Every parliamentary written question tabled by Sammy Wilson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 227 · this parliament
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of false applications for the de minimis exemption on delays within the planning system.
A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.
What progress she has made on considering the feasibility and impact of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future. The government recognises that refineries play a role in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. Government Ministers are holding a roundtable with the refining sector this month and will also publish a call for evidence on the fuel sector shortly.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the European Commission’s proposals for the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the UK oil refining sector.
At present, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism does not include refined oil products . In December 2025 the European Commission published further detail on their future plans for the CBAM, including the possibility of including refined products in scope at a future date. The UK Government committed in November 2025 to considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the UK CBAM in future. We continue to monitor the progress of the EU CBAM closely and encourage the EU to continue to engage with affected businesses to minimise the impact on trade, and to recognise and support industries working hard to decarbonise.
Whether her Department plans to include the UK oil refining sector in the scope of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future. The government recognises that refineries play a role in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. Government Ministers are holding a roundtable with the refining sector this month and will also publish a call for evidence on the fuel sector shortly.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations they have made to the government of Algeria regarding restrictions on the freedom of worship of the Ahmadiyya Muslims.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 October 2025 in response to Question 83261.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support international monitoring and accountability mechanisms on freedom of religion or belief in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's approach to freedom of religion or belief, announced on 8 July 2025, and officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans. We work with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions, including on freedom of religion or belief. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Upholding human rights and basic freedoms are not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans. Without inclusive governance that reflects Afghanistan's religious, ethnic, gender and cultural diversity, we will never see an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of unmanaged vegetation fuel loads on upland peatland and the severity of wildfires.
Healthy peatlands do not require active vegetation management such as burning or cutting. There is clear scientific evidence that burning is particularly damaging, as it degrades peatland conditions, undermines restoration and increases long-term vulnerability to wildfires. In response, the Government amended the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 in September last year to extend protections to more peatlands. Alongside these changes the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 was published to support land managers selecting appropriate management approaches that reduce peatland damage, support restoration and enhance natural resilience to hazards such as wildfire. In addition, a two-year research project, Wildfire and Peatland: Studies to Support Delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, has been commissioned. This work will inform delivery of the Government’s risk‑reduction objectives by identifying effective approaches for maintaining healthy, functioning peatlands and improving the resilience of these important carbon stores under future climate conditions.
Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment she has made of wildfire risks under (a) prescribed burning, (b) mechanical cutting and (c) no active vegetation management.
Healthy peatlands do not require active vegetation management such as burning or cutting. There is clear scientific evidence that burning is particularly damaging, as it degrades peatland conditions, undermines restoration and increases long-term vulnerability to wildfires. In response, the Government amended the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 in September last year to extend protections to more peatlands. Alongside these changes the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 was published to support land managers selecting appropriate management approaches that reduce peatland damage, support restoration and enhance natural resilience to hazards such as wildfire. In addition, a two-year research project, Wildfire and Peatland: Studies to Support Delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, has been commissioned. This work will inform delivery of the Government’s risk‑reduction objectives by identifying effective approaches for maintaining healthy, functioning peatlands and improving the resilience of these important carbon stores under future climate conditions.
Media and Sport, what comparative assessment her Department has made of (a) loot boxes in video games and (b) gambling products; and what steps she is taking to mitigate potential harms associated with loot box mechanics, particularly for children and young people.
The government is committed to ensuring games are enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone and that, where they contain loot boxes, there are appropriate protections in place. Prizes that can be won via loot boxes do not have a monetary value, cannot be cashed-out, and are of value only within the context of the game. They are therefore not legally classified as gambling. However, evidence has shown an association between loot boxes and gambling-related harm. To improve protections in games containing loot boxes, industry-led guidance was published in 2023 with a 12-month implementation period, after which DCMS commissioned independent academic research into its effectiveness. We will publish the research shortly, alongside our next steps.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on the protection of civilians, including members of the Muslim community.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 November 2025 in response to Question 90911.
What plans he has to restrict the export of scrap aluminium from the UK to address the challenge of scarce critical minerals identified in the Critical Mineral Strategy, published on the 22nd of November.
The Government recognises the importance of a domestic circular economy and the need for domestic supply of aluminium scrap to meet demand, whilst also ensuring the market remains fair and beneficial for all stakeholders. Government is aware of the various recommendations made by industry, including export controls, and we plan to listen to the perspective of all involved parties and to explore options to encourage growth.
What discussions her Department has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on prioritising access to the national grid for port electrification to support ports who wish to offer onshore power supply connection to cruise line customers.
Reforming the connections process and investing in the grid is a key Government priority. This includes reforms that are expected to deprioritise over half of the existing queue based on readiness and strategic alignment with our strategy as set out in Clean Power 2030. Department for Transport ministers and officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. These include discussions on the significance of getting sufficient grid capacity to electrify ports, for cruise and ferries to use shore power and policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites. This is informed by the Department for Transport call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, published in March 2025, which posed questions on managing future energy demand at ports.
What steps her Department is taking to provide certainty to industry in relation to the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.
In November, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority published the main Authority Response to the 2024 consultation detailing how the UK ETS will expand to the maritime sector. This main Authority Response included final policy details ahead of implementation next year. The Authority is directly engaging with the sector to ensure the details are understood, including by hosting a webinar which will be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions. We are working closely with the sector as part of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority to ensure that maritime operators will be sufficiently prepared to join UK ETS from July next year. The Environment Agency, who will regulate the majority of operators, are running a voluntary onboarding period from next month which will help the sector engage with the ETS ahead of July and give operators extra time to get familiar with how it works. Additionally, the Authority will allow for ‘double-surrender’ for maritime operators for the first two scheme years, giving maritime operators extra time and further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems. Guidance will be provided to address sector-specific requirements and support participants to meet their UK ETS obligations.
What assessment he has made of the availability and effectiveness of rehabilitation support for individuals with a gambling addiction within the criminal justice system.
His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) co-commissioned an independent report to inform understanding of the prevalence of gambling harms among those in prison and on probation in the community: Report on Gambling Harms and the Criminal Justice System.We are committed to rehabilitating those impacted by gambling and its harms, through a rehabilitative culture, positive relationships and pro-social staff. Together with this, HMPPS delivers a broad range of interventions to address individuals’ criminogenic risks and needs, including accredited offending behaviour programmes. In addition, the NHS provides support for individuals who are experiencing gambling addiction.
What recent estimate she has made of the contribution of fuel duty to inflation and the cost of living; and whether she will review current rates in the context of wider price pressures.
Pump prices are at their lowest levels since 2021, before Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to soaring prices and the introduction of a temporary 5p cut in fuel duty. At Budget 2025, the Government therefore announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to early 2022 levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average car driver £49 next year compared to previous plans. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out the impact of policy measures on inflation in its Autumn Budget 2025 forecast, including fuel duty policy. The OBR forecast the fuel duty freeze extension will reduce CPI inflation by 0.13 percentage points in 2026/27. The Chancellor asked departments to prioritise reducing inflation when developing policies for the Budget, ensuring decisions support stability and long-term growth. Considering all policies, including the impact of the fuel duty decision, the OBR expect Budget measures to reduce CPI inflation by 0.4 percentage points in 2026/27.The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Cameroon authorities concerning the recent kidnapping and detention of Christian clergy in the Northeast region.
The UK condemns the kidnappings of Catholic priests and others in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, including 6 priests who have now been released. The UK Government monitors the human rights situation in Cameroon closely and discusses the issues in the Anglophone regions with a range of interlocutors, including at the highest levels of the Cameroonian Government. We continue to call for inclusive dialogue which addresses the root causes of the crisis and urge all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution. We also advocate for the protections of all vulnerable communities through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.
What steps he is taking to support the provision of onshore power supply for ports across the UK, including in Northern Ireland, in relation to onshore power supply for ferries and cruise ships.
Responsibility for electricity policy is transferred to the Northern Ireland Assembly under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, on 25 March, Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy and launched a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports, focusing on future energy demand and shore power. We are considering responses to the call for evidence.In Great Britain, Government is working with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator on reforms to accelerate grid connections, alongside using new powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to accelerate strategic demand projects. These steps should support power deployment for ports.
What assessment he has made of the prevalence of gambling-related harm among individuals within the criminal justice system; and what steps he is taking to improve screening and support for problem gambling in prisons and the probation services.
His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) co-commissioned an independent report to inform understanding of the prevalence of gambling harms among those in prison and on probation in the community: Report on Gambling Harms and the Criminal Justice System.We are committed to rehabilitating those impacted by gambling and its harms, through a rehabilitative culture, positive relationships and pro-social staff. Together with this, HMPPS delivers a broad range of interventions to address individuals’ criminogenic risks and needs, including accredited offending behaviour programmes. In addition, the NHS provides support for individuals who are experiencing gambling addiction.
What assessment she has made of the impact of current fuel duty rates on the road freight and logistics sector; and whether her Department plans to bring forward measures to reduce transport costs.
At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to previous levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government increasing fuel duty rates in line with RPI from April 2027. This will save the average van driver £100 next year compared to previous plans, and the average HGV driver more than £800. The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Media and Sport, whether she plans to require gambling operators and online platforms to provide greater transparency regarding how gambling advertisements are targeted and delivered to users.
The advertising codes that apply to all licensed gambling operators state that advertising must not be targeted at children or vulnerable people. The Government welcomes measures implemented by the Gambling Commission which have given customers greater control over the direct marketing they receive, and include further restrictions to make sure bonuses are constructed in a responsible way which does not encourage excessive or harmful gambling.We will continue to explore whether more can be done to further raise standards in this area, particularly on online platforms.