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1668909

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Spaceflight: Expenditure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the cost to the public purse was for the UK Spaceflight Programme as of 9 November 2023.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1196
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>As of November 2023, the total cost to the Exchequer of the UK Spaceflight Programme is £54.7 million.</p><p> </p><p>This funding has contributed to growing the UK’s launch capability, which is bringing new jobs and economic benefits to communities and organisations right across the UK, supporting the ambitions of the National Space Strategy, the Government’s levelling up agenda, and our vision for Global Britain.</p> answering member constituency Arundel and South Downs answering member printed Andrew Griffith question first answered 16/11/2023 14:18:38 answering member 4874 label Biography information for Andrew Griffith
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668910

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Workplace Pensions: Advisory Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the affordability of independent financial advice for members of pension schemes with safeguarded benefits who are required to take advice under section 48 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Pensions Schemes Act 2015 requires that members of pension schemes with safeguarded benefits take independent financial advice before accessing their pension pot flexibly, where the total value of the member’s benefits exceeds £30,000. These pensions offer a high level of security and guarantees that should not be relinquished without consumers being supported to make an informed choice about the risks.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that consumers who took advice from firms that charged on a non-contingent basis typically paid £2,500 - £3,500 for advice.</p><p> </p><p>There are a variety of resources available to help consumers shop around for an advice firm that best meets their needs, including MoneyHelper’s Retirement Adviser Directory.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:17:33 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668911

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
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	Workplace Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an opt-out option for members of pension schemes with safeguarded benefits who are required to take advice under section 48 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>The overarching objective of the advice requirement is to ensure that members understand the financial implications of transferring to a scheme with flexible benefits. The process enables a clear view of the choices available to the individual and the longer term risks attached to accessing flexible benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The government has to consider the needs of all pension savers regardless of their individual circumstances and it believes that enabling members to make informed investment decisions will yield greater long term financial stability for the individual. It is not therefore policy to introduce an opt out option to this part of the transfer process.</p><p> </p><p>In forming this view, DWP has engaged with pensions industry bodies, the regulators and consumer groups to review The Pension Schemes Act 2015 (Transitional Provisions and Appropriate Independent Advice) Regulations 2017. The review considered how the advice requirement is working in practice and if there are any unintended consequences. A report of the review was published in June 2023 and is available on gov.uk.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the report concluded that the existing measures remain appropriate and effective, the department will continue to work closely with HMT and FCA to consider changes to the regulations that will improve the transfer process whilst ensuring that members continue to receive an appropriate level of protection and support.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 15/11/2023 16:03:59 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668913

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Radio: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of Ofcom's proposal to make Regional Secondary Locators optional for amateur radio licensees on the awareness of the (a) diversity and (b) unique nature of the nations of the UK by international audiences.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Ofcom has assured us that it does recognise that Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) have strong significance for some radio amateurs. Given this, Ofcom proposes to amend the licence and make the use of an RSL optional for licensees, while retaining the right for those that wish to use an RSL to continue to do so. This will avoid situations in which RSL users could breach their licence when crossing borders between nations.</p><p> </p><p>Internationally, the use of an RSL is not mandated or provided for by the overarching regulatory framework set out by the International Telecoms Union Radio Regulations.<em> </em></p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 16/11/2023 14:46:10 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668915

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Credit: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce interim measures to protect buy now pay later borrowers.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) is an interest-free product which gives consumers a time-limited means of spreading payments for their purchases. When used responsibly and provided affordably it can be a helpful way for consumers to manage their finances and make purchases.</p><p> </p><p>Many consumers are attracted to BNPL because of its interest-free nature, which the Government considers makes it inherently lower risk than most other types of credit. The FCA’s most recent Financial Lives survey found that 46% of people of who had used BNPL in the past 12 months chose it because it was interest-free. In addition, the survey found that 88% of users found it easy to keep track of their repayments.</p><p> </p><p>As such, BNPL represents a popular alternative to traditional, interest-bearing forms of credit like credit cards and personal loans. For some financially vulnerable consumers it may also provide an alternative to high-cost and illegal lending. Further data from the FCA shows that around 14 million adults used BNPL in the six months to January 2023 and that the average outstanding BNPL balance is low at £236.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s consultation on proposed draft legislation to bring Buy-Now Pay-Later into regulation closed in April. Since then the Government has been carefully considering stakeholder feedback. The Government will publish a response to the consultation once it is finalised in due course.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, BNPL users already benefit from broader consumer protection legislation, including on advertising and unfair contract terms. The FCA also has existing powers to take action against firms, which it used as recently as Tuesday 31 October to secure changes to firms' potentially unfair and unclear contract terms. Some BNPL firms have also introduced a credit ‘opt-out’ function for their customers.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:12:48 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1668916

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Credit Reference Agencies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of buy now pay later providers who voluntarily report their customers’ (a) borrowing and (b) repayment records to credit reference agencies.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	1201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>HM Treasury regularly monitors the consumer credit market as part of its normal process of policy development.</p><p> </p><p>Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) is an interest-free product which gives consumers a time-limited means of spreading payments for their purchases. When used responsibly and provided affordably it can be a helpful way for consumers to manage their finances and make purchases.</p><p> </p><p>Many consumers are attracted to BNPL because of its interest-free nature, which the Government considers makes it inherently lower risk than most other types of credit. The FCA’s most recent Financial Lives survey found that 46% of people of who had used BNPL in the past 12 months chose it because it was interest-free. In addition, the survey found that 88% of users found it easy to keep track of their repayments.</p><p> </p><p>As such, BNPL represents a popular alternative to traditional, interest-bearing forms of credit like credit cards and personal loans. For some financially vulnerable consumers it may also provide an alternative to high-cost and illegal lending. Further data from the FCA shows that around 14 million adults used BNPL in the six months to January 2023 and that the average outstanding BNPL balance is low at £236.</p><p> </p><p>While the department does not hold precise information on the number and proportion of BNPL firms reporting borrowing and repayment records for their customers’ agreements to credit reference agencies, it understands that several of the UK’s major BNPL firms have reporting arrangements in place with at least one credit reference agency.</p> answering member constituency Hitchin and Harpenden answering member printed Bim Afolami question first answered 16/11/2023 17:15:29 answering member 4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1667686

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Bahrain: Prisons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of prison reform in Bahrain in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	316
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>We welcome the positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain leading to progress in a number of human rights areas, including reforms to the prison system. This includes the development of Alternative Sentencing legislation (which has benefitted over 5,680 individuals to date), the introduction of an open prison system, the implementation of a new child justice system, and the establishment of specialist human rights oversight bodies. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and to encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 15/11/2023 17:37:56 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1667687

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Bahrain: Press Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 7 July 2023 to Question 191641 on Bahrain: Gulf Strategy Fund, what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the (a) Bahraini civil societies and (b) Bahrain Journalist Association to (i) operate independently of and (ii) voice opposition to the Bahraini authorities.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>The FCDO remains committed to supporting reform in Bahrain and working with civil society organisations and journalists, including through projects delivered via the Gulf Strategy Fund. We recognise there are challenges to freedom of expression in Bahrain and await the new media law, in which we have encouraged the Government of Bahrain to include improved protections for journalists and to enhance wider media freedoms.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 15/11/2023 17:39:40 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1667688

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Broadband: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 26 October 2023 to Question 204064 on Broadband: Rural Areas, whether her Department plans to provide support to people who are ineligible for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme because they are in plan to have superfast broadband installed but do not have a timescale for this process.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	318
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>Eligibility for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is dependent on premises meeting the relevant criteria, such as not being included in any suppliers’ commercial rollout plans for a gigabit-capable connection, nor in any other government-funded contract - planned or in place - to improve the network.</p><p> </p><p>Eligibility for the voucher scheme is also dependent on the premises’ rurality status and only being able to access speeds less than 100Mbps. Therefore, commercial plans to provide superfast speeds (&gt;=30Mbps) would not result in ineligibility for the scheme, assuming the premises met the wider requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Although premises that are included in suppliers’ plans to receive a <em>gigabit-capable</em> connection are ineligible for vouchers, we still keep commercial plans under review. If these plans change, we will explore whether the premises can be connected through Project Gigabit.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 15/11/2023 09:52:39 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1666598

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Defibrillators: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking to steps to help increase public access to defibrillators in areas of deprivation with a high incidence of cardiac arrest.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	203876
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>The Government’s £1 million Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) fund will provide an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators across England, with the potential for this to double as successful applicants will be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully.</p><p>As of 22 September 2022, community organisations can now apply for a grant to fund an AED for their local area. Applications for funding will be submitted to Smarter Society and the London Hearts Charity, who will assess each application, ensuring that each AED is installed in areas where there is a clear need for the device such as high footfall areas or rural locations with extended ambulance response times. Priority will be given to applications that are considered a cardiac health hotspot with high levels of deprivation and low numbers of AEDs.</p><p>All AEDs granted by the fund must be registered on The Circuit, which is the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator database.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 203877 203878 question first answered 25/10/2023 14:04:18 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day