to capture those skills and keep them in Scotland, but because of the out-of-touch ideological approach of the SNP we will not have the opportunity to build those power stations in Scotland and those workers will have to go elsewhere, which is a great shame.
Paul and Susan Robinson each worked for the Health and Safety Executive for more than 40 years. They have not been able to plan for their retirement since finishing work last year; they have been living off their savings and the small loan that they have had. They are typical...
Paul and Susan Robinson each worked for the Health and Safety Executive for more than 40 years. They have not been able to plan for their retirement since finishing work last year; they have been living off their savings and the small loan that they have had. They are typical...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the action in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed for people with very severe ME/CFS, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on patient...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the action in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed for people with very severe ME/CFS, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on patient...
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.
Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently actively considering whether a specialised service for very severe ME/CFS should be commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. A final decision will not be made until after the abolition of NHS England is complete, in April 2027, when processes will be clearer. This is as a result of potential changes to the legislative process which may occur as a result of transformation in NHS England. Officials continue to progress this action as far as possible ahead of April 2027, so that work can continue at pace following the completion of transformation in NHS England. This could include convening the clinical committee ahead of time.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial, published in February 2026, whether her Department will be extending the trials of increased Penalty Charge Notices to Sefton Council.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial, published in February 2026, whether her Department will be extending the trials of increased Penalty Charge Notices to Sefton Council.
The DfT is not running a trial. As stated in the report entitled "BCP Council: Increased Penalty Charge Notice and Associated Charges Trial", the Department for Transport authorised BCP Council in July 2025 to trial increased PCN levels aligned with London rates.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates she has made of the number of how many taxpayers with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities HMRC expects to be eligible for the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review; and how many have been contacted to date.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimates she has made of the number of how many taxpayers with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities HMRC expects to be eligible for the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review; and how many have been contacted to date.
At Budget 2024, the Government committed to a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their Loan Charge liabilities.
The Government has accepted all but one of the Review’s recommendations, and in some areas has gone further. The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Act to provide for a generous new settlement offer which it hopes maximises the opportunity for individuals to come forward and settle. I am committed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring this matter to a close for as many customers as possible.
As outlined in the Tax Impact and Information Notice published in November 2025 about the recommendations from the independent loan charge review, there are approximately 32,000 individuals who have an outstanding loan charge liability.
HMRC began contacting customers to notify them of their eligibility for the new settlement opportunity from January 2026. When the new settlement opportunity is enacted, HMRC will contact customers again, in stages, to explain what it means for them based on their specific circumstances.
The Government’s response to the review represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HMRC. In turn, this requires those individuals to now come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Tax avoidance deprives the Exchequer of funds needed to deliver vital public services and it is right that resources are targeted to stop this. There are no plans to apply the review’s recommendations beyond those individuals and employers with outstanding liabilities that were the focus of the review.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of whether people who previously settled Loan Charge liabilities with HMRC will be offered equivalent terms to those available under the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of whether people who previously settled Loan Charge liabilities with HMRC will be offered equivalent terms to those available under the new settlement opportunity following the McCann Review.
At Budget 2024, the Government committed to a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their Loan Charge liabilities.
The Government has accepted all but one of the Review’s recommendations, and in some areas has gone further. The Government has introduced legislation in the Finance Act to provide for a generous new settlement offer which it hopes maximises the opportunity for individuals to come forward and settle. I am committed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring this matter to a close for as many customers as possible.
As outlined in the Tax Impact and Information Notice published in November 2025 about the recommendations from the independent loan charge review, there are approximately 32,000 individuals who have an outstanding loan charge liability.
HMRC began contacting customers to notify them of their eligibility for the new settlement opportunity from January 2026. When the new settlement opportunity is enacted, HMRC will contact customers again, in stages, to explain what it means for them based on their specific circumstances.
The Government’s response to the review represents a fair and proportionate attempt to provide a route to resolution for those who have not yet been able to settle with HMRC. In turn, this requires those individuals to now come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.
Tax avoidance deprives the Exchequer of funds needed to deliver vital public services and it is right that resources are targeted to stop this. There are no plans to apply the review’s recommendations beyond those individuals and employers with outstanding liabilities that were the focus of the review.
Hudson primary school in my constituency does a brilliant job. It is a family hub, it specialises in support for children with SEND and autism, and it has a nursery, but its building, which is 80 years old, suffers from a high water table that brings damp, mould and structural problems for the building—as does occasional flooding. Will the Minister give Niki Craddock, the excellent headteacher at Hudson primary school, her team and all the children they serve the news that he will look favourably on—
Hudson primary school in my constituency does a brilliant job. It is a family hub, it specialises in support for children with SEND and autism, and it has a nursery, but its building, which is 80 years old, suffers from a high water table that brings damp, mould and structural problems for the building—as does occasional flooding. Will the Minister give Niki Craddock, the excellent headteacher at Hudson primary school, her team and all the children they serve the news that he will look favourably on—
I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for Hudson primary school. He has spoken to me before about the excellent performance of the school and its headteacher. We will be selecting the 250 schools for the school rebuilding programme by the end of the year and announce them at the start of next year. It will be based on those schools that have the most acute need in terms of their building state. I am happy to discuss that further with him.
If she will make it her policy to prioritise Hudson Primary School, Sefton, in the school rebuilding programme.
If she will make it her policy to prioritise Hudson Primary School, Sefton, in the school rebuilding programme.
We inherited the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete—RAAC—crisis and years of decay in the school estate. Labour is investing almost £20 billion in the school rebuilding programme to rebuild over 750 schools across England. Over 500 schools are already in the programme, with well over half already in delivery. We will select a further 250 schools by early 2027.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC paid in (a) withheld tax repayments and (b) rebates relating to UK Real Estate Investment Trust distributions to non-UK residents in financial years (i) 2023-24 and (ii) 2024-25; and what compliance and assurance processes apply to such repayments.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC paid in (a) withheld tax repayments and (b) rebates relating to UK Real Estate Investment Trust distributions to non-UK residents in financial years (i) 2023-24 and (ii) 2024-25; and what compliance and assurance processes apply to such repayments.
HMRC does not routinely publish data on withheld tax repayments relating to Real Estate Investment Trust distributions, the specific figures requested are not readily available in a single dataset. Repayments are administered through a number of different systems and routes, and unfortunately collating the information required would exceed the cost threshold for responding to parliamentary questions.
We can confirm that HMRC operates compliance and assurance processes for repayments of withholding tax. These processes include checks on eligibility for relief, identification of the claimant, validation of the repayment calculation and verification that the non-UK resident is entitled to treaty benefits.
The Select Committee has taken evidence on much of what is in the Gracious Speech, and a big part of this debate has been about the threats that we face as a result of the second fossil fuel crisis in five years. I remember the first in 1973: as a...
The Select Committee has taken evidence on much of what is in the Gracious Speech, and a big part of this debate has been about the threats that we face as a result of the second fossil fuel crisis in five years. I remember the first in 1973: as a...
The Government were supportive of heating oil in the recently announced measures precisely for some of the reasons that the hon. Member sets out. We have to address this threat, and we have to transition for reasons of energy security, cost and bringing bills down. Anybody going to the pump...
The Government were supportive of heating oil in the recently announced measures precisely for some of the reasons that the hon. Member sets out. We have to address this threat, and we have to transition for reasons of energy security, cost and bringing bills down. Anybody going to the pump...
As I have said, the amount we are talking about is very small, compared to the needs of the UK. [Interruption.] The hon. Member might not be so disappointed by what I say next. There is an argument—the Government have done some of this with tiebacks—for continuing to support production...
As I have said, the amount we are talking about is very small, compared to the needs of the UK. [Interruption.] The hon. Member might not be so disappointed by what I say next. There is an argument—the Government have done some of this with tiebacks—for continuing to support production...
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said; and I always find his contributions interesting. My Committee heard from the Country Land and Business Association on the subject of solar panels on agricultural land, and its evidence was clear: this does not have the impact...
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said; and I always find his contributions interesting. My Committee heard from the Country Land and Business Association on the subject of solar panels on agricultural land, and its evidence was clear: this does not have the impact...
That this House calls for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, better known as the Hillsborough Law, to be passed in full as one of the first Acts of the new Parliamentary session; notes with concern the lack of progress on the Bill since the postponed Report Stage and Third Reading in January; regrets the continued delay in bringing forward the Bill for completion; welcomes the carry-over of the Bill and its inclusion in the King’s Speech; urges the Government to apply the proposed duty of candour to all public authorities, including the intelligence and security services; supports Amendment 23 and related amendments seeking to remove exemptions for those bodies; further notes with concern that exemptions for such bodies risk undermining the universality of the duty of candour; recognises that these amendments are compatible with existing national security safeguards; recalls commitments made by the Prime Minister and in the Labour Party 2024 General Election manifesto to deliver the Hillsborough Law; pays tribute to the unwavering courage and determination of bereaved families, survivors, and campaigners; acknowledges the continued impact on bereaved families and survivors affected by state failure and institutional cover-ups; believes that a full Hillsborough Law is necessary to strengthen transparency, accountability, and trust in public institutions; and further believes that the legislation would form an important legacy to the 97 and to all those seeking truth and justice following tragedies where the state is accountable.
That this House calls for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, better known as the Hillsborough Law, to be passed in full as one of the first Acts of the new Parliamentary session; notes with concern the lack of progress on the Bill since the postponed Report Stage and Third Reading...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what welfare, health and family‑support provisions are available to submariners completing exceptionally long patrols.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what welfare, health and family‑support provisions are available to submariners completing exceptionally long patrols.
Submariners undertake some of the most demanding duties in Defence and the Department recognises the unique demands placed upon them and their families.
A range of support measures are provided to submariners while on patrol and once they return home, including access to comprehensive medical care, pre- and post‑deployment health checks, comprehensive mental health support, alongside chaplaincy access and secure arrangements for receiving messages from family while deployed.
Families are supported through Royal Navy welfare organisations, including Royal Navy Family and People Support, which provides 24-hour support to Service personnel and their families. All arrangements remain under constant review and further information can be found at: Royal Navy Support
The fuel duty freeze is of course very welcome for drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles, but this is the second time in just over four years that petrol and diesel prices have gone through the roof as a result of international oil and gas uncertainty. Is it not time that we gave as much support as possible to those who want to make the transition to electric vehicles? According to Autotrader, the average price of electric vehicles is already lower than that of petrol and diesel vehicles. Will the Government confirm that they are bringing forward plans for greater ability to charge at home and bringing down the cost of electricity as far and as fast as possible, so that more drivers can benefit from long-term lower driving costs?
The fuel duty freeze is of course very welcome for drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles, but this is the second time in just over four years that petrol and diesel prices have gone through the roof as a result of international oil and gas uncertainty. Is it not time that we gave as much support as possible to those who want to make the transition to electric vehicles? According to Autotrader, the average price of electric vehicles is already lower than that of petrol and diesel vehicles. Will the Government confirm that they are bringing forward plans for greater ability to charge at home and bringing down the cost of electricity as far and as fast as possible, so that more drivers can benefit from long-term lower driving costs?
My hon. Friend is right to say that we are seeing a continued uptake of electric vehicles—we saw that in March this year. More electric vehicles were purchased in March than in any month in British history, and we can see that take-up is continuing to increase. This Government are increasing and expanding the grants for those who want to buy an electric vehicle, and we are making progress on permitted development rights, so that those who do not have easy access to charging in their driveways can have easy and cheap access to on-street charging.
The conflict in Iran is also a matter of energy security and the cost of energy. It is a reminder for the second time in four years of the dangers of being dependent on international fossil fuel markets and of the need to reduce our dependence. The Energy Security and...
The conflict in Iran is also a matter of energy security and the cost of energy. It is a reminder for the second time in four years of the dangers of being dependent on international fossil fuel markets and of the need to reduce our dependence. The Energy Security and...
There are people who are saying that the way to bring down bills is to reach agreement with the oil and gas companies to charge less for gas in the North sea. Is not the problem with that argument that there is absolutely no way that those privately owned companies will agree—or that their shareholders will allow them to agree, to be more accurate—to a lower price than they can get elsewhere in the world?
There are people who are saying that the way to bring down bills is to reach agreement with the oil and gas companies to charge less for gas in the North sea. Is not the problem with that argument that there is absolutely no way that those privately owned companies will agree—or that their shareholders will allow them to agree, to be more accurate—to a lower price than they can get elsewhere in the world?
My hon. Friend makes the really important, and relatively basic, point that gas is priced and sold on the international market. Whether it comes from the North sea or is imported, it is charged at the same price. And do not just take my word for it; when the shadow Energy Secretary was in post she said that more drilling would not necessarily lead to lower energy bills.
It really is in the national interest to secure the future of the steel industry in this country. It is extraordinary to hear the opposition to the plan from the Opposition Benches, but perhaps not surprising, given that the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Arundel and South...
It really is in the national interest to secure the future of the steel industry in this country. It is extraordinary to hear the opposition to the plan from the Opposition Benches, but perhaps not surprising, given that the shadow Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Arundel and South...