Alistair Strathern MP: written questions
89 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Telecommunications: Power FailuresDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to improve the resilience of local telecommunications networks through power outages.
Answer: Government recognises the importance of the issue of power resilience for the sector. Whilst most power cuts are brief, we recognise the impact that they can have on the telephone network. We are working closely with the regulator, communications provider...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: Care LeaversMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the local connection test for care leavers seeking to access temporary accommodation.
Answer: Homelessness legislation includes eligibility criteria such as the local connection test, to ensure that resources are prioritised effectively, ensuring accommodation is there for people who need it most.There are already existing provisions in homelessne...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLithium-ion Batteries: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to regulate the safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries.
Answer: Existing UK regulations place a number of obligations related to battery disposal on producers of lithium-ion batteries and products containing lithium-ion batteries. These obligations include the requirement for all batteries sold in the UK to be clearly...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLithium-ion Batteries: ExplosionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13282More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the impact of lithium-ion battery explosions.
Answer: I have discussed the risks that incorrect disposal of waste batteries can have at a senior level with the Environment Agency, including in the context of fires at waste sites.
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGB Energy: Power FailuresDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of GB Energy providing temporary back-up sources of power for homes impacted by long power cuts.
Answer: The Government works closely with electricity networks to improve and maintain energy infrastructure resilience. In the event of a disruption, electricity network operators have well practiced response plans in place to minimise disruption to customers. G...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of making prostate cancer screening mandatory.
Answer: Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended by the UK National Screening Committees (UK NSC). This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test, called the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). A PSA-based screening programme could harm...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunications Ombudsman: PowersDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the Communications Ombudsman's powers to increase the accountability of telecommunications providers.
Answer: The Communications Ombudsman is one of two Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) schemes accredited by Ofcom, the independent regulator of services, in the telecoms sector. Ofcom launched a review of ADR in November 2023 which examines the extent to which ...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordTrastuzumab DeruxtecanDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had on the provision of Enhurtu to Her2 low metastatic breast cancer patients.
Answer: The Department’s ministers and officials have had a number of recent meetings at which the issue of the availability of Enhertu for the treatment of HER2 low metastatic breast cancer has been discussed, including with Breast Cancer Now and other campaigne...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the rate of implementation of step free access on the rail network.
Answer: Since 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Great Britain. We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the acc...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Guardianship Orders: Carers' BenefitsDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to make changes to how it calculates special guardianship allowances.
Answer: The department recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers, including special guardians, play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. The department is committed to working with local government to support children in care, ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren and Families: ProtectionDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the pilot of the family first for children pathfinder and family network.
Answer: This government is committed to providing timely support to children and families that need help. Evidence shows that preventing problems from escalating leads to better outcomes for children and families and reduces cost pressures for local authorities a...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFloods: HitchinDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the response to flooding in the Hitchin constituency.
Answer: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of Defra’s five core priorities. That is why we have established a Flood Resilience Taskforce to improve coordination of the national and local flood response and strengthen preparedness ahead...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArlesey Station and Hitchin Station: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to improve accessibility at (a) Arlesey station and (b) Hitchin station.
Answer: We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Endometriosis and PeriodsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Employment Bill will include (a) endometriosis and (b) other menstrual health conditions.
Answer: The Government has set out its immediate priorities for reforming employment law in the Plan to Make Work Pay. The Plan includes a number of measures which may help people manage endometriosis and other menstrual conditions at work - including making sure...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGynaecology: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for non-cancerous gynaecological services.
Answer: Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission and a top priority for the Government, as we get the National Health Service back on its feet. Equality of both access to care and outcomes will be at the heart of building an NHS that is fit for ...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to shorten the diagnosis time for endometriosis.
Answer: Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition, estimated to affect one in 10 women of reproductive age. Endometriosis can significantly impact women and girls’ physical and mental health, and anyone with symptoms of endometriosis should contact their...
Answered 16 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to improve access to clinical trials for those affected by brain tumours.
Answer: The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of Lord O'Shaughnessy’s review into commercial clinical trials, making sure that the United Kingdom leads the world in clinical trials, and ensuring that innovative, lifesaving treatments are...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: BricksMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to mandate that swift bricks are required to be added to all new houses.
Answer: The Government is considering what action may be appropriate to drive up rates of swift brick installation in new build properties.
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMedicine: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that medical students receive adequate training during hospital placements.
Answer: The standard of training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), who set the outcomes and standards expected at undergraduate level. Medical schools are responsible for their curricula, and for ensuring that they deliver high quality p...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: HitchinDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In perf...
Answered 31 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: HitchinDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: The Government knows that patients are finding it harder than ever to access general practice (GP) appointments. Patients can’t get through the front door of the National Health Service, so they aren’t getting the timely care they need.We have pledged to ...
Answered 31 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: HitchinDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide (a) support and (b) resources to help GP surgeries clear (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increasing workloads in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: The Government intends to fix the front door to the National Health Service, and increase the proportion of funding for primary care. We understand that this will require both investment and reform. We will also make sure the future of general practice (G...
Answered 31 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordSurgery: HitchinDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government, and we have a mandate for our first step in achieving this, by providing an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, which includes greater clinical availability during evening...
Answered 30 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: HitchinDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to mental health services in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure that mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessi...
Answered 31 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: HitchinDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to improve train services in Hitchin constituency.
Answer: Govia Thameslink Railway is introducing additional peak only services between King’s Cross and Hitchin in December 2024. There is also a wider plan to increase peak time capacity on the route to King’s Cross, which would benefit services out of Hitchin, h...
Answered 29 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →