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1695225

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
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	Planning Permission: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking with local authorities to improve the time taken to process planning applications.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	18165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>We are taking action to speed up determinations for planning applications in a number of ways. Reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act seek to streamline the development management process and support decisions which are timely, transparent, and of high quality.</p><p>The Government has also recently increased planning fees and provided a range of new funding streams through the Government’s capacity and capability programme, including the £29 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund to provide local planning authorities with additional resources needed to deliver a high quality and timely planning service.</p><p>In addition to this, on 6 March the Government launched an Accelerated Planning Service consultation. This sets out measures to offer a new application route with accelerated decision dates for major commercial applications and fee refunds wherever these are not met. It also includes measures to more closely monitor the performance of local planning authorities in making decisions within statutory periods rather than using extension of time agreements.</p> answering member constituency North East Derbyshire answering member printed Lee Rowley question first answered 18/03/2024 13:28:52 answering member 4652 label Biography information for Lee Rowley
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695226

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Public Sector: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that public sector workers in Northern Ireland are able to receive a pay award that is equal to levels in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	18166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government is providing the Northern Ireland Executive with a comprehensive £3.3 billion spending settlement to stabilise public services, better manage public finances and pave the way for transformation of public services.</p><p>Within this package, the UK Government provided £846 million to support the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget pressures in 2023-24, including public sector pay pressures</p><p><br>It is the Executive’s responsibility to decide on the level of public sector pay awards for devolved areas in Northern Ireland and to balance these costs against other priorities.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 19/03/2024 12:13:05 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695227

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Boots: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with Boots on the potential impact of its planned store closures.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	18167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>I recognise the retail sector is going through a difficult transition as it responds to market pressures from a range of factors including changing consumer expectations and behaviour towards online shopping. The Department has regular, ongoing discussions with Boots and a number of retail businesses on a range of subjects.</p><p>As you will be aware, the Government has no role in the strategic direction or management of private businesses.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 20/03/2024 15:36:58 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695228

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Conditions of Employment: Freedom of Speech
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that the (a) employment rights and (b) freedom of speech of people of faith are protected (i) in the workplace and (ii) during the recruitment process.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	18168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>People of faith are protected by the existing legal framework. They have the same employment rights and protections as anyone else, including during the recruitment process. Where they feel those rights have not been respected, they can contact Acas or EASS (Equality Advisory and Support Service) for advice, and ultimately, seek redress through an employment tribunal.</p><p>In addition, the Equality Act 2010 provides protection from religious discrimination to anyone with a religious belief as well as to those who lack a religion or belief. The definition of a religion or belief in these provisions is deliberately broad and includes those religions widely recognised in the UK, as well as denominations or sects within a religion such as Catholics or Protestants within Christianity.</p> answering member constituency Thirsk and Malton answering member printed Kevin Hollinrake question first answered 20/03/2024 14:19:32 answering member 4474 label Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695232

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	International Corruption Unit: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data his Department holds on the number of full-time equivalent staff in the National Crime Agency International Corruption Unit (a) in total and (b) who were funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's UK Action Against Corruption programme between 7 December 2009 and 31 March 2023.
tabling member constituency	Barking
tabling member printed	Dame Margaret Hodge
uin	18024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>The International Corruption Unit (ICU) was not formed until 2015, so we do not hold any information prior to this date.</p><p>We are unable to disclose the number of staff employed in the ICU as that information is operationally sensitive. However, as of March 2024 the percentage of staff in the ICU, funded by the FCDO UK Action Against Corruption Programme, is 76%.</p><p>This is broadly comparable over the programme’s funding period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tonbridge and Malling answering member printed Tom Tugendhat question first answered 19/03/2024 16:40:09 answering member 4462 label Biography information for Tom Tugendhat
tabling member	140 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Hodge

1695233

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	International Corruption Unit: Labour Turnover
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an estimate of the (a) number and proportion of permanent staff in the National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit who were in the unit for more than 12 months and (b) staff attrition rate from that unit in the last two financial years.
tabling member constituency	Barking
tabling member printed	Dame Margaret Hodge
uin	18025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>The International Corruption Unit (ICU) is the dedicated team within the NCA that investigates serious criminal allegations of bribery and corruption.</p><p>We are unable to disclose the number of staff employed in the ICU as that information is operationally sensitive. However, in 2022/23, 86% of staff had been in the unit for more than 12 months. In 2021/22 it was 84% of staff.</p><p>The ICU staff annual attrition rate was recorded at 5.5% in both 2021/22 and 2022/23.</p><p>Due to complexities on deriving the figure, the NCA is unable to provide the average years of staff service.</p> answering member constituency Tonbridge and Malling answering member printed Tom Tugendhat question first answered 19/03/2024 16:44:57 answering member 4462 label Biography information for Tom Tugendhat
tabling member	140 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Hodge

1695235

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Public Appointments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the public appointments for which her Department is responsible are (a) women and (b) people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	18182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>As of 31 March 2023, 43% of DCMS regulated appointment roles were held by women and 12% were held by individuals from an ethnic minority background.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 19/03/2024 16:54:08 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1695236

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
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	Chess: Finance
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 his Department's press release entitled Major investment to transform future of English chess announced, published on 22 August 2023, whether he plans to assess the impact of funding chess tables on (a) levels of loneliness and (b) people's problem solving skills.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	18183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.</p><p>We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.</p><p>Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.</p><p>Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.</p><p>Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.</p><p>Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency Redcar answering member printed Jacob Young grouped question UIN 17891 17892 18184 18185 question first answered 18/03/2024 13:24:46 answering member 4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1695237

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
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	Chess: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure that newly-installed chess tables funded by his Department are used for their intended purpose.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	18184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>85 local authorities that received Levelling Up Parks Fund funding were invited to apply for the chess tables funding. In total, 55 local authorities applied for the funding. We have provided funding to those 55 local authorities to install 99 chess tables across England.</p><p>We have asked local authorities to consider how the location they choose creates new opportunities, helps to strengthen relationships, builds local social cohesion and provides opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity.</p><p>Prior to the announcement of funding, we engaged stakeholders across Government, as well as local authorities and the English Chess Federation.</p><p>Local authorities know their communities best and are best placed to manage the use and assess the effects of the chess tables locally, if they choose to do so.</p><p>Any decisions to provide chess sets are for local authorities to take.</p><p>Further announcements will be set out in the usual way.</p> answering member constituency Redcar answering member printed Jacob Young grouped question UIN 17891 17892 18183 18185 question first answered 18/03/2024 13:24:46 answering member 4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1695238

registered interest
date	12/03/2024
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	Jobcentres: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to offer financial incentives for Jobcentre work coaches to get people into work.
tabling member constituency	Leicester West
tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
uin	18113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>DWP ran an initial incentives pilot for a 6-month period from March 2023 until August 2023. This was piloted alongside Additional Jobcentre Support (AJS) to support more claimants into work. A second phase of the incentives pilot commenced 1 January 2024 and is due to end 31 March 2024. The pilot is in line with existing Reward and Recognition policy and incentives are paid as reward vouchers.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 20/03/2024 12:17:44 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall