Written questions by Dewhirst.

Whether the Government will take steps to support the mental health of shopkeepers responsible with enforcing the implementation of a generational ban on tobacco sales.

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom, helping to reduce 80,000 preventable deaths, reduce the burden on the National Health Service, and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.The impact assessment for the bill was published on 5 November and is considered ‘fit for purpose’ by the Regulatory Policy Committee. Whilst the impact assessment was unable to provide an estimate for the number of incidents of abuse towards retail workers due to a lack of evidence, we will consider approaches to assess this specific impact, including using publicly available data, when evaluating the policy.To mitigate the risk that the smoke-free generation policy will increase the incidence of abuse towards retail workers, we are working closely with retailers and will continue to utilise the long lead-in time to best support retailers and the public in preparing for and implementing the changes to the legislation, which includes rolling out information campaigns for the public and retail workers.We will not stand for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Everyone has a right to feel safe on the job. The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

What estimate he has made of the potential increase in illegal tobacco sales as a consequence of the implementation of a generational ban on tobacco sales.

Evidence shows that when we have previously introduced targeted tobacco control measures, they have had a positive impact on tackling the problems of illicit tobacco. Consumption of illicit cigarettes has gone from 15 billion cigarettes in 2000/2001 to 1.5 billion cigarettes in 2022/2023. When the age of sale was increased from 16 to 18 years old in 2007, this created 1.3 million more people who were no longer able to be sold cigarettes, and who in theory would be in the market for illicit cigarettes. However, in practice, the number of illicit cigarettes consumed fell by 25%, from 10 billion in 2005/06 to 7.5 billion in 2007/08.The Government is investing over £100 million over five years to boost HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force’s enforcement capabilities to tackle illicit tobacco, supporting their Illicit Tobacco Strategy. In 2025/26 we will invest £30 million of new funding in total for enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards.

Whether she has had discussions with her Australian counterpart on the impact of excise tax for tobacco products on (a) consumer and (b) organised crime group behaviour.

No discussions have taken place with Australian ministers on these issues.

Whether she has been provided use of a vehicle for official Ministerial travel from outside the Government Car Service.

We do not comment on the specific arrangements in place for the Chancellor because of security.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mitigations from proposed changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief for farmers over 70 years old.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected in 2026-27 by the changes to APR and BPR, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Tax changes for non-UK domiciled individuals, published on 30 October 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the non-domiciled tax regime on the UK's global competitiveness as a financial hub.

The Government is committed to improving the UK’s competitiveness internationally and securing economic growth. This reform has been specifically designed to make the UK competitive with a modern, simple tax regime that is also fair. It establishes a tax regime for new residents, which is more attractive to new arrivals than the current rules. The Government published a Tax Information and Impact Note for this policy on 30 October. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals.

How much Government departments have spent on procurement relating to both goods and services in total in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) that were published in July 2024 shows budget aggregates and spending for 5 years of outturn and one plan year up to 2024-25. Chapter 2 of PESA includes several tables that show departmental budgets broken down by economic category. Table 2.2 for example shows totals for ‘Gross current procurement in budgets’ whilst table 2.3 shows totals for ‘Gross capital procurement in budgets’. Here is a link to the PESA 2024 dataset:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2024 The Public Spending Statistics (PSS) dataset was also published in July 2024 is similar to PESA but only covers the five years of outturn up to 2023-24. Included within the July 2024 PSS dataset is a database and associated pivot table in Excel format. From the pivot table it is possible to obtain the gross current and capital procurement totals as seen in tables 2.2 and 2.3 broken down by department group. Here is a link to the July 2024 PSS dataset:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-spending-statistics-release-july-2024

With reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many vehicles of the Government Car Service were available for senior official use in (a) 2023 and (b) in the latest period for which data is available.

The Government Car Service (GCS) does not determine the allocation of vehicles to senior officials, this is carried out by individual Departmental Private Offices. The arrangements relating to the use of vehicles from the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. There has been no change in this policy since 2023.

With reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many of those cars in each year listed were electric cars.

The number of electric vehicles in the Government Car Service operational fleet for the specified years is:1.2016: 42. 2023: 363.2024: 36

Whether Ian Corfield has left his role at her Department following the International Investment Summit in October 2024.

Ian Corfield was appointed on a short-term basis to carry out urgent work in support of the government’s International Investment Summit on 14 October. He has now left the department, as planned.

Innovation and Technology, what the cost to the public purse is of AI training programmes for civil servants.

Learning in the civil service can be sourced either at a department level or centrally via a cross government learning framework. We are unable to share total consolidated spend but the spend associated with AI training purchased via the learning framework in 2024 is £107,000.

With reference to his Department's advert for Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs, reference number 380316, if he will publish the panel members of that competition.

Details of the panel members will be confirmed and published in due course.

If she will list each of the business attendees who accompanied Arden Strategies at her Department's roundtable on 17 September 2024.

The Government engaged with a number of different businesses and trade bodies in the run up to the International Investment Summit to help coordinate meetings with key investors as part of the usual course of business. It also has an ongoing business engagement programme run by officials. All external meetings between senior officials at Permanent Secretary and Director General are published on gov.uk in the usual way as part of the department’s quarterly transparency return.

If she will place in the House of Commons Library a copy of each (a) equality assessment and (b) environmental principles assessment released by her Department under the (i) Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (ii) Environmental Information Regulations since 4 July 2024, redacting the name of individual applicants.

Since 4 July 2024, HM Treasury has released two impact assessments in response to Freedom of Information requests. The first, on targeting the Winter Fuel Allowance is available publicly on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/responses-to-freedom-of-information-requests-on-equality-impact-assessments-produced-for-targeting-winter-fuel-payment. The second, on removing the temporary £20-per-week uplift for Universal Credit during the Covid-19 pandemic March 2020 has been provided to the House of Lords library.

Media and Sport, what the reference numbers are of Government Art Collection works that have been removed from 11 Downing Street since the general election; and what the reference numbers are of works that are scheduled to be removed.

GAC artworks removed from 11 Downing Street since the General Election can be found in the table below. In some cases, artworks have been removed from No.11 as they have been committed as loans to public exhibitions at other museums or galleries. GAC Inventory137831835518114/418114/318114/218114/117717474212552619324642721636279121100/8613349186241333392678765876487628761875772646670368617233500/25

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13512 on Employers’ Contributions: Public Sector, if she will publish a list of each public body within the public sector boundary for the purpose of compensation for the National Insurance rise in the Autumn Budget 2024.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.This is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.The Government plans to update Parliament on allocations by department in the usual way as soon as possible.

What the cost to the public purse was of Government Campus ministerial induction sessions since July 2024; and what the estimated cost is of future scheduled sessions.

In July 2024, two ministerial induction events were held. One event was in-person and incurred costs of £55.00 for refreshments. One was held online and incurred no specific costs. The cost of future events will depend on the format chosen for delivery, but will be based on an appropriate use of public money.

How many meetings Kamella Hudson attended with her Department since 5 July 2024.

All meetings held by Ministers are published on a quarterly basis on gov.uk. Any meetings held between July and September will be published in late December here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

With reference to the Register Of Interests Of Members' Secretaries And Research Assistants, published on 11 October 2024, whether Nicholas Garland (a) attends meetings in her Department and (b) has provided policy advice in relation to her Ministerial responsibilities.

Nicholas Garland is not a Special Adviser to the Chancellor or a Civil Servant and therefore does not attend meetings or provide policy advice to the Chancellor in this capacity.

Whether his Department has provided (a) media and (b) speech training to Ministers across government.

Since July 2024, there has been no provision of media or speech training to Ministers from the Cabinet Office.