Every parliamentary written question tabled by John Grady this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–34 of 34 · this parliament
What information her Department holds on the amount of Theatre Tax Relief for Corporation Tax provided to Scottish Companies over the last two tax years.
Data on the amount of Theatre Tax Relief (TTR) paid to Scottish companies is held by HMRC on the basis of the company’s registered office address. The amount of TTR paid in relation to the last two complete tax years is as follows. 2021-22£2m2022-23£12m
What steps he is taking to provide support for small businesses in the Hair and Beauty sector.
Small businesses in the hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We've introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases.We continue to back employers who take on apprentices, by providing £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19 and employers are not required to pay National Insurance Contributions for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee's wage is below £50,270 a year). Additionally, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care, when their employer has fewer than 50 employees.I will continue to engage closely with the sector, including through the Personal Care Roundtables, to ensure the industry's long-term growth. This includes working with hair and beauty businesses as we bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year.
What steps he is taking to help ensure that drivers of liquefied petroleum gas autogas vehicles pay competitive prices.
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices at forecourts reflect fixed and variable costs, including international traded prices, distribution, staff and other forecourt costs. Vehicles powered by LPG benefit from a reduced fuel duty rate of 28.88 pence per litre (ppl) versus the main rate of 52.95 ppl. The Government’s Fuel Finder scheme will require all UK petrol filling stations to report if they stock LPG for consumer access. Motor LPG is subject to general consumer and competition law. The Government works with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to monitor competition in the market and address any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour.
If he will take steps to ensure that food products include labels on pea and legume allergies.
There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause allergic reactions in sensitised individuals. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe. They must be clearly identified on prepacked foods and communicated effectively when eating out. Although peas and other legumes are not regulated allergens, they must still be declared in the ingredients list when they are intentionally used in any prepacked food products. The Food Standards Agency continues to work to make it easier for people with food hypersensitivities, such as allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease, to have access to clear and accurate information which is a fundamental part of its work. Its research can be found at the following link: https://www.food.gov.uk/research/food-hypersensitivity
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international allies to secure a long-term ceasefire in Lebanon and encourage the disarmament of Hezbollah.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 November in response to Question 91653.
What steps the DVLA is taking with local councils and police to remove abandoned vehicles (a) without road tax and (b) that are SORN registered from public roads.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) operates a comprehensive package of measures to tackle unlicensed vehicles. These range from automatic number plate recognition cameras, wheelclamping and the removal and impounding of unlicensed vehicles. The DVLA works closely with the police and local authorities to address such vehicles at local levels and to share intelligence. As well as any enforcement action that may be taken by the DVLA, the law also allows local authorities and police forces to work in partnership with the DVLA to tackle unlicensed vehicles by giving them the power to immobilise or impound unlicensed vehicles identified in their areas. These are known as devolved power partners. The DVLA’s database highlights every unlicensed vehicle that is not subject to a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) and automatically recognises when a keeper becomes non-compliant so that enforcement action can take place. The DVLA’s wheelclamping contractor also provides ANPR services that provide enforcement coverage across every district in the UK. The DVLA also uses its own fleet to locate unlicensed vehicles and take direct action where appropriate. Members of the public can report unlicensed vehicles to the DVLA online at https://www.gov.uk/report-untaxed-vehicle . The removal of abandoned vehicles is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The police also have the powers to remove immediately any vehicle that is causing an obstruction, is likely to cause danger or is broken down or abandoned without lawful authority.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international counterparts to ensure the protection of the rights of minority ethnic Bosniaks living in Republika Srpska.
The UK is working closely with our international partners and parties across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to uphold the Dayton Peace Agreement, rule of law and rights of all BiH citizens, including Bosniaks in Republika Srpska. In July, the Foreign Secretary spoke with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy about safeguarding BiH's stability, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have regular coordination meetings with Quint counterparts. On 9 October, I held a joint meeting with the Foreign Ministers of BiH and Serbia.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international counterparts to ensure the continued implementation of the Dayton Accords.
The UK is working closely with our international partners and parties across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to uphold the Dayton Peace Agreement, rule of law and rights of all BiH citizens, including Bosniaks in Republika Srpska. In July, the Foreign Secretary spoke with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy about safeguarding BiH's stability, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have regular coordination meetings with Quint counterparts. On 9 October, I held a joint meeting with the Foreign Ministers of BiH and Serbia.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with international partners to help ensure access to (a) the internet and (b) telecommunications by people in Afghanistan.
The Taliban's decision to shut down internet services from 29 September to 1 October was deeply concerning. It risked crippling Afghanistan's economy, causing significant issues with the delivery of vital UK aid, and cutting off vulnerable communities.The UK Government is committed to using its prominent position in multilateral forums to hold the Taliban to account for their repressive policies. Last month, the UK hosted a meeting of G7+ Special Representatives for Afghanistan: this provided an important opportunity for the UK to show international leadership, highlight publicly our deep concern about the Taliban's continued denial of the Afghan people's most basic human rights and call for the full restoration of internet access for all Afghans.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK is taking (a) on its own and (b) with international counterparts to improve the rights of Women and Girls in Afghanistan.
The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls, and officials regularly raise those issues, and other priorities, most recently in July. In parallel, we continue to engage directly with a range of Afghans to inform and shape our policy and programmes.Working both bilaterally and multilaterally with international partners, the UK Government is committed to sustaining collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhumane restrictions. Upholding human rights and gender equality is not only a moral imperative, but essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country for all Afghans.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international allies to help bring greater stability to Lebanon.
The UK works with many international allies to support stability in Lebanon. In August, the UK supported the renewal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's mandate alongside other international partners. The UK lobbied other UN Security Council members to ensure that the mission is able to continue its operations in Southern Lebanon for a further 16 months, ahead of a 12-month draw-down period.In September, the UK will convene allies via the Military Technical Committee, to coordinate international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces as the only legitimate armed force in Lebanon. The UK will also coordinate with our international allies when considering how best to support the Government of Lebanon's efforts to disarm non-state actors, including Lebanese Hizballah. The Foreign Secretary discussed this, and the broader situation in the Middle East, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 2 September.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international allies to help bring greater stability to Syria.
Alongside international allies, we have consistently advocated for an inclusive, representative political transition which respects the rights of all Syrians. This is essential for long-term stability and peace. The former Foreign Secretary discussed this with President al Sharaa and Foreign Minister al Shaibani when he visited Damascus in July. I discussed progress on the political transition, including next steps on security and accountability, with the Foreign Minister and Justice Minister during my recent visit. We are also supporting economic recovery through sanctions lifting and livelihoods and education programmes. We will continue to support the Syrian Government to deliver its commitments to build a more stable, free and prosperous future for all Syrians. A stable Syria is important for regional stability and is firmly in the UK's interest.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's SME strategy on the economy.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and crucial for the delivery of our Growth Mission. We will publish a new SME strategy later this year that will complement our Industrial and Trade Strategies as part of our approach to driving economic growth. The strategy will set out how the Government is looking to support SMEs to start and grow. We will provide a further update, including relevant economic evidence and analysis, later this year.
Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of innovation in Glasgow.
This Government’s record £20.4 billion investment in R&D for 2025/26 will help people across the UK enjoy the benefits from an innovation-led economy.My Hon Friend will be pleased to hear, as part of this, we are extending the Innovation Accelerators, including in the Glasgow City Region to grow its globally competitive innovation centre.An example of one of the many innovative firms we are supporting in Glasgow is Spire Global who were recently awarded over £3.5 million for a unique weather forecasting data project.The Government is investing £106 million in five new quantum hubs across the UK as part of the National Quantum Technologies Programme. One hub, the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation and Timing (QEPNT), will be based in Glasgow, leveraging the city’s strengths in photonics and quantum.These hubs aim to turn cutting-edge science into practical solutions, transforming sectors like healthcare and security, while fostering innovation and driving economic growth, including in Glasgow.