Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Wild this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 101–120 of 373 · this parliament
How much funding her Department has allocated to local policing in North West Norfolk in the last 12 months.
Norfolk Police will receive up to £239.2 million in 2025-26, an increase of up to £16.5 million when compared to 2024-25.In addition to the funding announced at the settlement, the Home Office provided £1.3 million to Norfolk Police to help with the cost of the 2025-26 police pay award.
Whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of current powers available to police officers to address anti-social behaviour in North West Norfolk constituency.
Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, including Norfolk Constabulary, with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour. These powers are kept under review to ensure they remain effective. Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are making our streets and neighbourhoods safer by strengthening the powers available to the police and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour. This includes introducing new Respect Orders to give local agencies stronger enforcement capability to tackle the most persistent adult anti-social behaviour offenders, and powers for the police to seize nuisance off-road bikes, and other vehicles which are being used in an anti-social manner, without having to first give a warning to the offender.
What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of police staffing levels in Norfolk.
The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.All members of the police workforce play a vital role in delivering an effective police service to communities across England and Wales. As at 31 March 2025, Norfolk Constabulary had a total paid workforce of 3,193 full-time equivalent (FTE). This includes, a total of 1,911 (FTE) police officers, 1,281 (FTE) police staff and designated officers and 101 (FTE) special constables.It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how best to allocate the resources at their disposal to provide an effective service to local communities.
What steps her Department is taking to support police forces in tackling shoplifting in North West Norfolk constituency.
Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level. We will not stand for this.We are ensuring the right powers are in place. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing in a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We are also removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.Additionally, we are providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.Tackling retail crime requires a partnership approach between policing representatives and business. The previous Minister for Crime and Policing launched the ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy’, which was jointly developed by the police and industry and aims to provide a collaborative and evidence-based approach to preventing retail crime, including organised shop theft.
Whether she plans to provide additional support to police officers to tackle drug-related crime .in North West Norfolk constituency.
To deliver on our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, it is crucial that we tackle the gangs that lure children and young people into crime and run county lines through violence and exploitation. County Lines is the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.Between July 2024 and June 2025, law enforcement activity through the County Lines Programme taskforces has resulted in more than 2,300 deal lines closed, 6,200 arrests (including the arrest and subsequent charge of over 1,100 deal line holders), 3,200 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people, and 600 knives seized.While the majority of county lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police, we recognise that this is a national issue which affects all forces, which is why we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate a national law enforcement response. We also have a dedicated fund to help local police forces, including Norfolk Constabulary, tackle the scourge of county lines.As part of the Programme, the NCLCC regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in, including Norfolk Constabulary. The most recent of these took place 23-29 June 2025 and resulted in 241 lines closed, as well as 1,965 arrests, 1,179 individuals safeguarded and 501 weapons seized.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed Landfill Tax reforms on (a) the supply of UK-produced titanium dioxide and (b) the resilience of UK supply chains.
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the titanium dioxide production sector.
Representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects the HousePapers mobile app to be replaced.
The HousePapers mobile app is being replaced by improved web apps for both Houses, offering a seamless way to access all parliamentary business papers on the go.The new web apps will operate on any device, including desktops, mobiles and tablets, and should ensure that more Members, their staff, and anyone interested in the work of Parliament, are able to access the information they need more readily.The new web apps will be launched by Tuesday 13 January 2026. They will allow users to access:House of Commons and House of Lords business papers;Hansard;Bills and any other papers being debated on the floor of either House and in Westminster Hall or Grand Committee;Full texts of Oral and Written Statements as they are made in the House of Commons.There will be no gap in service for existing users of the HousePapers app, which will continue to provide parliamentary papers until after the launch of the new web apps, and all the documents are also available from the Commons Business and Lords Business webpages.More information will be available at the House Services Fair for Members and their staff on 9 and 10 December, and further communications will follow nearer to the launch.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the protection of chalk streams in North West Norfolk constituency.
Chalk streams are incredible source of national pride. As one of Britain’s most nature rich habitats, they support some of our rarest wildlife – from chalk salmon to trout, they are home to beloved and endangered species. The Government recognises the importance of protecting these globally rare habitats.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to implement the Chalk Stream Restoration Implementation Plan.
Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water sector. The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Our focus is now on delivering this revolution across the entire water sector, ensuring chalk streams, alongside all our rivers, lakes, and seas, benefit from this era of reform. As such, the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack, which was announced by the previous government, falls short of these wider ambitions and is no longer being taken forward.
What her planned timetable is for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
When she expects to make a decision on proposals for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn; and what the next stages are in the consideration of those proposals.
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
Whether funding has been allocated for improvements to the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of grade separation to alleviate congestion at the A17 Pullover Junction in King’s Lynn.
The A17 Pullover Junction scheme forms part of the Department’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme. The Secretary of State announced a review of the programme in July 2025, as part of which local authorities were asked to confirm whether or not they wished to proceed with each individual scheme. In its response to the review, Norfolk County Council has said that it will have to withdraw the scheme from the programme, because it can longer afford its local funding contribution to the scheme and because of impending local government reorganisation.Henceforth any decision on the future of the scheme is likely to become the responsibility of the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, following the election in May 2026, or the successor unitary authority covering King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
What recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of her Department's planned changes to retail, hospitality, and leisure sector multipliers on the pub sector.
The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.In April 2026, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible properties, including pubs, benefit from much-needed certainty and support.The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes, as well as the broader economic and fiscal context, into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025, and so by extending it, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.
What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of regulatory costs on the pub sector.
The Government is committed to easing regulatory burdens for businesses like pubs in the UK, creating the space they need to grow, innovate and thrive. We work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.This is why we launched the licensing taskforce last April, a joint effort between Government and Industry with aims to reduce the administrative burdens the UK licensing regime places on our highstreets. The Government invited views to help shape these reforms and the Call for evidence ran for 4 weeks and ended on the 6 November. This attracted a significant number of responses and work is now underway to analyse these.Additionally, to help ease cost pressures on pubs, from April 2026, eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000 will benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers and alcohol duty has been reduced on qualifying draught products which is approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs.
What steps his Department is taking to encourage economic growth in the (a) pubs and (b) hospitality sectors.
The Government recognises the vital role that hospitality businesses play in local communities and the economy. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.The Government invited views and evidence to aid development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system. A Call for Evidence ran for four weeks until 6 November. This attracted a significant number of responses and work is now underway to analyse these. These reforms form part of the Small Business Strategy, which is designed to tackle late payments, improve access to finance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We continue to work closely with the sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on the number of (a) operating quarries in England and (b) people employed in the aggregates sector in England.
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on revenue from the aggregates sector from (a) Corporation Tax and (b) other taxes.
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.
Whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment on the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption for Landfill Tax on the (a) aggregates and (b) mineral products sectors.
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on (a) the cost of nature restoration projects at former quarry sites and (b) levels of biodiversity.
The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.