The Secretary of State has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a number of issues.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is committed to ensuring drivers get a fair deal for fuel and has launched a consultation on the PumpWatch scheme which will require petrol-filling stations to share price information within 30 minutes of a change. This will drive down prices by reigniting competition and empowering drivers to find the best deals. Road fuels prices are down over three consecutive months. Petrol prices are now at a level not seen since mid-October 2021 following our work to bring transparency to the market.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4372", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Amanda Solloway"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derby North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Amanda Solloway"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-24T07:59:31.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "215"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Diesel: Costs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing the cost of diesel.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "9823"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682408", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682408/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
No Freedom of Information requests relating to the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre are awaiting a response from the Department. A letter from the Information Commissioner about the Department\u2019s handling of a previous request was received on 18 January 2024 and will receive a response shortly.<\/p>
A great deal of information about the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre has been published as part of the planning application. When Freedom of Information requests have sought information which falls within statutory exemptions, careful consideration is given and the appropriate public interest tests are applied. Some material requested by Doran Gerhold in December 2018 was withheld on this basis: the Information Commissioner and the First Tier Tribunal have each, twice, upheld the Department\u2019s approach.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4494", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hoare"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Dorset"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hoare"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "9985"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-23T17:22:50.9Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish the redacted Holocaust Memorial material subject to the freedom of information request by Dorian Gerhold in December 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Peter Bottomley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worthing West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Peter Bottomley"} ], "uin" : "9724"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682413", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682413/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK firmly opposes the discrimination that British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders are facing in applying for early withdrawal of their pension funds held by the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) in Hong Kong.<\/p>
All representations to the Hong Kong authorities have been made via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office or the Department for Business and Trade.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4369", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Pursglove"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Corby"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Pursglove"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-24T16:19:59.433Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "British National (Overseas): Pensions"} , "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, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2023 to Question 5408, if he will publish his Department's communications with the Hong Kong authorities on facilitating early drawdown of pension funds.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4267", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Champion"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rotherham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sarah Champion"} ], "uin" : "9847"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682414", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682414/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government funded No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is being run by Fair4AllFinance, in conjunction with their partners. The pilot is designed to test the impact that NILS could have on addressing the needs of vulnerable consumers across the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
Fair4All Finance have now rolled out the pilot in England, Scotland and Wales. The continued lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland is impacting the ability of Fair4All Finance to access lending capital to extend the pilot to Northern Ireland. Fair4All Finance continue to engage closely with stakeholders in an effort to deliver our shared ambition to launch a pilot site in Northern Ireland.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4639", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bim Afolami"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hitchin and Harpenden"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Bim Afolami"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-19T14:29:10.677Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "No-interest Loans Scheme: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 201259 on No-interest Loans Scheme: Northern Ireland, when he expects to see the results of the Fair4AllFinance pilot in Northern Ireland.", "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"} ], "uin" : "9776"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682417", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business and Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682417/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for Business Trade is committed to ensuring that the life and health science sector is supported in Northern Ireland. Last year, a life and health sciences sector specialist was appointed to DBT\u2019s Northern Ireland trade and investment hub. This dedicated resource ensures that businesses have access to DBT services, helping them to increase international exports, attract inward investment, and ensure sector interests are represented in trade policy.<\/p>
<\/p>
The sector was at the forefront of last year's Northern Ireland Investment Summit, where local companies showcased new technologies and cutting-edge innovations to an audience of over 180 global investors.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4460", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wealden"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ms Nusrat Ghani"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-22T15:38:57.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "214"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business and Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_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 Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to support the (a) life and (b) health science sector in Northern Ireland.", "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"} ], "uin" : "9777"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682419", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682419/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK and United States' military action on 12 January against Houthi targets was taken with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.<\/p>
Ten countries, including Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and Republic of Korea, signed a joint statement on the strikes, re-iterating to the Houthis that we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats.<\/p>
This followed a 3 January joint statement from by the UK, US and ten allies, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, calling for the immediate end to the Houthis' illegal activities.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4528", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Heappey"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wells"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Heappey"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-19T13:21:50.9Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Red Sea: Military Intervention"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister during the oral statement on Defending the UK and Allies of 15 January 2024, Official Report, column 577, for what reason only forces from the UK and USA took part in the action in the Red Sea on 11 January 2024.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Stephen Timms"} ], "uin" : "9726"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682421", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1682421/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "