Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jim McMahon this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 461 · this parliament
How many cases have been referred to HMRC for civil sanctions by Trading Standards teams for non-compliance with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace system since July 2023; how many of those referrals resulted in a civil sanction; and what the value was of those civil sanctions.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made on the establishment of a Co-operative Development Unit.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, when he expects the Community Ownership Fund to be open for applications.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase the number of agricultural co-operatives and mutuals.
Awaiting answer.
If she will make additional resources available to help double the size of the mutual and co-operative sector.
The Government recognises the important contribution that co-operatives and mutuals make to local communities, a diverse business sector, and a resilient UK economy. In line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the sector, the Government is...
How many cigarettes have been seized using Track and Trace technology in each of the last five years.
HMRC does not hold figures for the number of cigarettes seized using Track and Trace technology in each of the last five years. However, since July 2023, Trading Standards teams making such seizures have also been able to check products for non-compliance...
What proportion of cigarettes seized by HMRC are counterfeit.
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
What comparative estimate she has made of the monetary value of the (a) counterfeit and (b) legitimate tobacco market.
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
How many seizures led to the total volume of cigarettes seized inland by HMRC in each year between 2019-20 and 2024-25; and how many inland seizures took place in retail settings in each of those years.
HMRC does not hold fully assured data for the number of HMRC inland seizures, and data is not broken down by seizure location
What steps he is taking to ensure that offenders convicted for offences related to child sexual exploitation and grooming are not considered for early release under the earned progression scheme.
The grooming gang scandal was one of the worst of our time, and this Government is determined to get to the truth behind years of systemic failure in the response to the appalling crimes which gang members committed. Prosecutions and convictions are now a...
Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of granting additional powers for planning authorities to control new House of Multiple Occupation conversions.
The government keeps the powers to regulate HMOs under review.Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included prop...
What timetable has been set for HMRC to publish updated guidance specifically addressing the treatment of CGT-by-instalments under section 280 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 in cases involving disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts.
The conditions for making an application to pay Capital Gains Tax by instalments are set out within HMRC’s Capital Gains Manual at CG14910, available at GOV.UK. HMRC has confirmed to the employee ownership sector that this guidance applies to disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts, in the same way as for any other disposal.A Self-Assessment tax return helpsheet on Employee Ownership Trusts will also be made available on GOV.UK from April 2026. This helpsheet will set out the process for applying to pay tax by instalments following disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts.
Whether HMRC will publish guidance specifically addressing the application of CGT-by-instalments under section 280 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 in cases involving disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts.
The conditions for making an application to pay Capital Gains Tax by instalments are set out within HMRC’s Capital Gains Manual at CG14910, available at GOV.UK. HMRC has confirmed to the employee ownership sector that this guidance applies to disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts, in the same way as for any other disposal.A Self-Assessment tax return helpsheet on Employee Ownership Trusts will also be made available on GOV.UK from April 2026. This helpsheet will set out the process for applying to pay tax by instalments following disposals to Employee Ownership Trusts.
If he will take steps to include a prominent message prior to starting the benefits claim process online, in print, and by phone to make it clear that free, independent support is available through organisations such Citizens Advice and for claimants to avoid companies who charge for the same support.
Free help and support in applying for Universal Credit is available from Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. Free help and support for claiming other DWP benefits is widely available, including on GOV.UK, from the Department itself, and from organisations such as Age UK. There is no need for claimants to pay for advice and support with benefit applications.
What steps her Department is taking to prevent the use of Stocks and Shares ISAs to circumvent revised Cash ISA limits due to be introduced in April 2027.
ISA reform forms part of our strategy to support people into the higher returns that investing can provide. Rules will be introduced to avoid circumvention of the lower limit for cash ISAs where an individual is under the age of 65. The industry is being consulted on the draft rules, which will be made by amendments to the ISA Regulations and laid in Parliament ahead of April 2027. Building societies and mortgage lenders are part of the industry consultation. We will consult on the final rules as soon as these are ready, so that firms have enough notice before the new limit applies in April 2027. The availability and pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut six times since this Government came to power.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reforms to Cash ISAs on (a) the balance sheets of building societies and (b) mortgage (i) availability and (ii) pricing.
ISA reform forms part of our strategy to support people into the higher returns that investing can provide. Rules will be introduced to avoid circumvention of the lower limit for cash ISAs where an individual is under the age of 65. The industry is being consulted on the draft rules, which will be made by amendments to the ISA Regulations and laid in Parliament ahead of April 2027. Building societies and mortgage lenders are part of the industry consultation. We will consult on the final rules as soon as these are ready, so that firms have enough notice before the new limit applies in April 2027. The availability and pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut six times since this Government came to power.
When she plans to publish final legislation and guidance for ISA providers on the operation of the ISA regime from April 2027.
ISA reform forms part of our strategy to support people into the higher returns that investing can provide. Rules will be introduced to avoid circumvention of the lower limit for cash ISAs where an individual is under the age of 65. The industry is being consulted on the draft rules, which will be made by amendments to the ISA Regulations and laid in Parliament ahead of April 2027. Building societies and mortgage lenders are part of the industry consultation. We will consult on the final rules as soon as these are ready, so that firms have enough notice before the new limit applies in April 2027. The availability and pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut six times since this Government came to power.
Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to ensure families with children placed in hotels have adequate access to cooking facilities, nutritional meals and safe communal spaces.
Chapter 17 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance includes information on the suitability of accommodation and makes clear that accommodation which may lack or require sharing of important amenities, such as cooking facilities, should be avoided wherever possible and is not suitable for families with children. You can access the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here. Such accommodation, including hotels and often referred to as B&B accommodation, should only be used in very short-term emergencies. That is why this government has set a target to end the unlawful use of B&B accommodation for families by the end of this Parliament. We are working with councils with some of the highest levels of B&B use for temporary accommodation through our £10.5 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots to test innovative approaches and kickstart new initiatives to provide more suitable accommodation for homeless families. This includes £360,000 for Oldham over 2024-26.
Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to Oldham Council to reduce reliance on hotel-based temporary accommodation.
Chapter 17 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance includes information on the suitability of accommodation and makes clear that accommodation which may lack or require sharing of important amenities, such as cooking facilities, should be avoided wherever possible and is not suitable for families with children. You can access the Code of Guidance on gov.uk here. Such accommodation, including hotels and often referred to as B&B accommodation, should only be used in very short-term emergencies. That is why this government has set a target to end the unlawful use of B&B accommodation for families by the end of this Parliament. We are working with councils with some of the highest levels of B&B use for temporary accommodation through our £10.5 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots to test innovative approaches and kickstart new initiatives to provide more suitable accommodation for homeless families. This includes £360,000 for Oldham over 2024-26.
What assessment he has made of the levels of the use of drones in importing contraband into prisons; and what was number of drone incidents recorded in each year since 2015.
Drone incidents around prisons in England and Wales pose a major threat to prison security. We are working hard to deter, detect and disrupt the illegal use of drones. This includes working across government and international partners on this global issue.We publish the number of drone incidents in England and Wales in the HMPPS Annual Digest, please see table 6_1 in the Finds tables. The latest issue covers the 12-month period to March 2025, with a time series of drone incidents starting from the 12-months to March 2021. We published Official Statistics on drone incidents for the first time in July 2025, with data back to April 2020. Drone statistics back to 2015 cannot be provided, having not been equivalently recorded or assured.Any increase in reported drone incidents should not be interpreted as an increase in incursions; it may reflect more focused reporting. Drone incidents should not be interpreted as definitive evidence of the delivery of contraband into prisons, as they include all incidents where a drone is sighted. Data specific to deliveries of illicit items cannot be disclosed for security reasons.