Every parliamentary written question tabled by Suella Braverman this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 501–520 of 580 · this parliament
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening existing legislation to prevent the private display of proscribed terrorist flags and symbols.
The Government will continue to work with operational partners to consider what, if any, further changes are needed to the counter-terrorism framework so that our tools and powers keep pace with the modern threats that we face.
What discussions she has had with (a) music concert and (b) large venue event organisers on responding to displays of support for proscribed terrorist organisations.
Under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 it is already an offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation:Section 12(1) makes it an offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation (the support invited need not be material support, such as the provision of money or other property, and can also include moral support or approval);Section 12(1A) makes it an offence to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation; andSections 12(2) and (3) make it an offence to arrange, manage or assist in arranging or managing a meeting in the knowledge that the meeting is to support or further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation; or to address a meeting if the purpose of the address is to encourage support for, or further the activities of, a proscribed organisation.Section 13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, which are operationally independent.
What steps his Department plans to take to improve the integration of charity hospices into the National Health System.
The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life and their loved ones.Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices.In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.
What steps his Department plans to take to ensure that hospices receive adequate funding from local health authorities.
The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life and their loved ones.Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices.In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.
What discussions her Department has had with arts grant funders on support given to (a) organisations and (b) people that express support for proscribed terrorist organisations.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 7 May in response to Question 48984.
With reference to her Department's reports entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, and Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts, published on 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the impact of changes to welfare benefits on people claiming (a) Housing Benefit and (b) the housing costs element of Universal Credit.
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. Note:There will be no immediate changes. Changes to PIP eligibility and rebalancing of UC aren’t coming into effect immediately. Our intention is these changes will start to come into effect from April 2026 for UC and November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval.PIP changes will only apply at the next award review after November 2026. The average award review period is about three years. At the award review, claimants will be seen by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstances.We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. PIP is not based on condition diagnosis but on functional disability as the result of one or more conditions, and is awarded as a contribution to the additional costs which result.We also intend to launch a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead, and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.
Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help increase levels of home ownership, in the context of her proposals to maintain levels of Housing Benefit.
The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs This sits alongside our continued commitment to housing support, with the increase to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in April 2024 costing an additional £1.2 billion in 2024/25 and approximately £7 billion over five years. LHA rates have been maintained at their current levels for 2025/26.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of increases to wastewater charges made by Southern Water.
For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Now whilst it is never wanted, bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways. As the independent economic regulator, Ofwat independently scrutinise water company business plans, including Southern Water’s, and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 on 19 December, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. The Government is committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers with their water bills. All water companies have measures in place for customers 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. 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 this end.
Whether her Department plans to use the newly applied Vehicle Excise Duty on Electric Vehicles to improve (a) road maintenance and (b) vehicle infrastructure.
As announced by the Government at Autumn Statement 2022, from 1 April 2025 zero emission cars, vans, and motorcycles have started to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) in a similar way to petrol and diesel vehicles. The Consolidated Fund receives the proceeds of VED along with most other tax revenues to support public services and investment in infrastructure, including vehicle infrastructure and road maintenance.
Whether she plans to include improvements to connecting commuter roads in villages and towns in the road investment strategy.
The Road Investment Strategy is a long-term government plan that sets out what the Department for Transport expects National Highways to deliver on England’s strategic road network of motorways and major A roads in England over a five-year period. As part of National Highways Licence, the company is expected to consider how its network integrates effectively with the local road network, that is the responsibility of the relevant local highways authority, to provide a seamless experience for road users.
What steps her Department plans to take to improve road (a) services and (b) networks.
The Department has set the budgets for the financial year 2025/26 as part of the Autumn Budget 2024. This allocated £4.842 billion as part of an interim settlement for National Highways for the operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of the strategic road network. Funding beyond this for a future Road Investment Strategy will be confirmed through the ongoing Spending Review which is due to complete in late Spring 2025.The Government recognises the important role that motorway service areas and rest areas on the trunk A road network play in providing a safe place for road users to stop and take a short break from driving. It is for the private sector to promote and operate service areas that meet the needs of the travelling public.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of maintaining the level of Housing Benefit until 2026 on the affordability of housing for people on Housing Benefit.
Both Housing Benefit and the housing element of Universal Credit provide support for renters in the private and social rented sectors. The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for households claiming either benefit can receive if they are privately renting. Ahead of Autumn Budget 2024, DWP Ministers looked at a range of factors when considering the LHA rates for 2025/26. This included rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, rate increases in April 2024, and the wider fiscal context. The April 2024 one-year LHA increase cost an additional £1.2bn in 2024/25 and approximately £7bn over 5 years. We have also invested £1bn in funding for both the Household Support Fund (HSF) and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) (including Barnett impacts) for 2025/26 and the level of DHP funding has been maintained at current levels. DHPs are available from local authorities for those unable to meet a shortfall in their rent.Any future decisions on LHA policy will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, goals on housing and the challenging fiscal context.
Whether his Department plans to take steps to allow consumers to challenge the charges of a privately owned utility when no other utility services operate in their area.
Energy suppliers are bound by a universal service obligation under standard condition 22 of the gas and electricity Standard Licence Conditions. This means they are required to offer terms to any domestic consumer who asks, ensuring consumers have access to energy. For customers on a domestic contract, the mechanism for ensuring fair pricing is Ofgem’s Price Cap, which allows suppliers to recoup genuine costs with a small allowance for profits. For domestic customers who receive energy via non-domestic contracts, there is legislation which sets a maximum price that can be charged for electricity and gas which has already been bought from a licensed supplier.
What steps his Department plans to take to ensure that increased charges by utility providers are put towards maintaining (a) clean and (b) safe infrastructure for consumer services.
Ofgem review the price cap level every three months and ensure that it reflects wholesale prices as well as other costs incurred by suppliers. This includes network costs, for example the building, fixing and repair of pipes and wires to transport energy.
What recent estimate his Department has made of the number of GP practices that will be affected by changes to National Insurance announced at the Autumn Budget 2024.
We have made necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance (NI) rise was implemented in April 2025.General practices are valued independent contractors and will therefore be subject to the employers’ NI rise. Every year, we consult with the profession about what services general practice provides, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services.We are investing an additional £889 million in general practice to fix the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the England General Practitioners’ Committee of the British Medical Association is supportive of the contract changes
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to National Insurance announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the expansion of (a) GP practices and (b) other care provision.
We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025.General practices (GPs) are valued independent contractors who provide over £13 billion worth of services within the National Health Service. Every year we consult with the profession about what services GPs provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services.We are investing an additional £889 million in GPs to fix the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the England General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association is supportive of the contract changes.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on the integration of social care providers into the National Health Service.
The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process in 2024.To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on social care providers who rely on charitable donations.
The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process.To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government has made available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant. Overall, core local government spending power in 2025/26 has increased by up to 6.8% in cash terms.
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that numbers of (a) GP surgeries and (b) staff working in those surgeries are not adversely impacted by changes to employer National Insurance contributions.
We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025.General practices (GPs) are valued independent contractors who provide over £13 billion worth of National Health Services. Every year we consult with the profession about what services GPs provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services.We are investing an additional £889 million in GPs to fix the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the General Practitioners Committee England is supportive of the contract changes.As commissioners of primary care, integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring that there is suitable provision of GP services to meet the needs of their local population. Practices close for a variety of reasons, including mergers or retirement, and so closures do not necessarily indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area.The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified GPs through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to address GP unemployment and secure the future pipeline of GPs. Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which primary care networks are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS was published by NHS England on 7 April, showing that since 1 October 2024, 1,503 GPs were recruited through the scheme.
Whether his Department has made an estimate of the average cost of changes to employer National Insurance contributions to individual GP practices.
We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025. General practices (GPs) are valued independent contractors who provide over £13 billion worth of National Health Services. Every year we consult with the profession about what services GPs provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services. We are investing an additional £889 million in GPs to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade, and we are pleased that the General Practitioners Committee England is supportive of the contract changes.