Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lee Anderson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,201–1,220 of 1,340 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost is of the financial settlement for the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Details of the proposed treaty will be set out when it is laid before Parliament.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the length of prison sentences for violent shoplifting offences.
In the last year of the previous government, shoplifting soared to a twenty-year high, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse . We will not stand for this.Everybody has a right to feel safe at their place of work and this Government is committed to tackling retail crime.That’s why we will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We will also end the effective immunity, introduced by the previous Government, granted to shop theft of goods of £200 and under. This will remove any perception that offenders will escape punishment
How many people were (a) arrested and (b) charged for shoplifting offences in 2024.
The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of shoplifting offences, and their investigative outcomes (including those resulting in charged/summons), on a quarterly basis. The latest information, to the year ending September 2024, were on published Thursday 30 January 2025 and can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThe Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of arrests made by police in England and Wales, broken down by offence group, on an annual basis. The latest data, covering the period to March 2024, is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/stop-and-search-arrests-and-mental-health-detentions-march-2024The data is collected by broader offence group, such as ‘Theft offences’.
Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Ashfield District Council about phase one of the local government re-organisation.
There has not been a meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ashfield District Council about phase one of the local government re-organisation.
What steps her Department is taking to support freedom of speech in (a) schools and (b) universities.
This government is absolutely committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom in schools, universities and beyond. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, confirmed to Parliament on 15 January the government’s plans for the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, which will create a more effective, proportionate, balanced and less burdensome approach to protecting academic freedom and freedom of speech.In addition, schools must promote the fundamental British values, including democracy and individual liberty. Schools have a statutory duty to ensure a balanced presentation of political issues, but older pupils can engage with the political issues provided activity is conducted sensitively and not targeted at others. The promotion of fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs is considered by Ofsted in their inspections.
Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish a timetable for local government re-organisation.
I wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and to neighbouring small unitaries on 5th February to formally invite unitary proposals from all these councils. These letters will shortly be published on gov.uk and they set out the timelines and next steps for local government re-organisation.
What steps she is taking to increase opportunities for STEM apprentices.
This government has committed to widening the apprenticeships offer into a growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners across the country and aligns with the industrial strategy, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries.As a first step, this will include shorter duration and foundation apprenticeships in targeted sectors, helping more people to learn new high-quality skills at work, fuelling innovation in businesses across the country, and providing high-quality entry pathways for young people.Apprenticeships are a great way for individuals to begin, or progress in, a successful career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Employers have developed over 350 apprenticeships in STEM sectors including level 3 Cyber Security Technician, level 4 Software Developer and level 6 Civil Engineer degree to meet their needs.The department continues to promote the benefits that apprenticeships offer, through the Skills for Life campaign.In addition, Skills England will help to ensure that there is a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications for individuals and employers to access, which are aligned with skills gaps and what employers need. This includes the needs of STEM sectors identified in the industrial strategy, such as advanced manufacturing.
Whether she plans to increase the number of high skilled apprenticeships.
This government has committed to widening the apprenticeships offer into a growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners across the country and aligns with the industrial strategy, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries.As a first step, this will include shorter duration and foundation apprenticeships in targeted sectors, helping more people to learn new high-quality skills at work, fuelling innovation in businesses across the country, and providing high-quality entry pathways for young people.Apprenticeships are a great way for individuals to begin, or progress in, a successful career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Employers have developed over 350 apprenticeships in STEM sectors including level 3 Cyber Security Technician, level 4 Software Developer and level 6 Civil Engineer degree to meet their needs.The department continues to promote the benefits that apprenticeships offer, through the Skills for Life campaign.In addition, Skills England will help to ensure that there is a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications for individuals and employers to access, which are aligned with skills gaps and what employers need. This includes the needs of STEM sectors identified in the industrial strategy, such as advanced manufacturing.
Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to help consumers with the cost of water bills.
Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure. This Government has ringfenced money earmarked for investment so it can never be diverted for bonuses and shareholder payouts. We will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good The Government is committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers. All water companies have measures in place for people who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, including measures such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. We expect all companies to make sure households are aware of the measures available to them and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable. The Government is also improving protections for customers, with new and increased compensation for water companies to pay to customers and businesses in the event of issues like water supply outages, sewer flooding or low water pressure. Furthermore, we expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to deliver this.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reinvesting fines collected from water companies in reducing water bills.
The Water Restoration Fund, which launched in April last year, is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment. Up to £11 million of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects. Following a rigorous assessment process, I am pleased to say that current applicants to the Water Restoration Fund have been contacted regarding the outcome of their application. Further details regarding which projects have been successful will be shared in due course once funding agreements have been finalised.
What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of students from low income backgrounds enrolled on university access programmes.
Access to higher education (HE) should be based on ability and attainment, not background. Opportunity should be available to all and it is the department’s aspiration that no groups are left behind.Grants and loans are available for students to undertake access to HE courses, subject to eligibility. The Adult Skills Fund, previously the Adult Education Budget, fully funds or co-funds education and skills training up to and including level 3 for eligible adults aged 19 and above. Where grant-funded provision is not available, individuals can choose to access Advanced Learner Loans, which can support them to access a level 3 qualification.The government also provides financial support through the Office for Students (OfS) to support student access and success, including for disadvantaged students. £301 million was provided for the 2024/25 academic year.All HE providers registered with the OfS that intend to charge higher level tuition fees must also have an Access and Participation Plan approved by the OfS. Access and Participation Plans articulate how HE providers will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, including how they will support greater access. In creating their plans, providers should consider the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register, which details 12 key sector risks across the student lifecycle and the student groups most likely to experience these, including students from low-income backgrounds.There are already many excellent examples of activities to support access to HE that providers are delivering, but the department wants the sector to go further. We are calling on providers to play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students, making sure that they are delivering robust and ambitious Access and Participation Plans.By the summer, the department will set out its plan for HE reform and the part it expects HE providers to play in this.
How many asylum seekers have begun degree qualifications whilst waiting for leave to remain in the UK.
The UK has a longstanding and proud tradition of providing a safe haven to those who have no choice but to leave their home country because of endangerment to their lives or to those of their families. Higher education (HE) student support is available to those recognised as refugees, as well as their spouses, civil partners and children who were family members on the date the refugee applied for asylum, provided they have been ordinarily, i.e. lawfully, resident in the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) since being recognised by the government as a refugee and are ordinarily resident in England on the course start date. They are exempt from the three-year ordinary residence requirement.Individuals seeking asylum are not entitled to student support in England whilst they are seeking asylum.The department does not hold data on the number of asylum seekers that have started or are currently enrolled on an HE course at a UK HE provider in any of the last five years.
What estimate her Department has made of the number of people referred to the Prevent programme more than once.
Based on data provided to the Home Office by Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ), it is estimated that between 2015 – 2025, circa 12% of all individuals on the Prevent Case Management database had multiple Prevent cases.This data is an extract from a live database and as such is a snapshot in time. The Prevent Case Management database is used to record details of all referrals to Prevent and the subsequent outcomes.
What information her Department holds on the number of asylum seekers enrolled in university access programmes in each of the last five years.
The UK has a longstanding and proud tradition of providing a safe haven to those who have no choice but to leave their home country because of endangerment to their lives or to those of their families. Higher education (HE) student support is available to those recognised as refugees, as well as their spouses, civil partners and children who were family members on the date the refugee applied for asylum, provided they have been ordinarily, i.e. lawfully, resident in the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) since being recognised by the government as a refugee and are ordinarily resident in England on the course start date. They are exempt from the three-year ordinary residence requirement.Individuals seeking asylum are not entitled to student support in England whilst they are seeking asylum.The department does not hold data on the number of asylum seekers that have started or are currently enrolled on an HE course at a UK HE provider in any of the last five years.
How many people under the age of twenty five were referred to Prevent in each of the last ten years, broken down by sex.
The Home Office publishes annual information on the number of referrals to Prevent, with the latest published figures being found here: Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2023 to March 2024.Table 8 within the data tables accompanying this publication provides the number of referrals, number of cases discussed at a Channel Panel, and the number of cases adopted by Channel, broken down by age group and sex.
If his Department will write to veterans who were responsible for guarding the Qarmat Ali water treatment in Iraq in 2003 to offer medical checks.
On 15 January I met with veterans who guarded the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq in 2003. It was a positive meeting in which my priority was giving the veterans the space to be able to share their experiences and concerns. I am committed to regularly engaging with veteran groups, and as a veteran myself, I would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of all our veterans is of the upmost importance. This Government is committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, who have served and their families.
If she hold discussions with the Rt hon. and hon. Members from (a) Yorkshire and (b) Greater Manchester about the potential merits of a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Since coming into office last July, the Government has been focused on delivering meaningful change for victims and survivors impacted by these horrendous crimes. We have continued to engage with many stakeholders and stand ready to meet and have met with MPs who have an interest in these important issues.We have been clear that local authorities, who are responsible for delivering local services, are best placed to commission local inquiries. And we stand ready to support as we can. That is why the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on the 6th and 16th January 2025 a range of measures, including stronger national backing for local inquiries.
Whether he has had discussions with veterans who were guarding the Qarmat Ali water treatment in Iraq in 2003 on their exposure to sodium dichromate.
On 15 January I met with veterans who guarded the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq in 2003. It was a positive meeting in which my priority was giving the veterans the space to be able to share their experiences and concerns. I am committed to regularly engaging with veteran groups, and as a veteran myself, I would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of all our veterans is of the upmost importance. This Government is committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, who have served and their families.
What steps her Department has taken to ensure parents maintain the right to home educate their children.
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 sets out a parent’s right to educate otherwise than at school, i.e. to home educate. The department knows many parents work hard to provide a suitable education for their children in their home environment.
What recent discussions he has had with British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme trustees about the review of that Scheme.
I met with the Chair and Trustee representatives of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme on 16 December where they outlined their proposals for changes to the Scheme.