Every parliamentary written question tabled by Neil Coyle this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 276 · this parliament
What assessment he has made of the extent to which current regulation of heat networks provides equivalent protections to those available to domestic gas and electricity consumers, including
The introduction of Ofgem’s regulatory powers in January 2026 aimed to introduce similar protections for heat network customers to domestic gas and electricity customers. However, there are some important differences between these sectors, for example: th...
What legislative timetable he has set for introducing further regulation of heat networks, including any provisions relating to price protections for consumers.
Government legislated to introduce statutory redress, advice and advocacy from April 2025 and Ofgem regulation of heat networks from January 2026. Government has provided Ofgem with broad powers to protect consumers, including on price. Heat network suppl...
What estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost increase for households connected to heat networks as a result of recent increases in commercial gas prices.
Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis began a...
When he expects to launch the proposed call for evidence on heat network price protections; and what the intended scope of that review will include.
Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance. The Department is working with Of...
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a price protection mechanism for domestic consumers connected to heat networks, comparable to that provided by the Price Cap
Heat networks buy the energy they need through commercial contracts and the price they charge domestic consumers reflects these individual contract prices and the energy efficiency of each heat network. Applying a price cap therefore risks being ineffecti...
What steps he is taking to ensure that households connected to heat networks are not disadvantaged compared to those using individual gas boilers as part of the transition to a low-carbon ene
The Government is committed to heat network consumers receiving a fair deal as we transition to a low-carbon energy system. WwWe have therefore introduced heat network regulation, including price protections, consumer standards and access to redress. The ...
What the average waiting time is for her Department to reach a decision on British citizenship applications for people from Hong Kong.
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate costImmigration statistics for the last 10 years are p...
Whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that former arrests of BNO status holders (a) under Hong Kong's National Security Law and (b) for engaging in protests do not delay or prevent Bri
Adults and children aged ten or over applying for British citizenship must meet the good character requirement in the British Nationality Act 1981.The good character policy is clear that it will normally be appropriate to disregard a criminal conviction f...
How many (a) police forces and (b) individual officers are now trained in specialist Counter Terrorism support for Hong Kongers (i) with bounties placed on them and (ii) experiencing transnational sup
The Government is committed to ensuring the police are trained to deal with transnational repression. Since launching new training and guidance in July 2024, nearly 50,000 officers and staff from police forces across the UK and Northern Ireland have compl...
How many officials in her Department are trained in (a) Hong Kong laws and (b) processing applications to settle in the UK.
Home Officials are fully trained in all aspects of the policy on deciding applications made under the British National (Overseas) immigration route. The BNO visa allows status holders and their eligible family members to live, work and study in the UK. Th...
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of delays in processing business rates relief applications on affected businesses; and what steps he is taking to speed up processing ti
Local authorities are responsible for the administration of business rates including the calculation and issuing of rates bills. This includes the assessment for and application of any reliefs that a business may be eligible for. If ratepayers have any qu...
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the freeze in Housing Benefit subsidy rates for temporary accommodation since January 2011 on local authority finances in London; and if he will ta
DWP pays local authorities a Housing Benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation cases, but this is subject to limits to incentivise local authorities to find settled accommodation for residents and to ensure good value for money for the taxpayer. The rul...
Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department will finish consulting on banning collars which harm animals, including e-collars.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament. Next steps on the consultation will be announced in due course.
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered, in the context of current and future regulatory frameworks, introducing measures to ensure that leaseholders are able to access the full details of heating and energy supply contracts, and that managing agents or freeholders are required to provide a comprehensive and transparent breakdown of all associated costs.
On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) imposing fines on companies that do not register beneficial owners under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and (b) hypothecating those revenues for local authorities.
The Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023 established and enhanced the Register of Overseas Entities. Financial penalties are used where entities fail to comply. Alongside restrictions on property transactions, this helps protect the integrity of the UK property market by enhancing transparency about who owns and controls overseas entities.As with other fines, revenues are paid into the Consolidated Fund. Government does not generally support the hypothecation of fine revenue, as this can reduce flexibility in public finances and risk weakening the deterrent purpose of penalties. Core funding for local authorities is set through the Local Government Finance Settlement.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on the offshore ownership of property in the UK to conceal money laundering and other illegal activities.
The Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023 established and strengthened the UK’s Register of Overseas Entities, which requires overseas entities owning UK land to disclose their beneficial owners. Since launching in 2022, over 33,000 entities have registered. The Companies House Strategic Intelligence Assessment (2024) found it is almost certain that the register has reduced the ability to hide beneficial ownership of UK property and improve transparency for law enforcement. Non‑compliant entities are also prevented from selling, leasing or raising finance over UK land. The Government is currently reviewing the legislation’s impact and will publish findings once complete.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on the number of properties owned by offshore companies.
The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 on the number of properties owned by offshore companies. The Register of Overseas Entities was established and further strengthened through the Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023. It was designed to tackle the misuse of overseas corporate structures to own UK property anonymously, rather than legitimate overseas investment. Companies House's strategic intelligence assessment indicates that the register has significantly reduced anonymity and increased transparency around higher risk ownership. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the regime under review.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new towns are built with adequate mobile connectivity infrastructure.
I refer the hon. Member to the public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications launched on 23 March 2026. This can be found on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to make it a requirement for local planning authorities to take into account the need to replace or upgrade existing rooftop telecommunications equipment when determining planning applications.
Between 18 December 2025 and 26 February 2026, the government undertook a call for evidence in respect of reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure. It can be found on gov.uk here. We are currently analysing the feedback received with a view to determining next steps, which may include consulting on draft measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward necessary legislation.
Whether her Department has considered the potential merits of relaxing pub licensing hours in English pubs to also accommodate the World Cup football matches involving Scotland.
The Government recently announced plans to extend licensing hours on a national basis for the round of 32 and round of 16, quarter finals, semi-finals, bronze medal match and final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for matches that involve any of the home nations, including Scotland, and kick off between 8pm and 10pm UK time. This will apply in both England and Wales.