Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lizzi Collinge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 75 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the £39 billion allocated for affordable housing delivery will be spent in rural areas; and whether her Department plans to ringfence funding to support the development of social housing in rural communities.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).
What steps his Department is taking to expedite decisions on access to new treatments for secondary breast cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. The NHS is legally required to fund NICE recommended medicines, normally within three months of final guidance, and cancer medicines are eligible for funding from the point of a positive draft NICE recommendation.NICE aims, wherever possible, to issue guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing to ensure that patients are able to benefit from rapid access to clinically and cost effective new medicines. The Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out the measures we are taking that will mean that patients are able to access medicines three to six months faster, including improved alignment between the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s decisions and NICE’s guidance publication. The Life Sciences Sector Plan is published and available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688c90a8e8ba9507fc1b090c/Life_Sciences_Sector_Plan.pdf
What steps is she taking to support people in (a) physically and (b) emotionally demanding jobs who are unable to continue working in their current role into their late 60s.
The Department for Work and Pensions currently offers employment support for older jobseekers including those affected by low confidence, menopause, health and disability or caring pressures, and out of date skills or qualifications.Through Midlife MOT reviews, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK and online, we support older people to review their health, finances and skills. We are working with key partners to develop these tools including Department of Health and Social Care, the National Health Service and the National Careers Service The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out the Government’s approach to the employment support system to target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity and better join up health, skills and employment support based on the needs for all, including older people. We know that employers are crucial to enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme In recognition of employers' vital role, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working Independent Review as a part of the Government's wider white paper plans to Get Britain Working. Sir Charlie Mayfield is considering recommendations to support and enable employers to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence, and recruit and retain more disabled people and people with health conditions.Sir Charlie Mayfield is expected to produce a final report with recommendations in autumn 2025.
What steps she is taking to help support people in (a) physically and (b) emotionally demanding jobs who are unable to continue working in their current role into their late 60s.
The Department for Work and Pensions currently offers employment support for older jobseekers including those affected by low confidence, menopause, health and disability or caring pressures, and out of date skills or qualifications.Through Midlife MOT reviews, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK and online, we support older people to review their health, finances and skills. We are working with key partners to develop these tools including Department of Health and Social Care, the National Health Service and the National Careers Service The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out the Government’s approach to the employment support system to target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity and better join up health, skills and employment support based on the needs for all, including older people. We know that employers are crucial to enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme In recognition of employers' vital role, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working Independent Review as a part of the Government's wider white paper plans to Get Britain Working. Sir Charlie Mayfield is considering recommendations to support and enable employers to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence, and recruit and retain more disabled people and people with health conditions.Sir Charlie Mayfield is expected to produce a final report with recommendations in autumn 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) delays, (b) administrative burdens and (c) the availability of approved contractors to improve the operation of the Disabled Facilities Grant.
The Government recognises the importance of timely and efficient delivery of home adaptations, including through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), to help enable older and disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for people who satisfy a needs assessment, eligibility criteria and a means test, and have powers to agree a more generous local policy. To support this duty, government have boosted funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to £711 million for both 2024-25 and 2025-26. Government guidance Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) delivery: guidance for local authorities in England on the effective delivery of the grant, sets out best practice delivery to meet statutory timescales. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a decision on a DFG application within 6 months of receipt, and the works must usually be completed within 12 months of the approval date. This guidance also outlines how councils can develop a local housing assistance policy to improve efficiency and better address the needs of their local communities. Government also funds a national body for DFGs and home improvement agencies, currently Foundations, to provide support and advice to local authorities to help them deliver the DFG as efficiently as possible. In December 2024 Foundations launched the Home Adaptations Installer Network, Introducing the Home Adaptations Installer Network: Raising the Bar for Quality and Trust a tool for engaging with TrustMark registered contractors to deliver home adaptations. Government continues to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. As part of this, government is consulting until 16 September 2025 on a new approach to the way government allocates capital DFG funding to local authorities in England to ensure funding for the grant is better aligned with local needs. The consultation can be accessed here.
Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reopening or (b) replacing the Community Ownership Fund to support communities seeking to take local assets into community ownership.
Although the Community Ownership Fund is now closed, this Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment. Through the English Devolution Bill, we will introduce a new Community Right to Buy to help local people to acquire valued community spaces, such as pubs, if they come up for sale. These powers will help to keep these assets in the hands of the community, bringing more spaces back into use and rejuvenating local high streets across the country. We have no current plans to replace the Community Ownership Fund. However, at Spending Review 2025, the Chancellor announced that up to 350 of the most deprived places will receive support from government. That includes the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025. Further information will be published in due course.
What steps her Department is taking to speed up the revaluation process for business rates when commercial units are subdivided into smaller premises.
The VOA is focused on speeding up its service by upskilling its workforce so they can handle multiple types of cases, improving its digital services to make it easier for customers to self-serve, recruiting new people and moving existing staff to better meet customer demand. It is also replacing its IT systems with cloud-based platforms that will deliver significant efficiencies across its work. In addition, it has published guidance to improve awareness and understanding of the process and information required when seeking a split of a non-domestic property. This is published on GOV.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/confirm-your-property-details#what-to-include-in-your-check-case. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC from 1 April 2026 will help to improve the experience of taxpayers and businesses and support the delivery of the government's commitments to reform business rates and modernise the tax system.
Whether Active Travel England recognises equestrians as users of active travel routes; and if she will take steps to ensure that equestrian access is (a) included and (b) considered in future active travel (i) projects and (ii) policies.
The needs of equestrians should be considered in the design of active travel routes. New or upgraded traffic-free paths or quiet country lanes can be designed to be attractive and safe for equestrians as well as walking, wheeling and cycling although in some situations it may not be possible to accommodate their needs on all active travel routes. Active Travel England is presently developing its Rural Design Guidance and is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders including equestrian organisations such as the British Horse Society and the Byways and Bridleways Trust, which will be published later this year.
What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS-provided wheelchairs for adults with degenerative neurological conditions.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services.NHS England is taking a number of steps to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of NHS wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving intervention and equipment. This includes publishing a Wheelchair Quality Framework on 9 April which sets out quality standards and statutory requirements for ICBs, such as offering personal wheelchair budgets. The framework is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/wheelchair-quality-framework/The Government is committed to improving care for people with neurological conditions and ensuring that they receive the support they need. There are several initiatives at a national level supporting service improvement and better care for people with neurological conditions. These include the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, within which timely access to specialist and personalised equipment, such as wheelchairs, is a key area of focus.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies on the rights of asylum seekers to work of the approach taken in Belgium.
Those who claim asylum in the UK can apply for permission to work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Allowing asylum seekers the right to work sooner could enable migrants to bypass established work visa routes, and may act as an incentive for people to travel here illegally via dangerous routes. Our policy responds to circumstances unique to the UK and must complement our wider asylum and immigration system.
What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests in (a) Kendal and (b) Heysham; and what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for practical driving tests in these areas.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is aware that car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this is having on learner drivers. DVSA is continuing to recruit as many driving examiners (DE) as possible, including at Kendal, Heysham and Barrow in Furness. From a previous recruitment campaign, two potential new DEs, following successful completion of training, will be joining Kendal and Barrow in Furness in late autumn. Currently DEs from Kendal and Heysham are being deployed to Barrow in Furness to meet testing demand. As part of its current recruitment campaign, DVSA has advertised for DEs for Barrow in Furness. This will enable DVSA to meet local demand in Barrow in Furness and increase test availability in Kendal and Heysham.
Whether his Department plans to review the (a) application process and (b) delivery timescales for the Disabled Facilities Grant.
The Government has no immediate plans to review the application process or delivery timescales for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). We continue to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. Recently, we carried out a review of the upper limit for the DFG and are currently considering the findings.The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government share policy responsibility for the DFG. We also work with other Government Departments more widely on relevant issues.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the readiness of the chemicals sector for the 2026 UK REACH registration deadline for substances over 1,000 metric tonnes; and whether he plans to publish the outcome of the consultation on the proposed alternative model for UK REACH before that deadline.
We are aware of stakeholder concerns about the feasibility of these dates. We will provide further information in due course.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) energy efficiency and (b) indoor air quality of adding mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems to the list of energy saving materials eligible for the 0% VAT rate.
This Government is committed to improving the quality and sustainability of the country’s housing stock, through improvements such as low carbon heating, insulation, solar panels, and batteries. This will be vital to making the UK more energy resilient and meeting our 2050 Net Zero commitment. Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent. The Government assesses whether to add ESMs to this relief by evaluating them against the following principles: the primary purpose of the technology must be to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; and relieving the technology of VAT must be cost effective and align with broader VAT principles.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has (a) evaluated the outcomes of the Invasive Species Management Fund and (b) considered (i) renewing the fund, (ii) establishing a successor scheme and (iii) providing (A) funding and (B) support for National Parks to lead invasive species control activity in their areas.
Over the last two years, Defra has funded twelve Local Action Groups (LAGs) across all regions in England to control invasive species through its Local Invasive Species Management Fund. The funding period has now come to an end and Defra is currently evaluating the outcomes of the fund. Whilst Government is unable to renew the fund or establish a successor scheme at this time, it is continuing to look for ways to support the control of widespread invasive species. For example, funding is available for invasive species control through the Environmental Land Management Countryside Stewardship scheme. Government is providing £45.2 million of core funding to the 10 National Park Authorities. We have also extended programmes such as Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), providing £30 million to support projects in our National Landscapes and National Parks, until March 2026. Funding is not ringfenced for invasive species control as National Park Authorities decide their priorities locally, but since the FiPL programme launched in 2021 it has funded actions to control invasive species on around 15,000ha of land managed in Protected Landscapes.
What recent comparative assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate for self-employed people and (b) average vehicle running costs.
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses).The Government keeps the AMAP rates under review and HMRC use a variety of information in estimating typical motoring costs per business mile. This includes information from the AA, the National Travel Survey, the Association of British Insurers, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.The AMAP rates are intended to reflect both running costs, such as fuel, and a proportion of standing costs, such as insurance, MOT, and depreciation. In estimating typical motoring costs per business mile, the Government must therefore consider the weighting given to each component and how to apportion certain costs.
What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a bespoke skilled worker visa route for people working on NI-GB ferries.
The Immigration White paper, published 12 May, set out proposed reforms in a number of areas including raising the skills threshold to RQF level 6 and for RQF levels 3-5 roles, with time-limited and conditional access to the immigration system only to be provided if the Migration Advisory Committee are content there is an effective workforce strategy in place. Further details will be set out in due course.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending regulations preventing existing customers from being charged higher premiums than new customers to include homecare insurance.
The Government is committed to ensuring that insurers treat all customers fairly and insurance companies are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. The FCA is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value. The FCA monitors firms to make sure they provide products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action. In January 2022, the FCA introduced new rules to prevent insurers from charging existing customers more than new customers for equivalent home and motor insurance policies. The FCA intends to publish an impact evaluation of the effect of these rules later this year. The FCA continues to monitor pricing practices across the insurance sector and may consider further action where there is evidence of consumer harm.
What lessons her Department has learnt from the covid-19 pandemic support schemes to ensure that adequate protection is provided to for (a) directors of small limited companies and (b) shielding households.
Decisions on eligibility for Covid-19 financial support were taken by the previous Government. The previous Government decided to provide support through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) based on two principles: a) targeting support at those who needed it most; and b) guarding against error, fraud and abuse, whilst reaching as many individuals as possible. People may have been eligible for the other elements of the financial support provided by the Government, including the welfare system. This package included Restart Grants, the Recovery Loan scheme, business rates relief, and other business support schemes. The previous Government evaluated the COVID-19 labour market support schemes. These were published in 2023 and can be found on Gov.uk. The Government will continue to learn lessons through formal evaluations and reports by independent bodies, such the National Audit Office, and through the work of the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry.
What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate for sole traders; and whether she plans to review the rate.
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified motoring expenses). In considering potential changes to the AMAP/simplified motoring expenses rates, the Government would need to balance support for individuals with the responsible management of public finances which fund our essential public services.