Alison Bennett MP: written questions
247 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Carer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department’s plans to process all Carer’s Allowance overpayments in relation to earnings.
Answer: DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income throu...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on clearing the backlog of Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts in relation to earnings.
Answer: DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income throu...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: AdvertisingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to extend marketing restrictions for HFSS products to outdoor advertising.
Answer: Under the Health Mission, the Government is committed to prevention and to tackling obesity by creating a fairer, healthier food environment. We are already delivering the biggest public health reforms in a generation which includes restrictions on junk f...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: HouseholdsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered research from The University of Manchester advocating for care support packages that target whole households.
Answer: We have not made a direct assessment of the potential merits of implementing care support packages for households, rather than for individuals requiring care. However, we recognise the importance of people’s wider support networks for those drawing on car...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies on tackling unmet needs for social care of The University of Manchester's publication entitled ‘Tackling unme
Answer: The publication by the University of Manchester raises important implications for how adult social care is delivered by local authorities. The Government recognises the long-term trend of a reduction in the number of local authority funded long-term packa...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: VATTreasuryTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85594More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to remove VAT from defibrillator sales to help improve the levels of affordability for (a) community groups and (b) small businesses.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations. The Government currently provides VA...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCarer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many carers have a Carer’s Allowance overpayment debt as a result of breaching the earnings limit in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland (i) for which the latest data is av
Answer: Liz Sayce OBE was commissioned to lead an Independent Review into overpayments of Carer’s Allowance (CA). The Government is carefully considering the recommendations of this Review which investigated how overpayments of CA related to earnings occurred, ho...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordJimmy LaiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from detention in Hong Kong.
Answer: Jimmy Lai's case remains a high priority for the Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release him. The Prime Minister, and Ministers across Government, have urged the C...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic and Dance Scheme: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82566More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) increasing funding for the Music and Dance Scheme and (b) committing to a multiple-year settlement.
Answer: The government fully supports the arts and the development of a skills pipeline into the creative industries.The department is providing £36.5 million for the Music and Dance Scheme this academic year.Funding beyond the current academic year, including an...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Mental Health ServicesHome OfficeTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the (a) screening procedures, (b) trauma training and (c) other mental health support for the police.
Answer: The Home Office recognises that the police, through the nature of their work, are often exposed to traumatic incidents that can have a lasting impact on their mental health. That is why we are committed to the Police Covenant, ensuring the mental health a...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission into Adult Social Care: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials are assigned to work in the secretariat of the independent commission into adult social care.
Answer: There are currently 11 officials assigned to work in the secretariat of the independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey. This secretariat may expand as the commission carries out its work, and as Baroness Casey consider...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordOwls: SussexDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect barn owls in Sussex, in the context of the decline in breeding numbers in 2025.
Answer: The decline of the barn owl is attributed to several factors including the loss of suitable habitat, which limits the availability of hunting grounds; the use of rodenticides; road traffic collision; and the loss of traditional nesting sites. To address t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: PayTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80589More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when her Department plans to (a) conclude its review of salary sacrifice schemes in the public sector and (b) make decisions on their future.
Answer: Public sector employers should consider the use of salary sacrifice schemes carefully. HM Treasury approval is generally required before new schemes are established, and we will consider carefully all requests which are made for scheme expansion.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding from applied general qualifications on the number of young people not in education, employment or training.
Answer: The department introduced 140 newly reformed qualifications to be taught from the beginning of this academic year and just announced a further 27 newly reformed qualifications which it will fund from August 2026. This includes newly reformed alternativ...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth and Social Services: Vocational EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77380More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding from applied general qualifications in Health and Social Care on the number of students studying courses in these subjects.
Answer: The department introduced 140 newly reformed qualifications to be taught from the beginning of this academic year and just announced a further 27 newly reformed qualifications which it will fund from August 2026. This includes newly reformed alternativ...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAcademies: Electric VehiclesDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether multi-academy trusts can implement Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice schemes.
Answer: New electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes for academy trusts are currently paused. Academy trusts with existing schemes have been able to keep them in place, but not expand them by adding new members. This pause is subject to a review about salary sac...
Answered 22 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76488More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to make changes to draft duty relief for (a) consumers, (b) pubs and (c) breweries in Mid Sussex constituency.
Answer: The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85m a year. Draught beer and cider now pa...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCycling: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to make cycling (a) safer and (b) more accessible through funding for (i) protected cycle lanes, (ii) well-lit routes and (iii) other new infrastructure.
Answer: The Government treats road safety very seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our Road Safety Strategy and will set out more detail when possible. In the Spending Review we ...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFree School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools enable pupils with severe dietary conditions to access free school meal entitlements.
Answer: Schools are expected to make reasonable efforts to cater for pupils with particular requirements, for example to reflect medical, dietary and cultural needs, to ensure they are not put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to accessing meals.Section 1...
Answered 3 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review Disability Living Allowance criteria for children with severe dietary conditions.
Answer: The department has no plans to review the criteria for children with severe dietary conditions. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is available to children under the age of 16 who, due to a disability or health condition, have mobility issues and/or have c...
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing a visa route for Ukrainians that could lead to settlement, similar to those implemented in (a) Poland and (b) Czechia.
Answer: On 1 September, the Home Secretary announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permissio...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce a long-term solution for Ukrainians who are not able to return to Ukraine.
Answer: On 1 September, the Home Secretary announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permissio...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to extend the Ukrainian Permission Extension scheme beyond 18 months.
Answer: On 1 September, the Home Secretary announced in parliament that the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (UPE) would be extended for an additional 24 months to enable those eligible to obtain a further period of permission following their initial permissio...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support young people in supported accommodation as they increase their paid working hours.
Answer: It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing B...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a National NHS Railcard for Healthcare Staff.
Answer: There are no current plans to introduce an NHS Railcard in advance of the transition to Great British Railways (GBR), but GBR will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the justification of the eligibility and restrictions of some railcards. Any lo...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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