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1666498

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Driving Tests
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on (a) increasing the availability of driving tests and (b) reducing the wait time between bookings for people retaking their tests.
tabling member constituency	Warrington South
tabling member printed	Andy Carter
uin	203963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>As of 23 October 2023, there were 571,820 car practical driving tests booked, and 72,787 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.</p><p>The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is taking all the measures it can to reduce driving test waiting times. This includes carrying out overtime, such as at weekends and on public holidays, buying back annual leave from driving examiners (DE) and, inviting recently retired DEs to return to work.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2021, measures put in place by the DVSA to reduce waiting times for its customers, together with the ongoing recruitment of DEs, is creating on average over 40,000 extra car test slots each month.</p><p> </p><p>The DVSA has also deployed all eligible managers and administrative staff back on the front line to do driving tests from the beginning of October 2023 until the end of March 2024, which will create around 150,000 test slots.</p> answering member constituency North West Durham answering member printed Mr Richard Holden question first answered 26/10/2023 06:51:04 answering member 4813 label Biography information for Mr Richard Holden
tabling member	4791 label Biography information for Andy Carter

1666740

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Advanced British Standard
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff within her Department were working on the development of the Advance British Standard as of October 2023.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	203816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>Officials in the Department support the government to deliver education and children’s social care priorities. The Department’s vision is for a workforce with world class skills which is flexible and can be deployed quickly to priority areas. As the Advanced British Standard is a priority, cross cutting reform, officials from across the Department are engaging in this work.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 203817 question first answered 26/10/2023 11:15:58 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

1666352

registered interest
date	20/10/2023
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Nuclear Fusion: Research and Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, from what budget line and over what time period funding will be provided for the commitment of up to (a) £200 million for a Fuel Cycle Testing Facility, (b) £200 million for vital R&D ensuring industry can develop and design components for future fusion powerplants, (c) £50 million for growing and improving the Culham campus in Oxfordshire, (d) £55 million for a Fusion Skills Programme, (e) £35 million additional funding for the Fusion Industry Programme, (f) £25 million to enhance international collaborations on fusion R&D, to export UK expertise and make best use of global knowledge to accelerate fusion energy, (g) £18 million for a Technology Transfer Hub and (h) £11 million to further support the STEP programme and upskill UK industry to help deliver it; and what the process will for deciding to whom the money from each commitment is allocated.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	203679
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>Fusion Futures is the UK’s alternative programme to Euratom R&amp;T. The commitments will be funded from HM Treasury’s EU Programme ringfence which provides funding up to March 2028, subject to business cases. Further detail on the commercial arrangements for each commitment will be provided as the programme develops.</p> answering member constituency West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine answering member printed Andrew Bowie question first answered 25/10/2023 16:21:27 answering member 4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1666138

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Exports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a list of the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	203588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uktradeinfo.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Csatvinder.juttla%40hmrc.gov.uk%7Cf7850ca447ed4360c4d108dbd151faa3%7Cac52f73cfd1a4a9a8e7a4a248f3139e1%7C0%7C0%7C638333922240552133%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=G9m1A5zHX%2FwdbEzdyro4a8hQsgbOVDpilw%2BsU%2BfSqdI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.uktradeinfo.com</a>). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria and download bulk datasets.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a statutory duty of confidentiality to protect the information it holds about taxpayers. As a result, it is not possible to confirm the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK without the request identifying information relating to an individual taxpayer or taxpayers.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 25/10/2023 07:39:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1665856

registered interest
date	18/10/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Refugees: Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the oral statement made by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 19 September 2023, how many Afghans and their families remain in Government-approved temporary accommodation as of 18 October 2023; and when he plans to have moved all Afghans and their families out of that accommodation.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	203404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>The majority of Afghan families have been moved out of bridging accommodation into longer-term accommodation. Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head.</p><p>Since 1 July 2023, the Department has been monitoring homelessness duties owed by English local authorities following the closure of Home Office provided bridging accommodation and this data is available on gov.uk at the following <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fhomelessness-management-information-afghan-nationals-england&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary%40levellingup.gov.uk%7Cb2d60c0255ca4146d61e08dbd499347c%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C638337526713651613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=N6mvdOR%2FIuUcV8GVatgKU3idUjSaCjz%2BwRmIQ%2BlkD10%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">link</a>.</p><p>There is a generous package of support available including £35 million of funding for councils to support Afghan households to move into settled accommodation, and the £750 million Local Authority Housing Fund for English councils to obtain housing for those on the Afghan and Ukrainian schemes who are at risk of homelessness. The fund is expected to provide over 4,000 homes by 2024.</p> answering member constituency Kensington answering member printed Felicity Buchan grouped question UIN 202899 202900 203407 question first answered 24/10/2023 14:56:47 answering member 4821 label Biography information for Felicity Buchan
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1665281

registered interest
date	17/10/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department considered proposals for private financing for Euston HS2 station between between 13 February 2020 and 15 July 2022.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
uin	203067
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2023 answer text <p>DfT and HS2 Ltd have consulted and commissioned studies on private finance.</p><p> </p><p>We continually review the best ways to deliver and fund our major infrastructure projects including harnessing the private sector to finance and deliver projects where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Huw Merriman question first answered 20/10/2023 12:55:48 answering member 4442 label Biography information for Huw Merriman
tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

1665325

registered interest
date	17/10/2023
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prison Sentences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the 10 most common Criminal Justice System offence codes were for which custodial sentences of between (a) 14 days and six months and (b) six months and 12 months were handed down by courts in England and Wales in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23; and how many sentences of those lengths were handed down in relation to each offence code.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	202942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of custodial sentences issued for criminal offences, broken down by sentence length, in the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1182043/outcomes-by-offence-2022_v2.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence data tool</a>.</p><p> </p><p>However, sentence length is not specifically broken down in the tool to identify those between 14 days and 6 months, and therefore this information is provided in Table 1 for calendar years 2021 and 2022, the most recently published periods. The requested information for custodial sentences of more than 6 months and up to 12 months is available in the tool linked above. Data for calendar year 2023 will be published in May 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Our long-term plan to use prisons better will keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars for longer while reforming short term prison sentences. As part of the measures recently announced by the Lord Chancellor, we will legislate for a presumption that custodial sentences of less than twelve months in prison will be suspended, and offenders will serve their sentences in the community instead. This will cut crime and lead to fewer victims.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing remains a matter for the independent judiciary and sometimes a short custodial sentence is the right and just option. So prolific offenders unwilling to comply with community orders or other orders of court will continue to feel the full force of our justice system.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 26/10/2023 09:32:23 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar attachment 1 file name 2023-10-20 PQ 202942 table.xlsx title Table 1
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1665382

registered interest
date	17/10/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 61 of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations, published on 8 August 2023, whether the Government has made an assessment of the compatibility of the options in the table with UK tax policy.
tabling member constituency	Barking
tabling member printed	Dame Margaret Hodge
uin	202865
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>The Government believes international cooperation is important in tackling global tax challenges, and actively engages with the OECD’s and UN’s work on tax policy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring internationalensuring international tax rules and standards are effective as well as inclusive. To this end, the Government has supported consensus-based reform of the international tax rules through the OECD, including through the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework (with over 130 members) and the Global Forum (with over 160 members), in which non-OECD members participate on an equal footing. This reflects the strong expertise that sits within the OECD and the steps taken in recent years to become ever more inclusive of the needs of developing countries.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins grouped question UIN 202863 202864 question first answered 25/10/2023 07:40:16 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	140 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Hodge

1665479

registered interest
date	17/10/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to increase the (a) basic and (b) new state pension by at least the September 2023 rate of increase in average earnings.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Beth Winter
uin	203135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The outcome of the Secretary of State’s review of benefits rates, including the State Pension, for 2023 will be announced in the coming weeks. Following his review, the new rates will come into force from April 2024. We cannot pre-empt this review.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 23/10/2023 14:26:18 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4809 label Biography information for Beth Winter

1664738

registered interest
date	16/10/2023
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the High Court ruling that the use of hotels to house unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is unlawful, what steps they will take to end the use of hotels for this purpose.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL10521
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>Hotel accommodation is a temporary means to accommodate the increased number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) arriving in the UK and is only ever a contingency option, not a long-term solution. The high number of UASC arrivals, particularly because of small boat crossings, has placed unprecedented pressure on the National Transfer Scheme (NTS). Out of necessity, the Home Office have accommodated UASC on an emergency and temporary basis in hotels while placements with local authorities have been vigorously pursued.</p><p>The High Court recently ruled that the routine and systematic use of hotels to accommodate UASC is unlawful, and we are working at pace with Kent County Council, other government departments and local authorities across the UK to ensure suitable local authority placements are provided for UASC urgently and sustainably.</p><p>The High Court has upheld that local authorities have a statutory duty to care for all children including UASC. The Home Office have always maintained that the best place for UASC to be accommodated is within a local authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Murray of Blidworth question first answered 25/10/2023 14:44:38 answering member 4950 label Biography information for Lord Murray of Blidworth
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham