Beccy Cooper MP: written questions
60 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Higher Education: RedundancyDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help prevent job reductions in higher education.
Answer: The Office for Students (OfS), as the independent regulator of higher education (HE) in England, is responsible for monitoring the sector’s financial sustainability. Its most recent report on the sector’s financial health, published in May 2026, is availa...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversities: ResearchDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is giving to research-intensive universities.
Answer: The government recognises the vital role that universities play in supporting the UK’s world‑leading research base and delivering the Industrial Strategy, and is therefore investing a record £86 billion in research and development between 2026/27 and 2029...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of higher education providers in i) England ii) Sussex are expected to record an operating a deficit over the next financial year.
Answer: The Office for Students (OfS), as the independent regulator of higher education (HE) in England, is responsible for monitoring the sector’s financial sustainability. Its most recent report on the sector’s financial health, published in May 2026, is availa...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDrugs: MisuseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce health inequalities arising from substance misuse.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need. Funding for drug and alcohol treatment can reduce societal inequalities and contribute to the Government’s mission to increase op...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Delivery ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of alcohol delivery services on (a) consumption and (b) public health.
Answer: The Department has not made an assessment of the impact of alcohol delivery services on consumption of alcohol or public health.The delivery of alcohol is regulated under the Licensing Act 2003, responsibility for which rests with the Home Office. The Gov...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of regional variation in access to drug, alcohol and smoking cessation services.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that all areas offer high-quality drug, alcohol and smoking cessation services, with action to support consistent provision nationwide.For smoking, we have invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Minimum Unit PricesHome OfficeTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce MUP for alcohol in England.
Answer: Under our Health Mission, this government is committed to prioritising public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. We do not currently have any plans to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England. We are continuing...
Answered 18 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: CostsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS of treating conditions (a) caused and (b) exacerbated by (i) tobacco, (ii) alcohol and (iii) drug use.
Answer: The available estimates of the cost to the National Health Service of treating conditions caused and exacerbated by tobacco and alcohol are shown in the following table:SubstanceEstimated NHS costSource of EstimateTobacco£1.8 billion annuallyAction on Smo...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 895More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce the impact of energy bills on levels of personal debt.
Answer: The affordability crisis is the biggest issue facing families across the country. At the Autumn Budget we committed to taking money off energy bills to tackle the cost of living. The Government is working closely with Ofgem, energy suppliers and consumer ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordMental Illness: DebtsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of debt on the prevalence of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Answer: The Government recognises that financial circumstances are an important factor influencing mental health. Evidence, including findings from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/24, shows a clear asso...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordStatutory Sick PayDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment they have made of the adequacy of Statutory Sick Pay in meeting essential living costs for low-income workers.
Answer: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is designed to provide a minimum level of support and financial security for employees when they are unable to work due to sickness whilst also balancing the cost to employers. The government has made key changes to SSP, which cam...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordLife ExpectancyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 809More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for public health policy of the Health Foundation’s findings on the decline in healthy life expectancy in the UK.
Answer: The Government recognises that the Health Foundation’s findings on the recent decline in healthy life expectancy are concerning. The findings reinforce the importance of a shift from treatment to prevention as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, alongside...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: NegligenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number and (b) cost of clinical negligence claims associated with the use of corridor care in hospitals.
Answer: NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHSR does not hold the information in the format requested.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordWorld War II: MedalsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the decision not to permit close relatives of deceased members of the Women’s Land Army to apply for and receive the Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps commem
Answer: The Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps Scheme, announced to Parliament on 6 December 2007, recognises the women who served in the Land Army and Timber Corps during the Second World War making a critical contribution to the war effort. The Scheme w...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Processed FoodDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a maximum five per cent threshold for ultra-processed foods (Nova Group 4) in the updated School Food Standards.
Answer: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has considered the impact of processed foods on health in 2023 and 2025, and recommends that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, sa...
Answered 7 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNational School Breakfast ProgrammeDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the contract for the National school breakfast club programme prohibits the use of ultra-processed cereals and breads; and if she will set out the nutritional and processing specification of that contra
Answer: The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) is an inherited scheme from the previous government and the contract will end in July 2026. The contract with the supplier Family Action stipulates that all food available for schools to purchase must meet th...
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to assist British nationals who have overstayed their visas abroad, particularly in countries where the process for obtaining exit permits
Answer: Each country is responsible for their own immigration rules and we cannot interfere in their policies or procedures. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice provides up to date information on the most common entry and exit re...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: VATTreasuryTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113010More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of extending VAT exemption on defibrillators to include purchases of units installed in private homes.
Answer: The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. For example, when an Automated External Defibrillator is purchased with funds provided by a charity and then donated to an eligible body, no VAT is charged. Furthermore, ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: Children and Young PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to safeguard children and young people from gambling, including in later life, through the regulation of advertising, marketing and product design.
Answer: There are already a wide variety of measures in place to protect children and young people from being exposed to gambling advertising, marketing and products.For example, gambling advertising must not be targeted at children, through ensuring that it does...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: Republic of IrelandDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the research report by the Irish Economic and Social Research Institute entitled Childhood gambling experiences and
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of using impartial, accurate and up-to-date research on gambling behaviour and harms, including relevant evidence from jurisdictions similar to Great Britain. We are committed to ensuring that policy decisions are ...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help facilitate independent scrutiny of Official Development Assistance across Government departments.
Answer: In relation to all the questions raised by the Hon Member on 28 January, I refer her to Baroness Chapman's appearance before the International Development Committee on 20 January, where she addressed these issues at length. We will set out any further pla...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the independent scrutiny of Official Development Assistance.
Answer: In relation to all the questions raised by the Hon Member on 28 January, I refer her to Baroness Chapman's appearance before the International Development Committee on 20 January, where she addressed these issues at length. We will set out any further pla...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of independent scrutiny on value for money across the aid programme.
Answer: In relation to all the questions raised by the Hon Member on 28 January, I refer her to Baroness Chapman's appearance before the International Development Committee on 20 January, where she addressed these issues at length. We will set out any further pla...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission for Aid ImpactForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her long-term plans are for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, particularly in relation to its mandate and resourcing.
Answer: In relation to all the questions raised by the Hon Member on 28 January, I refer her to Baroness Chapman's appearance before the International Development Committee on 20 January, where she addressed these issues at length. We will set out any further pla...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to maintain public confidence in the value for money and accountability of UK aid spending.
Answer: In relation to all the questions raised by the Hon Member on 28 January, I refer her to Baroness Chapman's appearance before the International Development Committee on 20 January, where she addressed these issues at length. We will set out any further pla...
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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