Alec Shelbrooke MP: written questions 2025
33 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Plastic Packaging TaxTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100304More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review the scope of the Plastics Packaging Tax to exempt EN 13432–certified compostable materials; and what assessment has been made of the potential impact of including compostable materials within the
Answer: The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policymaking process. The Plastic Packaging Tax provides a price incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging.
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Yorkshire and the HumberDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department made an assessment of trends in the levels of current waiting times for cancer treatment in NHS Humber and North Yorkshire and NHS West Yorkshire sub-ICBs prior to funding de
Answer: Cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment on the National Health Service, including in Humber and North Yorkshire and NHS West Yorkshire. The Government is investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS and opening up community diagnosti...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: Criminal InvestigationHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82654More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms exist to ensure public safeguarding of victims when police investigations into child sexual exploitation are paused due to the mental health needs of those victims.
Answer: It is crucial police and law enforcement have the capabilities and skills to effectively tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation and take robust action to better safeguard children, ensuring victims and survivors receive appropriate care and support th...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent National Maternity and Neonatal InvestigationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish (a) the long list of NHS trusts considered by the Chair for inclusion in the Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation and (b) the selection criteria used by t
Answer: The 14 NHS trusts to be looked at as part of the independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation were announced on 15 September 2025. There are no plans to publish the long list of NHS trusts considered by the chair for inclusion in the investig...
Answered 6 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent National Maternity and Neonatal InvestigationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has been selected to represent (a) midwifery, (b) obstetrics and (c) neonatal care for his Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.
Answer: The list of Expert Advisers supporting Baroness Amos is published in the terms of reference. They include:a) Professor Julia Sanders and Lesley Sharkey, both midwives.b) Professor Alex Heazell and Dr Christine Ekechi, both obstetricians.c) Dr Edile Murdoc...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: VictimsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78106More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the support available to victims of child sexual exploitation when court proceedings are paused due to the victim's mental health needs.
Answer: Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) roles, including children's ISVAs (CHISVAs), are intended provide information about the criminal justice process to the victim, including what to expect at each stage.Statutory guidance published in May 2025, und...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxation: Electronic GovernmentTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70397More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the cost of (a) quarterly tax returns and (b) mandatory use of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax software to small and medium enterprises.
Answer: Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax quarterly updates are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, populated automatically through software and easily submitted. The latest published assessment of M...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNeighbourhood Plans: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reinstate funding for local Neighbourhood Development Plans.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to replace the Community Ownership Fund.
Answer: On 23 December 2024, we announced that the Community Ownership Fund (COF) is closed and that there will be no further application windows. Whilst we have closed the COF programme, this Government remains committed to the communities sector and to communit...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52615 on Agriculture: Finance, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of not including goats in the eligibility criteri
Answer: The Animal Health and Welfare grant scheme is part of the broader Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (the Pathway), which remains focused on the most commonly farmed species: pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, laying hens, broiler chickens and sheep. This appr...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: TourismDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle littering in tourist hotspots; and how these steps are tailored to the influx of visitors during peak seasons.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for keeping public land clear of litter and refuse. The standards that they are expected to meet are set out in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, which is available at: Litter and refuse: code of practice - GOV.UK. ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: EnforcementDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the enforcement of littering.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for taking enforcement action against littering. They can prosecute those suspected of littering which could result in a criminal record and a fine of up to £2500. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support community groups to (a) tackle littering and (b) promote environmental cleanliness.
Answer: The Government is proud to support and endorse national clean-up initiatives such as the Great British Spring Clean, and the Great British Beach Clean, and we will continue to use our influence to encourage as many people and businesses as possible to par...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will include goat farmers in the eligibility criteria for the Animal Health and Welfare grant in the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025.
Answer: Guidance for grants under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 was published on 7 May ahead of opening to applications on 29 May. These grants are available to keepers of pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, laying chickens, broilers and sheep.
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of avian influenza on poultry producers in North Yorkshire since 2022.
Answer: This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. The joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce ...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) restocking and (b) business continuity for poultry farmers in North Yorkshire impacted by bird flu restrictions.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of avian influenza controls including Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) works in conjunction with the Association of Chief Trading Standards Off...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide targeted funding for poultry farmers in North Yorkshire to improve on-farm biosecurity infrastructure in the context of avian influenza.
Answer: In September 2024 laying hen and pullet keepers could apply for funding to undertake large infrastructure projects to deliver excellent levels of health and welfare through the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, this included funding for fea...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: BusinessesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with North Yorkshire Council on (a) coordination of local containment zones and (b) compensation access for affected poultry businesses.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of avian influenza controls including Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) works in conjunction with the Association of Chief Trading Standards Off...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the minimum notice period his Department must give to end agreements under the current terms of the Sustainable Farming Initiative.
Answer: Termination of agreements is covered by condition 15 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 terms and conditions. In some specific circumstances, agreements can be terminated by the department with immediate effect, for example if a change of circumsta...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the reformed Sustainable Farming Initiative offer will limit the proportion of land holding eligible for submission.
Answer: The future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer will build on what has made SFI effective so far. Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further detail...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment in UKDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with international investors on the potential impact of extended producer responsibility on the attractiveness of the UK as an investment destination.
Answer: As part of the Government’s broader Collection and Packaging Reforms Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging will provide regulatory certainty necessary to support investment in recycling and reprocessing infrastructure across the UK and support ...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: VettingMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time taken was for employees of companies providing services to the armed forces to go through the security vetting process required for work on military sites in the last 12 months.
Answer: UK Security Vetting (UKSV) sits within Cabinet Office and is the provider for all security vetting for Ministry of Defence. There is no way to identify from their data which security vetting cases relate to employees of companies specifically providing se...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that network providers prioritise (a) mast height adjustments, (b) network modernisation and (c) other infrastructure improvements in areas
Answer: Most digital infrastructure, including new ground-based masts and rooftop antennas, benefit from permitted development rights, which permit deployment of infrastructure that meet certain specifications without the need for full planning permission.We are ...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEmergency Services Network: Wetherby and EasingwoldHome OfficeTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with (a) BT, (b) EE and (c) other operators on ensuring the adequacy of Emergency Services Network coverage around Kilburn in Wetherby and Easingwold constituen
Answer: The Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) managed by the Home Office uses BT EE as a mobile service provider for the deployment of associated infrastructure and provision of the Emergency Services Network (ESN).There are regular formal...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: Wetherby and EasingwoldDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve mobile network coverage in (a) Kilburn and (b) other villages in Wetherby and Easingwold constituency.
Answer: According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report (published on 5 December 2024) 97% of the Wetherby and Easingwold constituency has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, while 5G is available from at least one operator outside 85% of all pre...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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