24 Jun 2026·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·Answered
AskedIf he will publish a timetable for implementing any recommendations arising from the Competition and Markets Authority's heating oil market study within three months of receiving the final re
ReplyWe welcome the CMA’s comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry. The Government will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector.
12 Jun 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the ban on EU pig meat by Asian markets on the (a) number of UK imports of EU pig meat in percentage terms over the last 12 mont
Reply(a) In the 12 months to March 2026, UK imports of pig meat from the EU fell by 12.9% by value and 6.7% by volume. (b) The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), formed by Defra and the Devolved Governments, has routinely followed changes in pigm...
12 Jun 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the UK pig meat sector; and what steps she is taking to support that sector through the consequences of China's ban on EU pig
ReplyMinisters meet with representatives of the pig industry as part of wider engagement with the farming sector, and we continue to work closely with stakeholders while monitoring market impacts, including how shifts in global trade flows may affect UK prices...
12 Jun 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedHow many additional staff have been deployed to clear the administrative backlog in relation to the Civil Service Pension Scheme; when the full complement of additional staff will be in place; and when the backl
ReplyThe Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to ...
12 Jun 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking in response to the recent leak of Civil Service Pension Scheme members Annual Benefit Statements.
ReplyThe Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to ...
9 Jun 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhat estimate she has made of the potential impact on food prices caused by the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on imported fertiliser for UK agriculture.
ReplyThe Government does not expect the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to have an impact on food prices. The CBAM will take effect from 1 January 2027. It will ensure that highly traded, carbon intensive goods which are imported into the UK face ...
21 May 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhen he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens, reference DD21808, submitted on 21/01/2026 on MyCSP service.
ReplyI can confirm that your letter to the Prime Minister, dated 21 January 2026, has been passed to me as the Minister responsible for this policy, and I have replied to your letter. Please accept my apologies for the delay. The Government is committed to tra...
15 May 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhen she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens with reference DD22592.
ReplyThe correspondence from the hon. Member for Angus and Perthshire Glens with reference DD22592 was sent to HMRC. HMRC will respond in due course.
28 Apr 2026·Cabinet Office·Pending
AskedWhat steps he is taking to a) investigate the recent leak of Civil Service Pension Scheme members Annual Benefit Statements and b) prevent further such breaches.
28 Apr 2026·Cabinet Office·Pending
AskedWhen Capita will put additional resource in place to begin clearing the Civil Service Pension Scheme backlog.
28 Apr 2026·Cabinet Office·Pending
AskedHow many and what proportion of Civil Service Pension Scheme members have been provided with an Annual Benefit Statement for a) 2024-25, b) 2023-24, c) 2022-23 and d) 2021-22.
23 Mar 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhat discussions she has had with the Financial Conduct Authority regarding its proposal to set compensatory interest for motor finance redress at the Bank of England base rate plus one per cent, in the context courts recently awarding eight per cent to compensate vulnerable consumers for consequential financial losses.
ReplyThe Government wants to see this issue resolved in an efficient and orderly way that provides certainty for consumers and firms. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, has consulted on proposals for a motor finance consumer redress scheme. The FCA has announced that it will set out its final approach to motor finance redress on 30 March: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/timing-fca-motor-finance-announcement.
23 Mar 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhat assessment she has made of the potential economic impact on Scottish communities of the estimated £551 million shortfall between the Financial Conduct Authority's proposed motor finance redress scheme pay outs and potential court awards as outlined in the APPG on Fair Banking Report on Car Finance redress published in November 2025.
ReplyThe Government wants to see this issue resolved in an efficient and orderly way that provides certainty for consumers and firms. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator, has consulted on proposals for a motor finance consumer redress scheme. The FCA has announced that it will set out its final approach to motor finance redress on 30 March: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/timing-fca-motor-finance-announcement.
23 Mar 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether he will discuss with Ukraine their deployment to the Straight of Hormuz with the two former Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunters which were gifted to Ukraine but which been prevented from transiting to the Black Sea owing to the 1936 Montreux Convention.
ReplyDecisions on employment of Ukrainian military assets rests with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further on this specific issue.
19 Mar 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow much of Scotland’s Defence Growth Deal funding derives from the Defence Industrial Strategy skills package.
ReplyThe Defence Industrial Strategy committed £250 million to fund all five Defence Growth Deals across the UK, and announced an £182 million Defence Industry Skills Package. On 12 March, we launched the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal, and from the £20 million of funding allocated to the Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, we committed a £10 million investment towards the creation of two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs). This will include one in the East and one in the West of Scotland, working in consultation with Colleges Scotland to develop the colleges. I wrote with the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Government on 12 March asking them to match fund our DTEC commitment so we can deliver two not one DTEC in Scotland. I regret to report we have received no response from the Scottish Government so far.
19 Mar 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat progress has been made on allocating a share of the £182 million Defence Industrial Strategy skills package to Scotland.
ReplyThe Defence Industrial Strategy committed £250 million to fund all five Defence Growth Deals across the UK, and announced an £182 million Defence Industry Skills Package. On 12 March, we launched the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal, and from the £20 million of funding allocated to the Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, we committed a £10 million investment towards the creation of two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs). This will include one in the East and one in the West of Scotland, working in consultation with Colleges Scotland to develop the colleges. I wrote with the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Government on 12 March asking them to match fund our DTEC commitment so we can deliver two not one DTEC in Scotland. I regret to report we have received no response from the Scottish Government so far.
17 Mar 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116959 on Taxation: Overpayments, if she will publish the average processing time for HMRC overpayment relief claims in each of the last 12 months.
ReplyHMRC does not produce an overall average processing time for overpayment relief claims. Processing times vary depending on the type of claim and the checks required to protect public funds. However, HMRC recognises that payments to customers are important, therefore claims are processed as priority post. HMRC aims to process 80% of priority post received within 15 working days. Customer correspondence performance is reported monthly and quarterly through HMRC’s published performance updates at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates
10 Mar 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedWhat support she will introduce to assist people with oil heating through the current kerosine price increases.
ReplyThe government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities.
2 Mar 2026·Treasury·Answered
Asked(a) what the current average processing time is for HMRC overpayment relief claims; and (b) what steps her Department are taking to reduce times in processing those claims.
ReplyHMRC recognises that payments to customers are important, therefore claims are processed as priority post. HMRC aims to process 80% of priority post received within 15 working days. Customer correspondence performance is reported monthly and quarterly through HMRC’s published performance updates at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates. HMRC continues to invest in automation and to review their internal processes to ensure overpayments relief claims are issued in a timely manner.
24 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to Written Question UIN 77563, answered on the 13 October 2025, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Ministers are adequately briefed when they present to Parliament.
ReplyMinisterial briefings are a matter for individual departments. There are a number of resources available to ministers to assist in preparing for parliamentary activity: the Ministerial Code has expectations for Ministers in Parliament, the Cabinet Office Parliamentary Capability Team offers training for Ministers and officials, and the Guide to Parliamentary Work provides broader guidance for officials on working with Parliament.