Claire Coutinho MP: written questions
73 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Carbon Emissions: TaxationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of carbon prices in 2030.
Answer: The price of carbon allowances in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme is set by the market and not the Government. A market-determined price of carbon is the most efficient way to decarbonise the traded sector.It is the role of the UK ETS Authority to set the...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: GenderDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to the suggested guidance on single-sex spaces in the NHS drafted by the Darlington Nurses Union.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met with five nurses from the Darlington Nursing Union last month, to hear about their concerns regarding single-sex spaces for staff in National Health Service hospitals Since the meeti...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGender: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14502More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what guidance the Office for Equality and Opportunities has produced on whether positive discrimination on the basis of gender identity is permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
Answer: Positive discrimination is treatment which favours someone solely because he or she has a particular protected characteristic such as their sex or race. Positive discrimination is generally unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 and therefore guidance has n...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGender: Public ConsultationWomen and EqualitiesTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14501More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the response to the call for evidence on single-sex spaces; and how many responses to the call for evidence have been received.
Answer: We will publish a response to the call for input on single-sex spaces guidance, including the number of valid responses, in due course.
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023Department for EducationTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what legal costs have been incurred by her Department for the appeal by the Freedom of Speech Union against her decision to pause the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 as of 1
Answer: The requested information is not known while this claim is in process and it is not appropriate to comment on live legal proceedings.
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023Department for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet the senior Jewish academics who wrote to her on 11 August 2024 on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
Answer: My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills Baroness Smith confirmed to the House of Lords on 10 October 2024 that she will meet with the Jewish academics who wrote to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education on 11 August. That meeting has ...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversities: ChinaDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help counter the influence of the Chinese state in British universities.
Answer: The UK welcomes international partnerships and students, including from China, who make a very positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and society as a whole. However, the government will always protect its national security ...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: East SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many unfilled state-funded (a) primary and (b) secondary school places there are in East Surrey.
Answer: Information on unfilled state-funded school places as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity statistics publication found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. T...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the implementation of VAT on independent school fees on (a) number of pupils requiring SEND services in the state education sector and (b) associated costs;
Answer: Projections by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicate that the number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of these changes is likely to represent a very small proportion of overall pupil numbers in the state sector, with any displacement expec...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023Department for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential impact of pausing the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 on income from China for UK universities as part
Answer: Departmental officials and my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. This includes representatives of higher education providers and academic...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023Department for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for the statement by her Department's spokesman quoted in the Telegraph of 24 August 2024 that the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 could expose students to harm and ap
Answer: The department has not collected data on individual cases of employment tribunals related to freedom of speech. Cases such as these are rare and are rightfully seen as a last resort. The department has heard concerns from many in the sector, including min...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversities: Freedom of ExpressionDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what is the average length of time taken for an employment tribunal for those seeking redress over a freedom of speech dispute.
Answer: The department has not collected data on individual cases of employment tribunals related to freedom of speech. Cases such as these are rare and are rightfully seen as a last resort. The department has heard concerns from many in the sector, including min...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023Department for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the signatories of the open letter by Academics for Academic Freedoms, published on 2 August 2024, on the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023
Answer: Departmental officials and my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. This includes representatives of higher education providers and academic...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received the Winter Fuel Payment in each constituency in the last financial year.
Answer: This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement. Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the governme...
Answered 6 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: LicensingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what budget he has allocated for legal costs in the event of legal action from businesses following from his decision not to issue new oil and gas licences.
Answer: We do not intend to issue new licences to explore new fields and will share more details on our plans in due course. We do not speculate on possible future legal costs.
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is his expected timetable for GB Energy to cut household energy bills by £300 per year.
Answer: The Government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower is a sustainable, long-term plan to protect billpayers for good. That’s because in an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British Energy: InfrastructureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether GB Energy will operate energy infrastructure.
Answer: Yes. Great British Energy will own, manage, and operate clean energy projects across the country; which could include energy infrastructure. As set out in the Founding Statement, Great British Energy will have five key functions. This means the exact role...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether GB Energy will produce energy.
Answer: Yes. Great British Energy will invest in and own clean power generation assets, which will produce clean, cheap and homegrown energy and make Britain energy secure. Great British Energy will not be simply an investment vehicle; it is a publicly-owned ener...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGreat British EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the increase in quantum of energy that GB Energy will generate; and by what timeline.
Answer: Great British Energy will invest in, own and operate energy projects which will produce clean, cheap and homegrown energy and make Britain energy secure. The exact impact and timeline of Great British Energy’s interventions will be determined by detailed ...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Standing ChargesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to reduce the standing charge on household energy bills.
Answer: The Government has worked constructively with the regulator on the issue of standing charges, and we are committed to lowering the cost of them. Ofgem’s recently published discussion paper sets out the options for how standing charges could be reduced, in...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: TaxationTreasuryTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2533More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the investment allowance within the Energy Profits Levy on investment in the (a) economy and (b) energy transition.
Answer: In July, the Government announced its intention to remove the Energy Profits Levy’s (EPL) 29% main investment allowance. Further details of final policy and impacts will be announced at Budget. A key outcome of the government’s clean energy mission will b...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHinkley Point C Power StationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his policy on decarbonising the grid by 2030 on the cost of constructing Sizewell C.
Answer: The capital costs for Sizewell C are commercially sensitive, and subject to ongoing development. We cannot comment further on the cost at this time, but we are committed to Sizewell C, which with other new nuclear projects will play an important role in t...
Answered 1 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordHinkley Point C Power StationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his policy on decarbonising the grid by 2030 on the cost of constructing Hinkley Point C.
Answer: Hinkley Point C is not a government project and therefore construction costs are a matter for EDF and its development partners on the project.
Answered 30 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
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