Written answers

Thursday, 31 October 2024

  • Women and Equalities

    • Transphobia

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle transphobia.

    • Question

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of recognising businesses with proactive equality practices.

      Equal Pay: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that companies (a) record and (b) publish ethnicity pay gap data.

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Surgical Hubs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many procedures were delivered by surgical hubs opened since 27 October 2021 in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March, (d) April, (e)...

    • Surgical Hubs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many procedures were delivered by surgical hubs opened since the 2021 Spending Review, as of 4 July 2024.

      Community Diagnostic Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) first stage and (b) second stage cancer patients received a diagnosis following an appointment at a community diagnostic...

      Community Diagnostic Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) checks, (b) tests and (c) scans were carried out at community diagnostic centres opened since the 2021 Spending Review, as...

      Menopause: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a permanent national menopause network supported by specialist nurses to (a)...

      Medicine: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the National Institute for Health and Care Research has spent on research into (a) gynaecological and urogynaecological health,...

      Brain: Tumours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to include brain tumours in personalised mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies research.

      Hospitals: Newbury

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to support NHS services in Newbury, in the context of his Department's review of the New Hospital...

      Sepsis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will run a national campaign to raise awareness of sepsis.

      Radiotherapy: Medical Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of radiotherapy treatment machines in England.

      Brain Cancer: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve outcomes for glioblastoma brain tumour patients.

      Radiotherapy: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with NHS England on improving access to radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients in rural areas.

      South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish an evaluation of the effectiveness of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust community health...

      GP Surgeries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP premises there were in 2010.

      Audiology: Paediatrics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many paediatric audiology departments there are in England; and how many of those meet the UK Accreditation Services Improving...

      Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People Independent Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Leader of the House of 17 October 2024, Official Report, column 1000, what his planned...

      Coronavirus: Health Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of running a public awareness campaign to remove all COVID signs.

      NHS: Translation Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much has been spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation in the NHS in each of the last five years.

      Dental Services: Scarborough And Whitby

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of dental care provision in Scarborough and Whitby constituency; and whether he plans to take...

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6194 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, whether the Medicines and Healthcare products...

      Parents: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that new parents receive adequate support.

      Infant Foods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish guidance on the sugar and salt content of baby foods.

      Mental Health Act 1983

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to update the Mental Health Act 1983.

      General Practitioners: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much (a) funding and (b) other resources his Department is providing to GP practices to help meet the demand for appointments in the...

      Civil Society: Suicide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide further funding to (a) voluntary community and (b) social enterprise organisations responding to local...

      General Practitioners: Gosport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7738 on General Practitioners: Gosport, what steps he plans to take to introduce...

      Social Workers: Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the written statement of 30 July 2024 on Adult Social Care Workforce, HCWS50, whether he plans to provide further...

      GP Surgeries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving the responsibility for the allocation of GP surgeries to the Ministry of...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will hold discussions with his EU counterparts on creating a youth mobility scheme.

    • Special Advisers: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2024 to Question 4682 on Prime Minister's Chief of Staff: Workplace Pensions, whether other public bodies hold...

      Public Sector: Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 4703 on Public Sector: Pay, if he will take steps to collate this information.

      Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether direct ministerial appointments are eligible for the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

      Government Property Agency: Public and Commercial Services Union

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Chief Executive of the Government Property Agency will respond to the correspondence of (a) 31 July, (b) 16 August and (c) 26 September 2024...

      Admiralty House

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 2633 on Admiralty House, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) renting...

      Prime Minister: Ministers' Private Offices

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in 10 Downing Street since the dissolution of...

      Trade Union Officials: Facilities Agreements

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the timetable for publication under the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 of trade union facility time data...

      Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish a new terms of reference for the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests; and whether this will include the power to...

      10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to question 1252 on 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection, if he will publish a list of all art work,...

      Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2024 to Question 5052 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information and with reference to the when he...

      Civil Servants: Trade Union Officials

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 September to Question 5051 on Civil Servants: Trade Union Officials, whether the Government plans to (a) issue new...

      Government Departments: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to publish the debarment list.

      Special Advisers: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance has been provided by (a) the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff or (b) Cabinet Office special adviser HR to special advisers on the...

      Ministers: Members' Interests

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question HL978 on Ministers: Members' Interests, whether declarations made by Ministers to the House of...

      Government Departments: Remote Working

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 16 September 2024 to Question HL667 on Government Departments: Remote Working, when he plans to provide an update on...

      Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which categories of (a) individual and (b) organisation are eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Culture: Stoke-on-Trent North

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the accessibility of cultural activities in (a) Stoke-on-Trent North constituency and...

    • Arts: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase funding for arts and culture in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

      Health Lottery: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with the Health Lottery on fulfilling its social responsibility duties.

      Youth Services: Stoke-on-Trent North

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to provide youth services with adequate funding in (a) Stoke-on-Trent North constituency and (b)...

      Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for introducing a National Youth Strategy.

      The Observer: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet Colleagues on the proposed sale of the Observer.

      Runnymede Trust: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has provided funding to the Runnymede Trust in the last ten years.

      Sports: Video Games

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of the esports industry.

      Lotteries: Charities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the charity lottery sector.

      Film: Liverpool

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the growth of the film industry in Liverpool.

      Performing Arts: EU Countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department provides to UK artists touring in the EU.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Pornography: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to close down online websites and platforms that host illegal pornographic material.

    • Mobile Phones: Aerials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of its reporting on the quality of phone signals for consumers.

      Voice over Internet Protocol

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on whether customers who are required to transition from Public Switched Telephone...

      Artificial Intelligence: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the open letter entitled Statement on AI Training,...

      Broadband: Great Yarmouth

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve internet connections in Great Yarmouth constituency.

      Instagram: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent steps taken by Instagram to limit political content on levels...

      Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the rollout of full-fibre broadband.

      Broadband: Colne Valley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve broadband connections in Colne Valley constituency.

      Broadband: Colne Valley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people in Colne Valley constituency can access a 5G signal by 2030.

      Telephones: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help tackle fraudulent phone calls.

      Social Media: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of conducting research on the impact of social media design on children's...

      Internet: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to regulate websites that promote (a) eating disorders, (b) suicide and (c) self harm.

  • Attorney General

    • Domestic Abuse: Prosecutions

      To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for domestic violence; and what steps she plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that...

    • Attorney General: Ministers' Private Offices

      To ask the Solicitor General, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last...

  • Treasury

    • Import Controls

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of introducing the third stage of the Border Target Operating Model on 31 January 2025.

    • Business Rates: Rural Areas

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact on the economy of raising the threshold of Rural Rates Relief above the rateable value of (a)...

      Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to review the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecasting methodology for revenue from alcohol duty tax receipts.

      Economic Situation: Coronavirus

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to help mitigate the ongoing financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on (a) individuals and (b) small businesses.

      Health Services: Pay

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the availability of the funding required for the 5.5% pay increase recommended by the Pay Review Body for health workers in...

      Private Education: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing transitional arrangements for and (b) delaying implementation of her policy on...

      Pensions: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people received tax relief on their pension contributions at the (a) 20% and (b) 40% rate in the latest period for which data is available.

      Wines: Excise Duties

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the temporary easement for wine on the supply chain for UK-based...

      Digital Technology: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing the Digital Services Tax.

      Heat Pumps

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, of the potential merits of removing VAT from refrigerants used...

      Treasury: Recruitment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department takes to verify the qualifications of newly hired officials.

      Question

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reforms to business rates.

      Business Rates: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the /25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme into 2025/26.

      Treasury: USA

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the estimated carbon footprint of her recent visit to Washington DC.

      Cooperatives and Mutual Societies: New Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support new co-operatives and mutuals.

      Cooperatives

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the growth of co-operatives.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Balochistan: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the human rights situation in...

    • Gaza: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of Israeli forces (a)...

      Hamas: Hostage Taking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with international counterparts on Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

      British Nationals Abroad: Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2311 on British Nationals Abroad: Departmental...

      Palestinians: Women's Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect the rights of Palestinian women and girls.

      Afghanistan: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help end violations of freedom of religion or belief in Afghanistan.

      Palestinians: Gender Based Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of allegations of...

      Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what UK-funded aid has been denied entry into Gaza since 7 October 2024.

      Palestinians: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support disabled Palestinians to access (a) medicines and (b) other...

      Gaza: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the conference entitled Preparing to resettle Gaza,...

      Kurds: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the outcome of the recent...

      Gaza: Doctors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure specialist doctors can enter Gaza.

      Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Samoa

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what is the estimated carbon footprint of his recent visit to Samoa.

      Israel: Hezbollah

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of alleged reports that Hezbollah plans to advance into...

      Gaza: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on reports of land grabs by settlers in northern Gaza.

      Gaza: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Israeli settlers plan...

      Lebanon: Hezbollah

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with international partners to help protect United Nations Interim Force in...

      Egypt: Copts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent reports of violence against...

      Georgia: LGBT+ People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the election results in Georgia on the safety of LGBTQ+...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Political Levy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1206 on Political Levy, whether trade unions will be required to inform members of the...

    • Political Levy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1206 on Political Levy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the...

      Department for Business and Trade: Aviation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department spent on first class flights in each year since its creation.

      Internet: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to make it easier to cancel online subscriptions.

      Employment Rights Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, for how many hours he has discussed the Employment Rights Bill with trade unions since 5 July 2024.

      Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (HL)

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Second Report of Session 2024-25 of the House of Lords...

      Trade Agreements: Egypt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what work the UK- Egypt Subcommittee of the Association Committee on Trade and Investment is undertaking; and when that committee will meet next.

      Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8571 on Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny, what options he is considering for...

      Drugs: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department supports the use of Compulsory Licences to gain access to medicines (a) generally and (b) by Columbia for access to...

      Department for Business and Trade: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Child Maintenance Service: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) the accuracy of Child Maintenance Service calculations and (b) that the process of correcting mistakes...

    • Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the accuracy of PIP assessment decisions.

      Unemployment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the total number of people of working age currently out of work.

      Pensions: Commonwealth

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to negotiate reciprocal agreements with Commonwealth countries on uprating UK pensions.

      Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current threshold for pension credit.

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that staff administering Disability Living Allowance claims provide claimants with a complete understanding...

      Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the criteria for auto-enrolment for workplace pensions in the Pensions (Extension...

      Household Support Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to improve the capacity of local authorities to administer the Household Support Fund.

  • Home Office

    • Terrorism

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many terrorist plots there have been by the ideology of the perpetrators in each of the last five years.

    • Electric Bicycles and Motorcycles: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle (a) moped and (b) illegal e-bike related crimes.

      Draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 2 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, for what reason venues with a 100 person capacity will be...

      Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many assessments for destitution her Department has made for people subject to No Recourse to Public Funds conditions in each of the...

      Asylum: Hotels

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to end the use of hotel accommodation for women and girls seeking asylum.

      Police: Misconduct

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are not able to have contact with the public due to ongoing misconduct investigations in each police force; and for...

      Demonstrations: Hezbollah

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues to police forces on expressions of support for Hezbollah during protests.

      Immigration: Lebanon

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of implementing a (a) resettlement and (b) reunification scheme for non-UK...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Open Prisons: Prisoner Escapes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have escaped from Category D prisons in the last 10 years.

    • Prisoners' Release

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will publish the offences committed by prisoners released under the early release scheme.

      Courts: Translation Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation costs in (i) all courts and (ii) Great Yarmouth Magistrates court in each of the last five...

      Crime: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle youth (a) offending and (b) re-offending.

      Crown Court: Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans her Department has to increase the number of daily sitting hours by Crown Court judges.

      Ministry of Justice: Ministers' Private Offices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the...

      Crime: Victims

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to allow victims of crime to express impact statements to convicted...

      Criminal Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the guidance by her Department entitled Disclosing your criminal record, published on 28 October 2023, on what evidential basis the...

      Members' Constituency Work: Henley and Thame

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will meet the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame to discuss an urgent constituency matter.

      Domestic Abuse: Administration of Justice

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking with the Attorney General to speed up the justice system for victims of domestic violence.

      Courts: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions she has had with the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland on backlogs in court cases.

      Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce the waiting time for PIP appeal hearings.

  • Department for Education

    • Pupils: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle school absences among young carers.

    • Artificial Intelligence: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has carried out research into the impact of AI in education settings on children's wellbeing.

      Special Educational Needs: Stoke-on-Trent North

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support early speech and language interventions in (a) Stoke-on-Trent North constituency and (b) Kidsgrove.

      Schools: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2024 to Question 4283 on Schools: Admissions, what steps her Department is taking to issue guidance to Local...

      Arts: Education and English Baccalaureate

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that schools receive adequate funding to provide equitable access to arts education alongside English...

      School Libraries: LGBT+ People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of trends in the number of requests to schools to remove LGBT+ literature from...

      Academies: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the central costs of academy trusts on the budgets of academy schools.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help support local authorities to meet the legal deadline to provide an education, health and care plan.

      Ashfield School: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of when the re-build of Ashfield School will take place.

      Children: Dyslexia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support children diagnosed with dyslexia in Ashford constituency.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Local Plans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7096 on Local Plans, for what reason she chose the local...

    • Floods: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on decreasing the number of properties required to trigger the...

      Towns Fund: Runcorn

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's planned timetable is to award Runcorn with the initial allocation of funding from the Long Term...

      Buildings: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the scope of the Building Safety Levy to include...

      Leasehold: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of leasehold properties in England which contain Reinforced autoclaved...

      Buildings: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a building safety tsar to develop a building...

      Wealth: Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the disparity in wealth of the wealthiest 10% of the...

      Social Rented Housing: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support councils to reduce social housing waiting lists.

      Homelessness: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland on tackling homelessness.

      Council Tax: Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential (a) merits of removing students from council tax and (b)...

      Building Alterations: Planning Permission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will remove the presumption in favour of granting planning permission for developments which build extra...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff employed by his Department work exclusively on farming issues.

    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Labour Turnover

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the staff turnover rate in his Department was in each of the last five years.

      Droughts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the impact of drought conditions on (a) the economy and (b) food supplies in each...

      Anaerobic Digestion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions on using farm effluage and sewage for anaerobic digestion instead of importing wood chippings...

      Hunting: Foxes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle illegal fox hunting.

      Pets: Animal Breeding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a centralised database of licenced (a) breeders and (b)...

      Poultry: Animal Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to launch a consultation on phasing out cages for layer hens.

      Dogs: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will publish a consultation on the regulation of dog behaviour and training services.

      Meat: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much illegal meat coming into the UK was seized in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

      Cats: Veterinary Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help increase the affordability of cat neutering services.

      Hunting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to end fox hunting.

      Import Controls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consistency of phytosanitary certificate checks at the UK Border.

      Pets: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the abandonment of domestic animals.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support businesses in rural areas.

      Agriculture: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers to reduce emissions.

      Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks...

      Food: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of importing food produced to lower animal welfare standards than...

      Packaging: Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what level extended producer responsibility fees will be set at.

      Birds: Conservation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, of the...

      Landfill: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the (a) powers and (b) resources of the Environment...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Army Cadet Force: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of the Army Cadet force in each year since 2019; and what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public...

    • Veterans: LGBT+ People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to engage with people affected by the ban on LGBT people serving in the British Armed Forces prior to the start of discussions...

  • Department for Transport

    • Office of Rail and Road

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to item 12 of the minutes of the Office of Rail and Road's Board meeting of 25 June 2024, if she will publish (a) the Office of Rail...

    • Driving Tests: Earley and Woodley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase availability of practical driving tests in Earley and Woodley.

      Roads

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of immigration on the road system.

      Roads: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8568 on Roads: Freight, what steps her Department is taking to support road haulage businesses.

      Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average waiting time for people calling and (b) time people spent on hold for the DVLA was in each of the last five years.

      Bus Services: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to grant local authorities powers to (a) improve and (b) regulate private bus services in areas without bus franchising.

      Bus Services: Franchises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that local SME bus operators are able to participate in future bus franchising schemes.

      Shipping: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to support the maritime sector to develop clean maritime technologies.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Public Sector: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what role he plans his Department will have in supporting the work of the Northern Ireland Transformation Board.

  • Scotland Office

    • Tourism: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on mitigating the potential impact of closing Scottish visitor centres.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  • Cabinet Office

    • Public Appointments

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether all public appointments by Ministers since the election have gone through open appointment processes; and whether any rules on advertising...

  • Home Office

    • Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants have entered the UK in small boats since the general election; and how many entered the UK in small boats in the five months up to the general...

    • Police: Roads

      To ask His Majesty's Government what policy, memorandum of understanding or guidance is held by the Home Office as a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act...

      Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reopen hotels to house migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

      Law Enforcement Data Service

      To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the Law Enforcement Data Service to be fully operational and the Police National Computer to be retired.

      Law Enforcement Data Service: Costs

      To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Law Enforcement Data Service will have cost by the time it is fully operational.

      Emergency Services Network

      To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to complete the procurement of a new supplier for mobile radio and data services for the emergency services; and when they estimate it will be...

      Fraud: India

      To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their discussions with the government of India about the large-scale online organisations identified by the BBC's Scam Interceptors...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Hospices: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which children’s hospices rely on the annual £25 million funding from NHS England; and what plans they...

    • Fractures: Health Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) NHS England, and (2) integrated care boards, regarding the provision of fracture liaison services.

      Department of Health and Social Care: Equality

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Department for Health and Social Care are permitted to...

      Nurses: Schools

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of school nurses to ensure adequate coverage across the country.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Incapacity Benefit

      To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of the population in each region are claiming incapacity benefits.

    • Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average waiting time for Personal Independence Payment assessments.

      Social Security Benefits

      To ask His Majesty's Government what they estimate the total cost for all types of benefits available to working age adults and children will be for each 0.1 per cent increment increase in April 2025.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Housing

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 16 September (HL630), whether they can produce a price per square metre for housing by local...

    • Housing: Construction

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether houses in multiple occupation will be included in their target for building new homes.

      Housing: Regeneration

      To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to work with councils and housing associations to review how the regeneration and densification of existing estates can help meet their target of 1.5...

      Planning: Greater London

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether there will be any consequences for London boroughs and the London Assembly if they fail to meet the targets set out in the National Planning Policy...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Diego Garcia: Visits Abroad

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 14 October (HL1256), what plans they have for a ministerial visit to Diego...

    • Chagossians: Migrants

      To ask His Majesty's Government when the Foreign Secretary will meet members of the Chagossian community who live in the United Kingdom.

      Taiwan: Foreign Relations

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is their current policy on access to senior UK ministers for ministers of the government of Taiwan.

      Diego Garcia: Chagossians

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the continuing inability of Chagossians to return to Diego Garcia and the compliance with international human rights law of their...

      Diego Garcia: Civil Law

      To ask His Majesty's Government who will be responsible for civil law on Diego Garcia after any agreement with Mauritius.

      China: Uyghurs

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Foreign Secretary intends to take steps to ensure that China's actions against Uyghurs is recognised as genocide through international courts and by...

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Undocumented Migrants

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to place in the Library of the House all correspondence between the Governor of St Helena and officials and Ministers regarding the...

      China: Uyghurs

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they recognise the treatment of Uyghur Muslims by the government of China as genocide.

      Serbia: Politics and Government

      To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Serbia regarding the All-Serb Assembly joint declaration of June 2024.

      St Helena: Asylum

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend applications of asylum seekers moved from the Chagos Islands to St Helena to be processed while they are on St Helena, and over...

      British Overseas Territories

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their position that British Overseas Territories should be governed by the principle of self-determination; and if so, how they have applied the...

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Undocumented Migrants

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they made an assessment of the impact on public services on St Helena of the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena;...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Import Controls

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's state of readiness for the implementation of (1) safety and security declarations for imports, (2) import checks on...

    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Expenditure

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether any underspend in the 2023–24 budget for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be rolled forward to enhance future...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Energy: Prices

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they taking to support energy companies to fund support packages for customers this winter.

  • Treasury

    • UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the proportion of goods moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain that are deemed to be at risk and are therefore subject to full EU compliance...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of the arrangements for trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland borne by (1) His Majesty's Government, (2) the Northern...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prisoners: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to identify and support the children of prisoners.

    • Prisoners' Release: Women

      To ask His Majesty's Government in order to reduce reoffending and enable rehabilitation what steps they are taking to support women released from custody, including those with additional...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Royal Fleet Auxiliary

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships are classed as military.

    • Air Force: Training

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans the UK Military Flying Training System has to resolve the obstacles in the training pipeline.

      Israel: Military Aid

      To ask His Majesty's Government which UK military training courses Israeli armed forces personnel have completed in the past 12 months, and what was the location of those courses.

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.

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