Written answers

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Tobacco: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the implementation of a generational ban on tobacco sales on trends in the level...

    • Meat: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to change meat inspection charges from April 2026.

      Slaughterhouses: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) official veterinarians and (b) meat hygiene inspectors there were as of 1 December 2024.

      Tobacco: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on the illegal sale of tobacco products in (a)...

      Gonorrhoea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many cases of gonorrhoea have been diagnosed in each of the last 30 years.

      Pharmacy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support community pharmacies.

      General Practitioners: Patients

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average maximum number of patients registered per GP practice in England is.

      Dental Services: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the NHS dental contract to (a) make appointments more...

      Blood Cancer: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address the regional variation in (a) access and (b) uptake to timely treatments for blood cancer...

      Cerebral Palsy: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to healthcare services for children with cerebral palsy.

      Glioblastoma: Diagnosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve NHS diagnostic processes for glioblastoma brain tumours.

      Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department’s cancer strategy will include (a) a prostate cancer screening programme and (b) alternative measures to...

      Heart Diseases: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure early identification of cardiac problems in young people.

      Shingles: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make shingles vaccinations available to all people aged over 65.

      Gonorrhoea: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) average and (b) maximum cost to the NHS was of untreated gonorrhoea in the latest year for which data is available; and what...

      Orthopaedics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of activity blades for amputees over 18.

      Prostate Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body within the NHS will be conducting the review into the case for lowering the screening age for prostate cancer; what the scope...

      Heart Diseases: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of rolling out cardiac screening to young people.

      Prostate Cancer: South West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of prostate cancer services in (a) Bath and North East Somerset, (b) Swindon and (c)...

      NHS: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the funding for NHS England announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 will be spent on (a) National Insurance...

      NHS: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 that will be allocated by NHS...

      Palliative Care: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of workforce shortages on the delivery of palliative care services.

      General Practitioners: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing details of the GP contract earlier in the year to improve forward...

      Halton Haven Hospice and Hospice of the Good Shepherd

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take additional steps to support (a) Halton Haven and (b) Good Shepard Hospice in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.

      Mental Health Services: Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help integrate accredited (a) counsellors and (b) psychotherapists into mental health support...

      Dental Services: Epilepsy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend free NHS dental repairs to teeth damaged by seizures from epilepsy.

      Hospices: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions on hospices.

      Dental Services: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uplift will be to general dental service contracts for 2024-25; and what his planned timetable is to apply such uplift.

      Pharmacy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to implement the Hub and Spoke model for community pharmacy.

      General Practitioners: Nottingham East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the availability of GP appointments in Nottingham East constituency.

      Mental Health Services: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers.

      Hospitals: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the rate of hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge was for (a) Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, (b) Hampshire...

      Dental Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to emergency dentistry.

      Social Services: Charities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representation not-for-profit social care providers will receive on the proposed Adult Social Care Negotiating Body.

      Hospices: Charitable Donations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to monitor the declining charitable income of hospices and the potential link to deterioration in service.

      Hospitals: Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many delayed discharges there were (a) at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, (b) in Hampshire and (c) in England in each of...

      Mental Health Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department plans to provide for meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard in the 2025-26 financial year.

      Pharmacy: Newbury

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to support pharmacies in Newbury constituency with the increased cost of employers National Insurance contributions.

      Mental Health Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on the future of the mental health investment standard.

      Primary Health Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to safeguard primary care services.

      Suicide: Men

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce suicide levels amongst men.

      Integrated Care Boards: Primary Health Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support ICBs that are considering cuts to primary care services.

      General Practitioners and Pharmacy: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how (a) pharmacies and (b) GPs will be able to contribute to defining the best services to include in the planned expanded Pharmacy First...

      Mental Health Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle funding gaps between (a) mental and (b) physical health services.

      Health Services: Norfolk

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Norfolk and Waveney Acute Healthcare Collaborative on its proposal to move to a group model...

      Mental Health Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of extra NHS funding announced at the budget will be allocated to NHS mental health services.

      Gender Dysphoria: Hormone Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral statement entitled Puberty-suppressing Hormones of 11 December 2024, Official Report, column 914, what groups...

      Department of Health and Social Care: Equality

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

      Hormone Treatments: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues are permitted for treatment of precocious puberty but not gender incongruence.

      Hospitals: Community Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to shift care from hospitals into the community.

      Hospices: Community Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to shift care from hospitals into the community.

      Social Services: Cumbria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help recruit social care workers in Cumbria.

      Methylphenidate: Norfolk

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 16285 on Methylphenidate: Shortages, what estimate he has made of the number of...

      Electronic Cigarettes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help increase levels of awareness of the potential merits of switching to (a) vapes and (b) other alternatives...

  • Department for Education

    • Apprentices: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changing the funding for built environment Level 7 apprentices on the Government's...

    • Teachers: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support college teachers who did not receive the 5.5% pay rise; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits...

      Schools: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people were working in the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence team in (a) total, (b) the East of England, (c) the East...

      Schools: Uniforms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools will have to change their uniform policy to comply with the provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

      Academies: Facilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of academy schools' facilities to comply with the duty in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill...

      Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217660 on Teachers, whether the programme of talks referred to is ongoing.

      Academies: Curriculum

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of academy schools that do not currently comply with the duty in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools...

      Higher Education: Liability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) help clarify the duty of care owed by higher education providers to their students and (b) to ensure such standards...

      Special Educational Needs: Extended Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children with Special Educational Needs have equal access to (a) before- and (b) after-school care...

      Digital Technology: Curriculum

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current integration of digital literacy into school curriculums.

      Class Sizes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the financial viability of (a) single and (b) two-form entry schools in (i) urban areas and (ii) Croydon East...

      Children: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there is a mandated process for social services to be informed when a child for whom there has been a (a) Child Protection Plan, (b) Child in...

      Further Education and Schools: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether compensation for schools and colleges from changes to employer National Insurance contributions will be paid via a grant or the detailed...

      Further Education and Schools: Devolution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to give extra (a) powers and (b) responsibilities to (i) councils and (ii) mayors over (A) academies, (B) other schools and (C)...

  • Department for Business and Trade

    • Flexible Working Taskforce

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20334 on Flexible Working, on what dates the Flexible Working Taskforce met in 2023.

    • Electric Vehicles: Batteries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure sufficient recycling facilities are available to process end-of-life electric vehicle batteries.

      Industrial Strategy Council: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people were considered for appointment to the Industrial Strategy Council.

      Harland and Wolff: Belfast

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has visited Harland and Wolff in Belfast.

      Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Fleet Solid Support Ship programme.

      Industry: Logistics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the industrial strategy will include measures to support growth in the logistics sector.

      Foreign Investment in UK: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish the list of attendees of the Indian Business Leaders delegation meeting of 18 December 2024.

      Overseas Trade: Germany

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the UK and Germany.

      Overseas Trade: France

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the UK and France.

      Overseas Trade: Republic of Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the UK and Ireland.

      Department for Business and Trade: China

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what meetings for what purpose (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the People's Republic of China...

      Companies: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the effectiveness of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

      Department for Business and Trade: European Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what meetings for what purpose (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the European Union since 5 July 2024.

      Trade Union Recognition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service issue guidance on exemptions to trade union recognition.

      Royal Mail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the sale of Royal Mail on its (a) workforce and (b) customers.

      New Businesses: Rural Areas

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

      Small Businesses: Devolution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the potential...

      Business: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether het has made a recent assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the difficulties that rural businesses face.

      Alcoholic Drinks: Small Businesses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to increase the market for small (a) artisanal brewers, (b) distillers and (c) vintners.

  • Ministry of Justice

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Drugs: Packaging

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the recycling of blister packs.

    • Flood Control: Madeley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on taking steps to protect the residents of...

      Incinerators: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Environmental permitting:...

      Slaughterhouses: CCTV

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions there have been for slaughterhouses in England not having CCTV in the last five years.

      Slaughterhouses: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the RSPCA on animal cruelty at RSPCA-approved abattoirs.

      Slaughterhouses: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what animal welfare protections exist for farmed animals at slaughterhouses.

      Renewable Energy: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to develop recycling technologies for end-of-life wind turbine blades and solar panels.

      Wood-burning Stoves

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question 5227 on Wood-burning Stoves, what recent estimate he has made of...

      Water Companies: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2024 to Question 2947 on Water Companies: Accountability, when he expects the consumer...

      Rights of Way: Walney Island

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Open access restriction at...

      Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Ministers' Private Offices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 9618 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:...

      Biodiversity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of biodiversity net gain in delivering for biodiversity as intended.

  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

    • Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of innovation in Glasgow.

    • Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to fund research into lobular breast cancer.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle digital exclusion.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of broadband coverage in rural areas.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure reliable mobile coverage in rural areas.

      Question

      What steps his Department is taking with universities to support research and innovation.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle disinformation through AI-generated deepfakes.

      Question

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of innovation in Stoke-on-Trent.

      Broadband: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of rural broadband coverage.

      Broadband: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps is he taking to ensure that all villages are included the rollout of broadband infrastructure.

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) evaluation of (i) non-animal test methods and (ii)...

  • Home Office

    • Home Office: Sanitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to remove the gender-neutral toilets in her Department in Marsham Street.

    • Offences against Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will launch an inquiry into grooming and rape gangs.

      Asylum: Syria

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to resume processing asylum applications from Syrian nationals.

      Electronic Travel Authorisations: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects the first overseas visitors to Northern Ireland arriving via the Republic of Ireland to be impacted by the UK Electronic...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the correspondence of 11 December 2024 from the hon. Member for Tooting, reference number RA60941.

      Ministers: Private Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024, to Question 10992, on Ministers: private property, whether the Minister for Policing, Fire and...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Infected Blood Compensation Scheme

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the Infected Blood Compensation Authority compensation scheme will open for members of the infected blood community to make claims.

    • Blood: Contamination

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many compensation payments were made by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority between 17 October 2024 and 31 December 2024.

      Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for National Statistics has made an estimate of the (a) number and (b) proportion of people who are potentially in the UK illegally.

      Foreign Investment in UK: National Security

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many transactions have been blocked under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024; and which transactions were blocked.

      Civil Servants: Freedom of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 15229 on Senior Civil Servants: Freedom of Information, what best practice guidance does the (a)...

      UK Integrated Security Fund

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the funding level of the Integrated Security Fund will be in (a) 2025/26 and (b) each of the following five years.

      Foreign Relations: USA

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times Ministers across Government have communicated with the President-Elect's transition team since 6 November 2024.

      Official Cars: Electric Vehicles

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 16598 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether he has a target date for the Government Car Service to...

      Tobacco: Sales

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the Office of National Statistics has made of total spending on tobacco products in each of the last five years; and if they will make an...

      Prime Minister: Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, Annual Report and Accounts 2013–14, July 2014, HC6, page 73, and (b) The Pensions Increase...

      Special Advisers

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, when he plans to publish the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

      Non-departmental Public Bodies

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-departmental public bodies has the Government (a) announced it will open, (b) opened, (c) announced it will close and (d) closed since 4...

      Former Prime Ministers: Convictions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 4 December 2024, Official Report, column 291, on what evidential basis he stated that two...

      Civil Service: Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance he has provided to Government departments on publishing details of individual Civil Service pensions for senior officials under (a)...

      Infected Blood Compensation Scheme

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to introduce further regulations to enable the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to issue payments to the affected.

  • Treasury

    • Employers' Contributions: Women

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the level of national insurance on women’s shelters.

    • Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in (a) vehicle excise duty and (b) the HGV road user levy on the logistics...

      Public Sector: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 19620 on Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland, if she will increase funding to Northern Ireland for...

      Chelsea Football Club: Sales

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much interest has accrued on the £2.5bn seized following the sale of Chelsea Football Club.

      Payment Methods: Visual Impairment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure the accessibility of touch screens for (a) card payment machines and (b) other services for people with visual impairments.

      Travel: Insurance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help improve access to travel insurance for patients with long-term illnesses.

      Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to pay additional compensation to people impacted by the collapse of Equitable Life.

      Economic Growth and Public Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role her Department’s Enterprise and Growth Unit will have in supporting (a) the Government’s Growth Mission and (b) the Spending Review...

      Employment

      To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, if she will publish the forecasts of the size of the UK labour force broken down by the net migration forecast by (a) the Office of Budget Responsibility...

      BBC: Employers' Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to support the BBC with the cost of employers’ National Insurance contributions.

      Private Education: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether pupils enrolled on courses covered by the Music and Dance scheme will be exempt from VAT increases in the next financial year.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • State Retirement Pensions: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish all Departmental research undertaken in relation to the Government's response to the PHSO report on communication of...

    • State Retirement Pensions: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes on the six sample cases in the Parliamentary and Health...

      Department for Work and Pensions: Artificial Intelligence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 19693 on Department for Work and Pensions: Artificial Intelligence, on what date her...

      Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for Pension Credit were (a) received, (b) processed and granted and (c) processed and not granted in each month between...

      Pension Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pension credit claims received since 1 August 2024 have (a) not been paid to the claimant and (b) refused on grounds the claimant is...

      State Retirement Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of equalising the (a) basic and (b) new State Pension.

      Winter Fuel Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the potential savings to the public purse of means testing the winter fuel payment.

      Pension Credit: Winter Fuel Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time is for a successful Pension Credit claimant to start receiving winter fuel payments.

      Local Housing Allowance: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to review the rates of the Local Housing Allowance to reflect housing costs in inner London boroughs.

      Winter Fuel Payment: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of delays in winter fuel payments on pensioners experiencing poverty.

      Pension Credit: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to tackle delays in processing claims for pension credit.

      Personal Independence Payment: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2024 to Question 14654 on Personal Independence Payment, what estimate her Department has made of the...

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 19366 on Social Security Benefits: Appeals, when she plans that waiting times for...

      State Retirement Pensions: Women

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many written representations on compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age she has received from Labour (a) hon....

      Jobcentres: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of transferring powers for (a) skills and (b) training for employment support from job...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measure her Department will use to determine whether devolved authorities have been successful in delivering employment support.

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Helicopters: Official Visits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2024 to Question 6066 on Helicopters: Official Visits, what the budget is for the replacement service to the Rotary...

    • Arctic: Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps NATO is taking to defend the High North.

      Electric Cables: Baltic Sea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has offered support to Finland in protecting sub-sea cables in the Baltic Sea.

      Electric Cables: Baltic Sea and North Sea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, he last had discussions with NATO allies on protecting sub-sea cables in the (a) Baltic and (b) North Sea.

      Electric Cables: North Sea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help protect sub-sea cables in the North Sea from the Russian shadow fleet.

      Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to implement a NATO test for major defence projects procurement.

      Fleet Solid Support Ships: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the (a) final assembly and (b) systems integration of the Fleet Solid Support Ships being constructed by Navantia will take place.

      Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the in-service date for the fleet solid support ships has been impacted by the changes to the Harland and Wolff contract.

      Aviation: Fuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department collates information on (a) which flights use sustainable aviation fuel and (b) the proportion of sustainable aviation fuel used...

      Ukraine: Military Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19740 on Ukraine: Military Aid, how many of the 4,000 drones were procured since 5 July 2024.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Turks and Caicos Islands: Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many small boats landed illegally in the Turks and Caicos Islands in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

    • Turks and Caicos Islands: Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking further action to help reduce the number of small...

      Turks and Caicos Islands: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the measures in place in the Turks and Caicos Islands to prevent...

      Turks and Caicos Islands: Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November to Question 12402 on Turks and Caicos Islands: Illegal Immigration, if he...

      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, for what reason the...

      North Korea: Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) North Korean troops in Ukraine and (b) transactional...

      Syria: Chemical Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure UN Security Council Resolution 2118 on Syria is implemented.

      British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the content is of his response of 16 December 2024 to the Mauritian counterproposals to the UK/Mauritius...

  • Department for Transport

    • Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many reports of untaxed vehicles the DVLA have sent to NSL Services Ltd in (a) Bath and North East Somerset, (b) South Gloucestershire and (c) England.

    • Driving Tests: Glasgow North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the waiting list for practical driving tests in Glasgow North East constituency.

      High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the proposed number of platforms for HS2 at Euston Station from 11 to 6 on the...

      High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether plans for the development of Euston Station for HS2 include (a) provisions and (b) reserved space for potential expansion from six platforms.

      Transport: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Integrated National Transport Strategy will include measures to support the(a) efficiency and (b) decarbonisation of the logistics sector.

      Train Operating Companies: Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the net cost to the public purse was of Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 compensation to operators for disruption on the rail network in 2023-24.

      Parking: Pedestrian Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the formal response to the public consultation on options for changing the way pavement parking is managed outside London, if she...

      Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to provide funding for the expansion of electric vehicle chargers in (a) Rutland and South Kesteven and (b) other rural areas.

      Motor Insurance: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure better value for money for motor insurance customers; and what steps she is taking to make car insurers more...

      Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase the availability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

      Motor Vehicles: Registration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and...

      Transport: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including in the integrated national transport strategy measures to (a) help increase...

      Motor Vehicles: Lighting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the safety of LED headlights on (a) cars and (b) other vehicles.

      Bicycles: Lighting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

      Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to speed up the delivery of planned electric vehicle charging stations.

      Stansted Airport: Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the penalties are when the LAeq noise contour threshold at Stansted Airport is exceeded; and who enforces those noise restrictions.

      River Tyne: Navigation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Port of Tyne on the navigability of the River Tyne and its performance as a navigation authority.

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Gambling: Taxation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress she has made on the prevention framework under the statutory levy; and if she will take steps to ensure that prevention...

    • Football Index: Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help secure redress for victims of the collapse of Football Index.

      Cricket: Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board on the scheduled Champion's Trophy match with Afghanistan.

      School Games: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether funding for the School Games Organiser network will continue beyond March 2025.

      Welsh National Opera: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on funding for the Welsh National Opera.

      Historic Buildings: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Section 5.2 of Adapting historic homes for energy efficiency: a review of the barriers, what progress has been made...

      Religious Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support religious buildings of historic importance.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18801 on European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill, whether he received legal advice...

    • Consumer Goods: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to support small businesses in Great Britain with the new General Product Safety Regulation requirements to maintain...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Building Inspectors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the (a) resourcing and (b) powers of Local Authority building inspectors.

    • Local Government Finance: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the funding gap for London councils in the next four years.

      Unitary Councils: Powers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what extra (a) powers and (b) responsibilities she plans to give unitary councils.

      Civil Society: Islam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on (a) Ministerial and (b) official-level engagement with (i) the Muslim Association...

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many government procurement cards were held by staff within (a) her core Department and (b) executive agencies of...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the responsibilities are of (a) unitary authorities and (b) mayoral combined authorities to deliver housing targets.

  • Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

    • Candidates: Expenditure

      To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on whether a...

    • Candidates: Expenditure

      To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on whether the loan...

      Candidates: Expenditure

      To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of local authority returning officers have...

      Candidates: Expenditure

      To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on the use of single...

  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

    • Renewable Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role of energy storage and back-up systems in managing the intermittency of wind and solar power...

    • Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to investigate the business practices of rent-a-roof companies under the (a) Feed-In-Tariff and (b) Renewable Heat...

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Football: Payments

      To ask His Majesty's Government which of the Premier League of English Football League Clubs were consulted on the proposal to include parachute payments in the Football Governance Bill and on...

    • Youth Services

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in relation to recruitment to the youth-led round tables and Youth Advisory Board in developing the National Youth Strategy.

      Football

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether, following Committee Stage of the Football Governance Bill, they intend to continue with plans to provide the Secretary of State with legislative powers to...

      Football

      To ask His Majesty's Government what is the meaning is of “exercises a higher degree of influence or control over” club, as set out as part of the proposed Owners’ and...

      Football: Regulation

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will place copies of all correspondence with UEFA, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee regarding the proposal to introduce a Football...

      Independent Football Regulator

      To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Twycross on 18 December (HL Deb col 370), whether it is their intention to seek assurances from UEFA that the introduction of...

      Football: Regulation

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will list all the appointments made to date to the Shadow Football Regulator, setting out how many were previously employed in the DCMS during...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • China: Foreign Relations

      To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent pragmatic but stable engagement with China is integral to their foreign policy.

    • Colombia: Indigenous Peoples

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether their Embassy in Bogotá has been monitoring the return of the displaced Wiwa Indigenous Communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia,...

      Colombia: Gender Based Violence

      To ask His Majesty's Government what support and funding, if any, they give to Indigenous Women’s Commissions in the various Colombian Indigenous Tribes (1) to support the legal training...

      Colombia: Indigenous Peoples

      To ask His Majesty's Government whether UK aid is being used to address the depletion of important ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Packaging: Recycling

      To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to engage with industry in relation to the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 as part of the...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Social Rented Housing

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many social homes they expect to be delivered in each of the next five years.

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Hospitals: Admissions

      To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cut in the winter fuel payment on hospital admissions this winter.

    • Hospitals: Discharges

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many people as of 1 December who were medically fit to be discharged from hospital had not been.

      Physician Associates: Assessments

      To ask His Majesty's Government how many physician associates currently working in the NHS or in private healthcare have not passed the Physician Associate National Examination; and whether they...

      Euthanasia: Finance

      To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there will be no cuts to the other parts of the health budget to pay for assisted dying if it is legalised in the UK.

  • The Senior Deputy Speaker

    • All-party Parliamentary Groups

      To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the rules for All-Party Parliamentary Groups requiring them to advertise their future meetings; and who is responsible for monitoring and enforcing any...

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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