Alberto Costa MP: written questions
95 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Microplastics: Health HazardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to (a) research and (b) mitigate the potential health risks posed by microplastic exposure to humans.
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency, in collaboration with Imperial College, is carrying out research and providing evidence to assist the understanding of the potential risks from exposure to micro and nano plastics through inhalational and oral routes. The po...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to improve (a) broadband speed and (b) connectivity in rural areas.
Answer: Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.More than £2 billion of contracts have been signed to connect over a million more premises with gigabit-...
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: PrimatesHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a response to the Animals in Science Committee's research entitled Commission of advice: non-human primates bred for use in scientific procedures, published on 6 September 2022; an
Answer: Through the UK legislation, the government requires the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) to be delivered for non-human primates (NHPs) in scientific research. When there is no alternative to using NHPs in scientific procedure...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to maintain 2024-25 funding levels for research to (a) replace, (b) reduce and (c) refine the use of animal testing.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the development and uptake of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. A significant amount of UK research funding UK goes to underpinning technologies (e.g. cell-based assays and computer modelling) ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department made a distinction between pensioners living in (a) care homes and (b) assisted living accommodation when reviewing eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments.
Answer: Pensioners who are in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit, and who live in a care home are not entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. This is because most will have their care and accommodation costs met by the Local Authority. For purpos...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFaith Schools: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will extend the 50% faith-based admissions cap to all new schools.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for South Leicestershire to the answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23775.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarrying: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on requiring local authorities to take into account the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) guidance, Guidance on the Assessment of Mineral Dust Impacts
Answer: Planning policy for minerals is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance, including details on how planning authorities should assess the environmental impacts of mineral extraction.By law, plannin...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarrying: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria her Department uses to evaluate non-statutory guidance to inform planning policy for (a) quarries and (b) related proposed developments.
Answer: Planning policy for minerals is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance, including details on how planning authorities should assess the environmental impacts of mineral extraction.By law, plannin...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarrying: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason guidance from the Institute for Air Quality Management has been adopted for use in quarry (a) planning and (b) development control decisions.
Answer: Planning policy for minerals is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance, including details on how planning authorities should assess the environmental impacts of mineral extraction.By law, plannin...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBeavers: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on developing a licensing regime to enable the wild release of beavers.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. This work includes the development of ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordParthenon SculpturesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the future status of the Parthenon marbles.
Answer: The Secretary of State and I have separately met with the Chair and Director of the British Museum. The position of the Parthenon Sculptures was one of a number of issues discussed on both occasions.I also met Greece’s Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni o...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProperty Management Companies: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of regulating private land management companies.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: Armed ConflictMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of awarding the (a) Op Herrick Operational Service Medal and (b) Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan) to (i) personnel of the 908 Labour Support U
Answer: Under the qualifying criterion for the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan and the Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan), locally employed civilians working for the 908 Labour Support Unit, and other Afghan locally employed civilians, are not eligibl...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordQuarries: Air PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) amending the Quarry Regulations 1999 to ensure that (i) levels of PM10 and PM2.5 particulate emissions in quarries are (A)
Answer: Under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations, environmental permits for quarries issued by local authorities must already include emission limit values, monitoring requirements and other controls for particulate matter and other air ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCross Country Trains: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the performance trajectory of CrossCountry Trains following the implementation of its reduced timetable.
Answer: The Rail Minister met with CrossCountry in August. It is subject to a Remedial Plan that runs until March 2025. CrossCountry reinstated its full timetable from 10 November. Officials meet CrossCountry regularly to discuss operational issues including prog...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of making water companies statutory consultees in planning applications.
Answer: The government encourage water companies and other infrastructure providers to work proactively with local planning authorities to identify where supporting infrastructure will be required to meet the demands of new development.On 23 October, the governme...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTaxis: LicensingDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making the LGA's voluntary shared database on taxi driver licenses mandatory.
Answer: On 27 April 2023, the remainder of the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022 was commenced, and the Department designated the use of a database, which previously operated on a voluntary basis supported by the Local Govern...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact of removing the abatement law on teacher's pensions on (a) retaining teachers and (b) allowing retired teachers to return to the profession.
Answer: The department reviewed the abatement provisions as part of scheme reforms introduced in 2015 and removed abatement applying to any service accrued under the career average scheme that was introduced.The abatement provision applies to pension accrued in t...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Ukrainian nationals living in the UK whose right to (a) work and (b) rent expires before the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme comes into effect; and i
Answer: To provide future certainty, Ukrainians who have been provided with sanctuary in the UK under the Ukraine schemes will be able to apply for further permission to remain in the UK through a bespoke Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme due to open in e...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSepsis: Ambulance ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the criteria for ambulance dispatch to ensure that suspected sepsis cases are prioritised; and if he will take steps to ensure that the NHS guidelines on (a) calling 999 and (b) g
Answer: Calls to 999 are triaged to ensure the sickest patients get the fastest response. Suspected sepsis is generally allocated a Category 2 response. This category of response is for emergency incidents that require urgent assessment and rapid transportation.T...
Answered 6 Aug 2024
Original Parliament record
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