Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Vince this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 20 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on coordinating the work of the Co-operative Development Unit across Government.
My department is working across Government to deliver our manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, following the commitment to establish a Co-operatives Development Unit in the Pride in Place Strategy.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of co-operative models on international development.
The Government is modernising its approach to development, moving from donors to investors, from delivering services to supporting systems, from providing grants to utilising our expertise, and from international interventions to supporting local solutions.Country-led and community-led partnerships are at the heart of this approach, and we recognise the important contribution that cooperatives make to the prosperity of local communities, such as those in Zambia and Nepal working to improve smallholder farmers' access to markets, with the support of the UK.
Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation in Harlow constituency.
We must tackle the root causes of homelessness and move away from a crisis response towards preventing homelessness in the first place to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation. That’s why our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out how we will build more homes, including for social rent, end Section 21 evictions and reduce poverty. We’ve already made a record investment in prevention services with more than £1 billion funding for homelessness services in England this year, including £1.3 million for Harlow District Council.
What recent progress the Defending Democracy Taskforce has made on protecting democratic institutions.
The Taskforce is driving forward a whole of government response to the threats to our democratic institutions.Recent progress includes developing new legislation to address the abhorrent harassment and intimidation experienced by elected representatives, provision of personal cyber security advice and the roll out of new National Protective Security Authority security guidance to help protect those working in our democracy.
What recent estimate his Department has made of the number of households affected by the two child limit policy that are (a) two earner couple households and (b) two earner couple households in which both earners are in full time work.
a) This information is available as part of routinely released statistical series: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK b) In April 2025, 3,700 couple households where both parents were earning at least the equivalent of 36.5 hours at the national living wage were affected by the two child limitNotes for part bWe have estimated full-time work status using earnings data. The earnings threshold indicative of full-time employment was estimated based on the average full-time working hours (36.5) reported by the ONS and the current National Living Wage. This is an assumption and not a standard estimate of full-time employment.Net pay was calculated using the Gov.uk online calculator.Couple household: A Universal Credit contract, which includes two adult claimants, who have dependent children.Affected: A child is affected by the two child limit policy if they are a third or subsequent dependent child born on or after 6 April 2017. This includes children with exceptions to the two-child limit.A household is affected by the policy if they have one or more affected children.Figures above have been rounded to the nearest 100.Figures are for GB.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reduce inequalities experienced by children in poverty.
Tackling child poverty is a moral mission for this Government. Your background should not determine what you can go onto achieve in lifeOur recently published landmark Child Poverty Strategy sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to change the course we’re on and create long-term changeThe Government is investing in the future of our children and introducing a fundamental change by removing the two child limit on Universal Credit. This will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures set out in our Strategy, such as the expansion of free school meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.
What progress his Department has made on the relocation of the UK Health Security Agency.
The Government is conscious of the need for a decision on the future site of the UK Health Security Agency’s high-containment facilities, to ensure the nation’s health is protected long-term. The Government is currently deciding which location is best suited, and a site in Harlow is one of the options being considered. This decision will be taken as part of the ongoing Spending Review process, which is due to conclude on 11 June.
What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on increasing economic growth in Wales.
Kickstarting economic growth is at the heart of our Plan for Change. Since coming into government, I have worked with UK and Welsh Government colleagues to drive over £1.5 billion in private investment from the likes of Eren Holding and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners into Wales, creating hundreds of jobs and laying the ground for thousands more.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase economic growth through new technologies.
New technologies will drive growth across our economy.The Government has committed to taking forward all 50 recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan.We also launched the Tech Adoption review to ensure that the Industrial Strategy’s high growth sectors are unlocking the full potential of tech.
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing online publications to be used to advertise public planning notifications.
Planning law requires local planning authorities to publicise planning applications through various means, including site notices, advertisements in local newspapers, and publishing information on their website. We are exploring ways to enhance community engagement in the planning system, including by leveraging digital platforms.
What recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the standard of writing in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) universities since 2015.
High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best life chances. The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review which will seek to deliver, amongst other things, an excellent foundation in core subjects of reading, writing and maths. The review group will publish an interim report early in 2025 setting out their interim findings and confirming the key areas for further work. The final review with recommendations will be published in autumn 2025. In the meantime, the department will continue to consider how to best support writing standards at all ages.At the end of the academic year in which children turn five, which is usually reception year, each child’s level of development must be assessed against the 17 early learning goals set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework. In the 2022/23 academic year, just 71% of children met the expected level of development in writing. The EYFS reforms were introduced in September 2021. As part of those reforms, the EYFS Profile was significantly revised. It is therefore not possible to directly compare assessment outcomes with earlier years.In 2024, the key stage 2 national curriculum assessments in England showed that 72% of pupils met the expected standard in writing. The method of assessing writing changed in 2017/18, when 78% of pupils met the expected standard, therefore 2024 results are not directly comparable to 2015. In 2015, 87% of pupils achieved a level 4 or above in the writing teacher assessment.The English language GCSE aims to provide all students with robust foundations in reading and good written English, and with the language and literary skills which are required for further study and work. While 50% of this GCSE assesses writing, the results do not directly reflect changes in the standard of writing over time, due to the way GCSEs are graded using comparable outcomes. In 2024, 61.6% of pupils entering the exam achieved a grade 4 or above. GCSEs were reformed for teaching in schools from September 2015 onwards, with first examinations in summer 2017, when 70.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above.The government takes very seriously the need for high academic standards in higher education (HE), as does the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of HE in England. HE providers are autonomous organisations, responsible for ensuring the standards of students' work. However, the OfS explored the standard of writing in a sample of providers in its 2021 report 'Assessment practices in English higher education providers: Spelling, punctuation and grammar', which sets out the OfS’s view that students should be assessed on spelling, punctuation and grammar in order to maintain quality and protect standards.As part of the OfS's ‘B4 Registration’ condition, HE providers must establish academic regulations that are designed to ensure the effective assessment of technical proficiency in the English language in a manner which appropriately reflects the level and content of the applicable HE course.
What steps she is taking to ensure that victims of (a) violence against women and girls and (b) rape (i) receive adequate access to justice and (ii) do not have long waits for court dates.
The Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade. Timely and effective justice are central to this mission and to increasing victim confidence in the justice system.We have announced that we will be piloting Domestic Abuse Protection Orders from November, and in the family court we will further expand the Pathfinder courts model and ensure that children and families are better supported with access to domestic abuse specialists. We have also committed to banning the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, as well as strengthening the law to help the police better respond to the crime of spiking. These are just some of the early steps we are taking to ensure more victims see justice for these crimes. I am also working closely with my cross-government colleagues to ensure every department is focused on tackling VAWG.For victims of rape, we have committed to fast-track rape cases through the criminal justice system, driving down waiting times for this abhorrent offence. In addition, we have announced that we plan to roll out free, independent legal advocates for victims of adult rape, ensuring that they have support to enforce their legal rights, for example in relation to use of their personal records during an investigation or in court.
Whether his Department plans to take steps to recognise people who were prisoners of war in the Far East at any VJ Day 80th anniversary commemoration.
The 80th anniversary of VJ Day in August 2025, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will serve as a significant occasion to honour the service and sacrifice of all those who served in the Far East and brought the Second World War to an end. The Government continues to recognise those that served in the Far East during World War II, with eligible personnel entitled to receive the Pacific Star and the Burma Star in recognition of their service.
What plans he has to recognise the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in 2025.
The 80th anniversary of Victory Over Japan (VJ) Day in August 2025 will be an important opportunity to commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who finally brought the Second World War to a close. As the Chancellor announced in the Budget, the Government will provide funding to the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) and VJ day, to remember those who gave their lives and honour those who served at home and abroad. DCMS is leading on the Government plans for what those national commemorations will look like, and the Ministry of Defence will play a significant supporting role.
What estimate his Department has made of the cost of the new Princess Alexandra Hospital scheme.
The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.Up to the end of 2023/24, the total amount received by The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital schemes is £11.4 million. The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2.
What funding had been allocated for the (a) new Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow scheme and (b) New Hospital Programme by 2 July 2024.
The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.Up to the end of 2023/24, the total amount received by The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital schemes is £11.4 million. The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2.
What the (a) business case status and (b) RIBA stage is of the new Princess Alexandra Hospital scheme.
The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.Up to the end of 2023/24, the total amount received by The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital schemes is £11.4 million. The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2.
How much funding the new Princess Alexandra Hospital scheme has received up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.Up to the end of 2023/24, the total amount received by The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital schemes is £11.4 million. The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital, and are at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2.
What steps he is taking to support care workers to recognise the signs of domestic violence.
Care Quality Commission regulated providers have a key role in safeguarding adults. All relevant professions are subject to employer checks and controls, and employers in the health and care sector must satisfy themselves regarding the skills and competence of their staff.In January 2024, the Department published the first part of the Care Workforce Pathway, the new national career structure for adult social care, and linked to this we have also launched the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate. Both the pathway and new qualification cover the learning outcome to reduce the likelihood of abuse, linked to safeguarding.On 6 September 2024, the Department launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme. This scheme allows eligible employers to claim funding for certain training and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff, including the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.
What steps his Department is taking to remove barriers to trade with the EU.
The Department is working with the European Union and Members States to break down trade barriers. As part of this agenda, we need effective ongoing dialogue with both British businesses and the European Union. As part of this, later today, Minister Thomas and I are hosting a roundtable to gather views from businesses on how the UK-EU trading relationship can be improved. My officials are also engaging with businesses to understand the barriers they face and how this Government can support then to grow and export to the European Union.