Allison Gardner MP: written questions 2025
64 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Technology: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 904192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions his Department has had with businesses on investment in technology in Northern Ireland.
Answer: I am a passionate advocate for Northern Irish tech companies and for investment by international tech companies in Northern Ireland.I recently attended the Big Data New York Conference – a spin off of Big Data Belfast – to highlight the international inve...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Public OpinionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42932More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the opinions of people on (a) low and (b) middle incomes are adequately heard in the development of the food strategy.
Answer: A key priority for the food strategy is to improve access to healthy food for everyone, including children and those on low and middle incomes, in order to give all children the best start in life and help adults live longer healthier lives. We are formin...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFree School Meals: EligibilityDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children are covered by the transitional protections for eligibility for free school meals; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending those protections in March 2025 on the chi
Answer: As with all government programmes, including free school meals, we keep our approach under continued review. Support for children to access free school meals, has additionally been considered as part of the Child Poverty Taskforce’s consideration of how t...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHealthy Start Scheme: StaffordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many families are receiving support from Healthy Start in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) Stafford.
Answer: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a phased introduction of extended producer responsibility fees.
Answer: We have taken a phased approach to implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR). Reporting obligations for this scheme were introduced in 2024, and fee obligations for large producers introduced on 1 April 2025. From April 2026 PackU...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will publish a breakdown of how extended producer responsibility fees will be allocated, in the context of transparency in funding for local authority waste managemen
Answer: PackUK will publish annual reports and financial statements, which will provide transparency on the allocation of funds received through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees. These reports will clarify how the collected fees are distributed and...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Management Companies: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of consulting on regulating the property management sector.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. Property agents must belong to a government-approved redress scheme. This legislation is currently enforced by l...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: ShortagesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on tackling the shortage of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy drugs.
Answer: The Department is continuing to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Increased volumes of PERT are expected for 2025, and specialist importers have sourced unlicensed s...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDisabled Facilities GrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to end the difference between the treatment of military and civil compensation payments in means tests for disabled facilities grants.
Answer: We are giving older and disabled people more independence in their own homes through an immediate in-year uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) of £86 million in 2024/25. This increase will provide approximately 7,800 additional home adaptations. ...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: StaffordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26380More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Water Restoration Fund on river quality in Staffordshire.
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regula...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterinary Services: VATTreasuryTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26263More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing VAT from veterinary care.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for public services, and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Gov...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisoners' ReleaseMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for people being released from prison.
Answer: We are committed to ensuring pre-release plans are created for those leaving custody, to ensure their needs are identified early and individual robust plans are in place to address these.We are working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities an...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Leavers: Stoke-on-Trent SouthDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for care leavers in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency.
Answer: The government recognises that care leavers have some of the worst outcomes in society and is committed to ensuring that children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in ...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Cancer: Stoke on TrentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve outcomes for patients with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in Stoke-on-Trent.
Answer: The Department is working with NHS England to deliver interventions to improve outcomes for those with pancreatic cancer across England, including Stoke-on-Trent.As the first step to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, we will deliver an extra 40,000 o...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: Electronic Training AidsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to ban the (a) sale and (b) use of shock collars for dogs.
Answer: The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation and will bring forward plans in due course. Ministers will be considering available evidence around the use of hand-controlled e-collars and their effects on the...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPostnatal Care: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve provision of post-natal mental health care in Stoke-on-Trent.
Answer: Stoke-on-Trent is one of 75 local authorities that is receiving funding to provide bespoke perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.However, more is needed. Access to these service...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFireworks: Animal WelfareDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of further restricting the (a) use and (b) sale of fireworks on animal welfare and wildlife.
Answer: Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the r...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Stoke-on-Trent SouthDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with (a) autism and (b) SEND in mainstream settings in Stoke-on-Trent South.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department i...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Stoke on TrentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) provide support for and (b) increase capacity of drug and alcohol recovery services in Stoke-on-Trent.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidenced-based, high-quality treatment. In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department pro...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAmbulance Services: Stoke-on-Trent SouthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises the pressures on the National Health Service during the winter period and the impact this is having on ambulance response times, including in Stoke-on-Trent.We are committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve pe...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRadicalismHome OfficeTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) help tackle far right extremism.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling those who spread views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others into terrorism. To understand such threats, we maintain expertise and capabiliti...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to expand bus service provision in rural (a) villages and (b) other areas.
Answer: Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services ba...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordJuries: FinanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that people carrying out jury duty do not experience financial hardship.
Answer: Juries are a vital part of our criminal justice system and undertake an important civic duty. The support provided to jurors includes measures to assist those who may suffer financial hardship. People who are not paid by their employer whilst they are on ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of trainee GPs who undertake specialist training in mental health.
Answer: The standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. The GMC has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ens...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Housing: Anti-social BehaviourMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local councils to tackle antisocial behaviour within council homes.
Answer: Social landlords, including local councils, already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the need...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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