{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.&_metadata=all", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "isPartOf" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&_view=AnsweredQuestions&min-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2019-11-05T14:59:57.697Z&_properties=type,type.", "type" : "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint"} , "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761064", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761064/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Speeding up the remediation of buildings throughout England is essential. More than seven years have passed since the Grenfell tragedy, yet progress remains unacceptably slow. In the Slough area, there are five live applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme - two from social sector organisations and three from private sector applicants. Of the remaining three, one began its application at the end of January and remains in the early stages of the process. Two projects are in the initial tender stage, planning their works, and we are monitoring monthly progress updates to ensure they are on track. We remain committed to driving timely progress for every building with unsafe cladding. As set out in our Remediation Acceleration plan, by intensifying efforts to identify at-risk buildings and accelerate pace of remediation for buildings, including by fully utilising the efficiencies of the Cladding Safety Scheme, we are mitigating the ongoing threat posed by unsafe cladding in the Slough area, and across the country.<\/p>
The Cladding Safety Scheme interacts with all applicants. It is a data-led programme designed with key performance indicators to ensure we can monitor and track progress and escalate applications as required. The system allows RAG ratings for all buildings to ensure that we are able to support and engage buildings experiencing delays or blockers. A key tenant of the programme is ensuring leaseholders and residents receive regular communications from the applicant so that they are aware of progress. In the Slough area, there are five live applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme of which two are experiencing delays. One is still within the design phase, while the other building is more complex having discovered potential additional works required. We are engaging these buildings to receive regular updates on their progress and are closely monitoring their performance. Our key focus is to support these applications to ensure progress at pace resumes to provide leaseholders and residents with the necessary comfort to know that their buildings will be remediated without further delay.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4641", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Norris"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham North and Kimberley"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Norris"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "28073"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T17:58:15.713Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cladding Safety Scheme: Slough"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of progress of remediation works by property management companies on properties approved for the Cladding Safety Scheme in Slough.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Slough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "28074"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761065", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761065/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Grant payments are made in arrears and subject to confirmation that pre-payment conditions have been satisfactorily met. HMG has committed to provide Tata Steel with a grant of up to £500m to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot site. The precise amounts and timelines for payments are commercially sensitive.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4631", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Croydon West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T09:49:31.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Iron and Steel: Port Talbot"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much of the £500 million grant to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks has been paid.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4384", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Wood"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswinford and South Staffordshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mike Wood"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "28075"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761066", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761066/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)\u2019s current contract with Post Office Ltd expires on 31 March 2026, with an option to extend until 31 March 2027.\u202f The DVLA is preparing to launch a procurement for a new contract for the service currently provided by Post Office. This contract which will begin when the current contract expires.\u202f The requirements for this contract are currently being developed and the winning supplier will be determined in compliance with UK public procurement regulations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4029", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lilian Greenwood"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lilian Greenwood"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T10:12:22.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Post Offices"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what services the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will have available at Post Offices between 2027 and 2029.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "27977"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761067", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Science, Innovation and Technology"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761067/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Innovate UK Launchpads is an £80 million programme that builds on local innovation strengths to support emerging clusters of SMEs to deliver jobs, growth, and high productivity. For each Launchpad, Innovate UK invests up to £7.5 million for business-led innovation projects.<\/p>
The Northern Ireland Launchpad is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare solutions and medical breakthroughs. Innovate UK has appointed independent consultants to evaluate the impact of this and the other Launchpads and will publish interim findings from early 2027 via UKRI\u2019s public website. A full impact evaluation will report from late 2028.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4822", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Feryal Clark"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Enfield North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Feryal Clark"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T16:16:30.963Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "216"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Life Sciences: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Launchpad Initiative in Northern Ireland by Innovate UK on the life and health sciences sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "27978"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761069", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Science, Innovation and Technology"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761069/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
A cross-Government approach is taken to support the UK\u2019s Life Sciences sector. This was the case for Government\u2019s work to explore AstraZeneca\u2019s potential investment in Speke, which involved No10, HM Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business and Trade.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4822", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Feryal Clark"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Enfield North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Feryal Clark"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T17:06:18.28Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "216"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "AstraZeneca: Merseyside"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which Departments were involved in discussions with Astra-Zeneca on the expansion of the vaccine production plant at Speke Merseyside.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/429", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Derek Twigg"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Widnes and Halewood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Derek Twigg"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "27974"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761070", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761070/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on the number of doses procured by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is commercially sensitive.<\/p>
The UKHSA secures sufficient volumes of flu vaccines for the children\u2019s flu programme, to ensure that eligible children aged less than 18 years old who present for vaccination can be offered an appropriate vaccine. General practitioners and community pharmacists are directly responsible for ordering flu vaccines from suppliers, which are used to deliver the national flu programme to all other eligible groups.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1506", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Gwynne"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gorton and Denton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Gwynne"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761070/answer/previousversion/35566", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1506", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Gwynne"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gorton and Denton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Gwynne"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-07T14:10:45.11Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Influenza: Vaccination"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many vaccine doses have been purchased for this year\u2019s Flu campaign; and where they were sourced from.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/429", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Derek Twigg"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Widnes and Halewood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Derek Twigg"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "27975"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761071", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761071/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As we saw in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that the United Kingdom\u2019s population has ready access to pandemic vaccines as soon as they are available is critical to our ability to respond to and recover from any future pandemic. Whilst it is not possible to predict the cause of a pandemic in advance, the Government is investing in a range of capabilities to support the development and manufacture of pandemic vaccines when needed. These capabilities include:<\/p>
¾ an advance purchase agreement with CSL Seqirus, which guarantees the UK\u2019s population access to over 100 million doses of a pandemic influenza vaccine, entirely manufactured in the UK; and<\/p>
¾ a partnership with Moderna, which aims to bring mRNA vaccine production capability to the UK and build resilience in the event of a new health emergency by investing in mRNA research and development.<\/p>
In addition to these specific contractual arrangements, the Government is committed to making the UK one of the best places in the world to develop and manufacture new and innovative medicines, including vaccines. This is underpinned by broader support for the life sciences sector, including through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which is a capital grant fund of up to £520 million over five years, from 2025 to 2030, to support UK health resilience and help ensure a robust response to potential future health emergencies.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1506", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Gwynne"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gorton and Denton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Gwynne"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761071/answer/previousversion/35561", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1506", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Gwynne"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gorton and Denton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Gwynne"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-07T14:16:16.907Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Vaccination: Production"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the required domestic capacity for vaccine production in the event of a pandemic.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/429", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Derek Twigg"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Widnes and Halewood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Derek Twigg"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "27976"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761074", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761074/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities safe.<\/p>
As we announced in the Police Funding Settlement in January, this Government is doubling the funding available in 2025/26 to support the first steps in delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel, including special constables. This total £200 million investment underlines our commitment to the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and making the country\u2019s streets safer.<\/p>
Police forces have been asked to design delivery profiles for their workforce mix that are tailored to local needs and operational contexts, based on what is deliverable within their funding allocation, including special constables. This will ensure that additional neighbourhood personnel in 2025/26 are delivered in a manner that is flexible and easily adaptable to local crime demands.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Diana Johnson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T16:51:03.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Special Constables: Labour Turnover and Recruitment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of special constables.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4126", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mary Glindon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mary Glindon"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "28079"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761087", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761087/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, high streets and rural areas across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with banks to roll out 350 banking hubs, which will provide local residents and businesses up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. Over 200 banking hubs have been recommended so far, and over 100 banking hubs are already open.<\/p>
<\/p>
Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks and building societies, FCA guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers\u2019 everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable. This seeks to ensure that branch closures are implemented in a way that treats customers fairly.<\/p>
<\/p>
Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4077", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Reynolds"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Emma Reynolds"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2025-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "27985"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2025-02-06T16:08:50.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2025-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Banking Hubs: Rural Areas"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the delivery of banking hubs in rural areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4742", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stuart Anderson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Shropshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stuart Anderson"} ], "type" : "http://data.parliament.uk/schema/parl#WrittenParliamentaryQuestion", "uin" : "28091"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761095", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1761095/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The vaccination of poultry and captive birds excluding those in licensed zoos in England against avian influenza is not currently permitted. However, Defra continue to invest in avian influenza research, and we continue to monitor the current situation and vaccine usage both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken, including vaccine development.<\/p>
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While avian influenza vaccination will not be a viable option for the 24/25 high risk season, Defra have established a cross-government and industry task force to explore potential for use of vaccination as a preventive measure for avian influenza.<\/p>
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The taskforce is due to publish an initial report in late spring and will be issuing a statement shortly to update on its work and the latest situation.<\/p>
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