Written answers

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Mental Health Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to improve access to mental health services.

    • Brain: Tumours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the families of people diagnosed with brain tumours.

      Obesity: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent childhood obesity.

      Obesity: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent childhood obesity.

      Long Covid: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with long covid are adequately supported.

      Health: Coastal Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle health inequalities for people living in coastal communities.

      NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board received in each of the last ten years; and what (a) that funding and...

      Baby Care Units

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England next plans to update its publication entitled Health Building Note 09-03: Neonatal units, first published in March 2013.

      Hospitals: Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of patients who (a) were medically fit to be discharged and (b) were not discharged...

      Continuing Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of continuing care assessments resulted in eligibility in (a) the Yorkshire and Humber Integrated Care Board...

      Immunosuppression: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with representatives of Forgotten Lives UK on access to (a) preventative treatments and (b) support services...

      Medical Records: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing patient records of diagnostic results held by charities to be...

      Urgent Treatment Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure Urgent Treatment Centres remain open.

      Mental Health Services: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of (a) counsellors and (b) psychotherapists in the mental health workforce.

      Carers: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the rise in employer National Insurance Contributions on (a) local carer support...

      Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that (a) Sativex and (b) other medications for MS patients are (i) affordable and (ii)...

      Health: Food Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of food poverty on (a) malnutrition, (b) obesity and (c) other health conditions in...

      Blood Cancer: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS preparedness for the next generation of blood cancer treatments.

      Radiotherapy: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that funding allocated for radiotherapy is distributed equally across England, taking...

      Sepsis: Preventive Medicine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of sepsis prevention (a) nationally and (b) in each local NHS trust.

      General Practitioners: Surrey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the GP appointment application process in Surrey.

      Cancer: Mortality Rates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to set a target of reducing overall cancer mortality in the UK by 15% by 2040.

      Radiotherapy: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is to spend the additional funding allocated for new radiotherapy machines on 28 October 2024.

      Dental Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to deliver 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments each year.

      NHS: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to hold a separate consultation on the NHS workforce plan in addition to the consultation on the 10-Year...

      Surgical Mesh Implants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to resolve the data challenges encountered in the NHS audit from 2006-2011 of the retrospective audit of pelvic mesh.

      Epilepsy and Parkinson's Disease: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of supplies of (a) epilepsy and (b) Parkinson's medication.

  • Cabinet Office

    • National Security Adviser

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the contract for the National Security Advise...

    • National Security Adviser: Workplace Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether if the pension package will differ to that offered...

      National Security Adviser: Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the current NSA salary will be more than that paid...

      National Security Adviser: Pay

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the remuneration package for the National Security...

      Diego Garcia

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has had discussions with Philippe Sands KC on Diego Garcia since 4 July 2024.

      UK Relations with EU

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many infringement proceedings the EU is pursuing against the Government; and whether the Government plans to propose remediation to prevent further...

      Ministers: Official Cars

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2999 on Ministers: Official Cars, to which Department each of the (a) electric and (b)...

      Eurostat: Office for National Statistics

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled New partnership between statistical authorities of the UK and the EU, published by the Office for National...

      Cabinet Office: Staff

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Question 70 of the oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024 on The work of...

      Intelligence Services: Finance

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 14 of his Department's report entitled Security and Intelligence Agencies Financial Statement 2023-24, published on 2 December...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Business: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support rural businesses.

    • Department for Business and Trade: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what underspends are projected in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies in this financial year.

      Artificial Intelligence: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has held discussions with trade unions on the potential impact of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) automation on workers.

      Shops: Opening Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities consult local communities on authorising the opening of shops operating for 24 hours a day.

      Shops: Opening Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance her Department issues for local authorities on authorising the opening of shops for 24 hours a day.

      Aerospace Industry: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release of 14 November 2024 entitled PM boosts UK aerospace industry with £975 million to drive growth and...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Animal Welfare: Trapping

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made implications for his policies of the risks to companion animals in England posed by...

    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

      Agriculture: Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to inheritance tax on the financial viability of small...

      Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Unpaid Work

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the Summer Development Internship Programme 2025 is open to all applicants.

      Water Charges: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle water poverty among older people.

      Agriculture: Subsidies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to provide top-up payments to farmers to compensate for the loss of direct payments.

      Biodiversity: Coastal Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support active restoration of coastal ecosystems; and if he will take steps to amend...

      Marine Environment: Carbon Capture and Storage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to (a) incorporate marine ecosystems into the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and (b) ensure that (i) land...

      Flood Control: Lambourn

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress has been made on Project Groundwater in Lambourn Valley.

      Thames Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with Ofwat on the potential impact of the levels of Thames Water's (a) debt and (b) dividend...

      Furs: Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made in building an evidence base on the fur sector.

      Land Drainage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the recommendations of the review entitled The review for implementation of Schedule 3 to The Flood and...

      Nuisance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that local communities are consulted on statutory nuisances.

      Air Pollution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, what discussions he has had with the Secretary...

      Hedges and Ditches: Environment Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) bring forward legislative proposals to (i) formally recognise, (ii) protect and (iii) otherwise support the...

      Animals: UK Trade with EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the UK's exit from the EU on the movement of animals between the UK...

      Water: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Affinity Water's recent price changes on the financial security of...

      Water Charges: South West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of financial support for people paying increased water...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide (a) mayors and (b) councils with additional fundraising powers, in addition to the...

    • Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) developing and (b) approving a single mandatory consumer...

      Empty Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) identify and t(b) rack the ownership of long-term empty properties.

      Agriculture: Land

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many hectares of the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land are (a) protected, (b) under consideration for...

      Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2024 have (a) been and (b) are due to be commenced.

      Flats: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of new dwellings built in (a) England and (b) London were flats in the last year for...

      Infrastructure: Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release on building, published on 5 December 2024, what the mechanism is by...

      Local Plans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS308, whether local authorities...

      Housing: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing common adoptable standards for public amenities...

      Local Plans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s Planning Newsletter issued to local authorities on 13 December 2024, what...

      Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, (a) when and (b) how her Department became aware of the new planning application for the proposed new Chinese Embassy...

      National Landscapes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14870 on National Landscapes and with reference to section 245...

      Parking: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to improve the regulation of car parking management companies.

      Local Government: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for the expectation that reformed local authorities should generally have a population of...

  • Department for Education

    • Graduates: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on research projects undertaken by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on behalf of her Department on labour market...

    • Department for Education: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

      Special Educational Needs: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure that additional funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in mainstream schools is equitably...

      Financial Services: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to improve the teaching of financial literacy through (a) enhanced teacher training programmes, (b) increased funding for financial...

      School Libraries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional (a) funding and (b) support is being provided to help schools improve library facilities.

      Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list each open sponsored academy with (a) its date of conversion to sponsored status, (b) its Unique Reference Number, and (c) the Unique...

      Financial Services: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to ensure England's participation in the OECD’s PISA financial literacy assessment in 2025.

      Children: Gender Dysphoria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to reply to the consultation on Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children.

      Apprentices: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from the Growth and Skills Levy on the...

      Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list each open converter academy with its (a) date of conversion to academy status, (b) Unique Reference Number, and (c) previous Unique...

      Schools: Food

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating school food standards to promote (a) healthier and (b) more...

      Educational Psychology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of waiting times for the commissioning of educational psychologists; and if she will make an assessment...

      Reading

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2008 National Year of Reading, if she will make it her policy to organise a Year of Reading in 2026.

      Free School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the uptake of free school meals by eligible children.

      Classics: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the future of the Latin Excellence Programme.

  • Treasury

    • Rachel Reeves: Self-assessment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department’s publication entitled The Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's schedule of taxable sources of income and...

    • Large Goods Vehicles: Excise Duties

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the rules on the taxation of double cab pickup trucks on (a) consumers and (b) rural...

      Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the new business rate multiplier on Rateable Values over £500,000 will apply to (a) railway, (b) communications and (c) utility hereditaments...

      Employers' Contributions: Equality

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's equality (a) impact assessment and (b) screening in relation to the changes to employers'...

      Treasury: Equality

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

      First Time Buyers: Stamp Duties

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of first-time buyers paying stamp duty in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26; and what the average amount of stamp duty a...

      Music Venues: Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes in business rate relief for grassroots music venues on the (a) number of live...

      Fraud: Compensation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a financial compensation scheme for victims of fraud who have been taxed on money...

      Crown Estate: Great British Energy

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled New Great British Energy partnership launched to turbocharge energy independence, published on 25 July 2024, if...

      Private Education: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for VAT numbers for private school fees her Department has (a) received and (b) granted since 5th July 2024.

      Cultural Heritage: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to (a) Business and (b) Agricultural Property Relief on the heritage sector.

      Agriculture: Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief on net carbon emissions.

      Pre-school Education: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of early years providers eligible for Employment Allowance when proposed changes to employer National Insurance...

      NHS: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the revenue (a) raised by changes to employee national insurance contributions and (b) announced for the NHS at Autumn Budget 2024 will...

      Swimming: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial impact of VAT on private swimming schools.

      Business Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many hereditaments used for (a) retail, (b) hospitality and (c) leisure in England have a rateable value of (i) £51,000 or below, (ii) between...

  • Home Office

    • Visas: Palestinians

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the feasibility of Palestinians in Gaza seeking to make a UK visa application enrolling...

    • Fraud: Victims

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what legal protections are available to fraud victims to prevent further (a) exploitation and (b) financial loss.

      Community Policing: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's plan to include a named, contactable police officer in each neighbourhood, how her Department defines...

      Crime: Women

      o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes were committed against (a) women and (b) girls in each of the last five years by crime type.

      Sexual Harassment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 66 on Sexual Harassment, what progress she has made on implementation of the Protection...

      Asylum: Sri Lanka

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18968 on Asylum: Sri Lanka, if she will make an assessment of the potential...

      Community Policing: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the extra 13,000 neighbourhood police will serve in Lincolnshire.

      Police: Civil Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the devolved administrations on potential changes to the (a) criteria for and (b) duration of short term...

      Violence: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the definition of violence against women and girls.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • China: Press Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterparts in the People’s Republic of China on the expulsion...

    • Asylum: Sri Lanka

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18968 on Asylum: Sri Lanka, what accommodation is...

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Indian government on (a) British Sovereignty over the...

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government expects to conclude revised negotiations with the Mauritian Government on the future of the...

      Syria: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help protect the safety and wellbeing of all Syrians including (a)...

      Bahrain: Political Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take in response to (a) the case of Sayed Hassan Jawad, (b) reports that...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prisons: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question HL3055, Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the public sector will be allowed to bid for...

    • Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been recalled to prison because of homelessness in each of the last 12 months.

      Courts: Opening Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) days and (b) hours per week (i) county, (ii) family, (iii) magistrates and (iv) youth courts were open for in 2024.

      Courts: Interpreters and Translation Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she is taking steps to improve the (a) quality and (b) performance of court language service providers: and whether she has had discussions with...

      Crimes of Violence: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases involved violence against (a) women and (b) girls in (i) criminal and (ii) family courts in each of the last five years.

      Prisoners' Release: Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) recall and (b) reoffending rates are for offenders who have been released under the SDS40 scheme since September 2024.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Equality: Public Sector

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her planned timetable is for updating her Department's guidance entitled Public Sector Equality Duty: guidance for public authorities, last...

    • Foster Care

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make care experience a protected characteristic...

      Gender: Public Consultation

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the her Department's publication eneitled Response to call for input on single-sex spaces guidance, published 17 December 2024, how...

      Equality Act 2010

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has conducted an impact assessment for enacting the socioeconomic duty in the Equality Act 2010.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • State Retirement Pensions: Uprating

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners that will receive the full increase to the State Pension.

    • Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing a protected minimum floor for Universal Credit and (b) limiting...

      Universal Credit: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) the scope and (b) her planned timeline is for the upcoming review into Universal Credit; whether this review will make an assessment...

      Universal Credit: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking consult stakeholders during her Department's review of universal credit; and what plans she has for the format of...

      Social Security Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent process to set benefit levels according to the cost...

      Carers: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to assess levels of poverty among unpaid carers; and what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of unpaid...

      Social Security Benefits: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of benefits for disabled people.

      Household Support Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to monitor the success of the Household Support Fund in reaching (a) unpaid carers and (b) other financially...

      Department for Work and Pensions: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the longest waiting time was for a PIP application in each of the last five years.

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Industrial Disputes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to resolve the industrial dispute in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

    • Defence: Manufacturing Industries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the sustainability of supply chains in the defence industry.

      Veterans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16769 on Veterans, if he will review his Department's data collection processes to enable it to...

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Rugby: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure the financial sustainability of rugby union in England.

    • Media: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the reasons for a decrease in the number of jobs filled in the (a) film, (b) television, (c)...

      Arts: Artificial Intelligence and Copyright

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, published 17 December 2024, what assessment...

      Gambling: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with people recovering from gambling addiction on reform of the gambling industry.

  • House of Commons Commission

    • New Palace Yard: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the work for vehicle entry and exit in New Palace Yard is on (a) time and (b) budget.

  • Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

    • Electoral Commission

      To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many formal recommendations the Committee has made to the Electoral...

  • Department for Transport

    • Great British Railways: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the work of Great British Rail is held to account.

    • Road Signs and Markings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a new sign asking drivers to move to the right at short slip roads.

      River Tyne: Bridges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Port of Tyne on it's responsibilities to the Swing Bridge.

      Large Goods Vehicles: Concrete

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an economic and environmental impact assessment of the potential impact of making temporary the (a) 38.4 and (b) 44 tonne weight...

      Railways: Floods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds plans for supporting rail networks affected by flooding.

      Royal Tank Regiment: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Remembrance Day travel concession to include The Royal Tank Regiment parade.

      Network Rail: Railway Stations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Shadow Great British Railways on future management of the 20 railway stations directly managed by Network Rail.

      Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timetable is for publishing the Government's consultation on the zero emission vehicle mandate.

  • Wales Office

    • Wales Office: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many and what proportion of officials in her Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

    • Aviation: Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on aviation objections to onshore wind in Wales.

      Aviation: Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh government on aviation objections to onshore wind in South Wales.

  • Scotland Office

    • Scotland Office: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department were hired via positive action schemes in the last financial year.

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Energy: Conservation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his timeline is for (a) the consultation on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard and (b) implementation of the new standard...

    • Electricity and Natural Gas: Standing Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that standing charges for (a) electricity and (b) gas reflect actual service costs.

      Insulation: Social Rented Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to increase the rate of...

      Wind Power: Celtic Sea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the delivery of floating offshore wind demonstration projects in the Celtic Sea.

      Wind Power: Celtic Sea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what body is responsible for (a) coordination and (b) delivery of floating wind farms in the Celtic Sea.

      Renewable Energy: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential role of the oil and gas industry in (a) contributing to...

      Wylfa Power Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish details of any plans held by his Department for the development of a nuclear power station at Wylfa.

      Department for Business and Trade: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what targets his Department has set to help achieve the Government's commitments to net zero.

      Wind Power: Aviation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of aviation objections on the deployment of new onshore wind in Wales.

      Renewable Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the proposed community financial benefit from the Botley West Solar Scheme; and if...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Public Sector: Translation Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to (1) the Written Statement by the former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 12 March 2013 (HC 5WS-6WS), and (2) the Written...

  • Department for Education

    • Carers: Young People

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve access to higher education and employment opportunities for young carers.

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Business: Investment

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to revive business confidence across the United Kingdom after the budget.

    • Consumer Goods: Safety

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost impact on small businesses of appointing authorised representatives in the EU or Northern Ireland to comply with the...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Housing: Construction

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure brownfield land as well as empty, derelict houses and commercial buildings are used first to solve the housing crisis and...

    • Homelessness

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many people they estimate are homeless each night in each region of the United Kingdom, and whether that number is increasing or decreasing.

      Public Bodies: Translation Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the effect of public bodies’ translation into foreign languages on integration and community cohesion.

      Combined Authorities

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to extend the consultation period for expressions of interest from top-tier and lower tier local government in England for...

      Political Parties: Finance

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of banning unincorporated associations from donating to political parties in order to increase the level of...

  • Home Office

    • Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: China

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted an impact assessment of adding China on to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

    • Clothing: Islam

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for banning the wearing of a burka in public.

      Mosques: Monitoring

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for monitoring mosques and madrassas.

      Harassment: Bangladesh

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the levels of transnational repression and other politically linked harassment taking place in the UK towards British residents...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Packaging: Recycling

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to mitigate against the impact of material switching as a result of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging...

    • Nature Conservation

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their policy paper 30by30 on land in England: confirmed criteria and next steps, published on 29 October, what role they intend Local Nature...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Gender Dysphoria: Hormone Treatments

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the evidence behind their decision to ban puberty blocker medication from all providers; and what meetings the Secretary of State...

    • Nurses and Nursing Associates: Termination of Employment

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many registered nurses and registered nursing associates left the Nursing and Midwifery Council resister in each of the years from 2018 to 2023.

      Medical Records: Children

      To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to implementing the recommendation of the Children's Commissioner to integrate children's health and education data with a unique ID.

      Nurses

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many registered nurses were employed by the NHS in each year from 2013 to 2023.

      Patients: Safety

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of patient safety monitoring this winter.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Journalism: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government, following the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December, what assessment they have made of the current levels of surveillance by the...

    • Journalism: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December into the actions of the Police Service of Northern...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Divorce: Islam

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for prohibiting the religious solemnisation of unregistered marriages to ensure that Muslim wives have the protection of...

  • Treasury

    • UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Chancellor of Exchequer has made representations to the European Union to remove trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland during her...

    • Balance of Trade

      To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote import substitution to assist with the balance of payment deficit.

      Buildings: VAT

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the negative impact of charging VAT for renovations of buildings on brownfield sites compared with greenfield sites where...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Carbon Emissions

      To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of UK carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2030 from (1) terrestrial emissions, (2) terrestrial emissions plus...

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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