Ben Lake MP: written questions 2025
163 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Broadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October to Question 82973 on Broadband: Rural Areas, if she will make her policy to include direction to Ofcom on revising the Physical Infrastructure Acces
Answer: In July, DSIT published a consultation on the draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services that sets out the Government’s view on infrastructure sharing in the fixed telecoms sector....
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFuel Poverty: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86700More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing VAT on domestic energy bills on fuel poverty in Wales.
Answer: The Government believes that we need to support households who are struggling with energy bills now whilst we transition to cheaper clean power by 2030. We are providing targeted support that reaches low income households directly across Great Britain, in...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86699More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the total amount of funding to be allocated to the Welsh Government through the Barnett Formula following the the full rollout of free childcare in England.
Answer: The Barnett formula is applied when departmental budgets change – not when departments announce how they are spending their budgets or when policy is delivered. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way following Spending Review 2025The published B...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Housing Allowance: WalesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the freeze on local housing allowance on levels of homelessness in Wales.
Answer: The causes of homelessness are multi-faceted and often complex; they interact dynamically making it very difficult to isolate the relative importance of individual factors. Responsibility for housing and homelessness is devolved to the Welsh Government, w...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86697More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she made has made of the potential impact of providing compensation to local authorities in Wales via the Barnett Formula on the adequacy of funding to cover the additional Employer National I
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support with the changes to employer National Insurance.The devolved governments received funding through the Barnett formula in 2025-26, including on this support. Th...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: WalesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has received representations from the Welsh Government on the amount of funding to allocated to Wales from the steel fund.
Answer: The UK Government has committed up to £2.5 billion to support the steel industry, which is being delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. This is in addition to £500 million towards Tata’s transformation of Port Talbot steelworks. The National ...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86279More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on (a) Wales’s comparability factor for transport and (b) the impact of that factor on funding for the Welsh Government.
Answer: HM Treasury ministers and officials regularly engage with Welsh Government counterparts, including through forums such as the Finance: Interministerial Standing Committee (F:ISC), to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales. The most recent F:ISC was on ...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Research and Innovation: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86278More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of UK Research and Innovation funding allocated to Wales.
Answer: This Government is investing in Wales to help create jobs and drive economic growth. UKRI has recently launched the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) - a new programme that will empower innovation leadership through local ‘triple helix’ partnershi...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPride in Place ProgrammeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86277More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of lowering the population thresholds of the Pride in Place programme to include smaller rural communities in the eligibility
Answer: On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support t...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86276More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on a formal review of Wales’s fiscal framework.
Answer: We have ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government about funding flexibilities and updating their Fiscal Framework and remain committed to working in partnership to ensure the smooth delivery of their funding settlement.HM Treasury ministers regularly ...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBudget November 2025: WalesTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86275More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answer: There have been regular discussions with the Welsh Government on the Budget. This ensures that we are taking account of their views to ensure that we are delivering for the people of Wales. The Chancellor met with the First Minister for Wales on the 7th o...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Armed ForcesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered the findings of the UN Secretary-General’s report to the UN Security Council entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara, published on September 3
Answer: The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered the findings of the UN Secretary-General’s report to the UN Security Council entitled Situation concerning Western Sahara, published on September 3
Answer: The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCost of Living: WalesWales OfficeTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 905997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on fiscal steps to reduce the cost of living in Wales.
Answer: The Welsh and UK Labour Governments are determined to boost living standards for families right across Wales.It’s why we secured a record wage increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage for up to 160,000 workers.It’s why we are creatin...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProject GigabitDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reforming physical infrastructure access pricing for Project Gigabit to reduce rural build costs for alternative netwo
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing fiscal incentives to support private investment in rural broadband networks, in the context of the Physical Inf
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will hold discussions with Ofcom on revising the Physical Infrastructure Access pricing model to ensure consistent competitive conditions between (a) national ISPs and (b) altern
Answer: As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while my officials are engaging with Ofc...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDrax Power Station: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to ensure that public subsidies provided to data centre partnerships are not used to support Drax Power Station.
Answer: AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) were announced in January as part of the Prime Minister's AI Opportunities Action Plan.In April, following an informal call for interest where we received over 200 proposals, we launched the application process to identify AIGZs. W...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMuseums and Galleries: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77122More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the flat rate anti-money laundering supervision fee regime on small art galleries.
Answer: Economic crime presents a substantial threat to UK security and stability, and anti money laundering supervisors have an important role to play to ensure that supervised businesses understand and manage the risks to which they are exposed. HM Revenue &...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMuseums and Galleries: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77121More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing (a) relief and (b) a discounted rate for small art galleries following the increase in anti-money laundering supervision fees.
Answer: Economic crime presents a substantial threat to UK security and stability, and anti money laundering supervisors have an important role to play to ensure that supervised businesses understand and manage the risks to which they are exposed. HM Revenue &...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July to Question 64209 on Western Sahara: Human Rights, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Morocco on the details of what auto
Answer: The UK has endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting solution of the Western Sahara conflict and welcomed Morocco's stated commitment to provide further details of what autonomy within a Moroccan state...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Migrant CampsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to increase the provision of aid to the Sahrawi refugee camps, following the UN Secretary General’s report entitled Question of Western Sahara of 31 July 202
Answer: The UK continues to regularly meet and consult regional and international partners to discuss the issue of Western Sahara, including those from the peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN, ci...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: UN High Commissioner for Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74321More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Moroccan counterpart on the blocking of visits by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to occupied Western
Answer: The UK has endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting solution of the Western Sahara conflict and welcomed Morocco's stated commitment to provide further details of what autonomy within a Moroccan state...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: RehabilitationMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) ringfencing a minimum amount of community justice funding specifically for residential rehabilitation services, (b) establishing formal pathways betwe
Answer: We know continued engagement with treatment and recovery throughout an offender’s journey is vital to reduce drug misuse, drug-related crime, and reoffending. Responsibility for funding and commissioning of substance misuse treatment lies with the Departm...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: RehabilitationMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to include residential rehabilitation treatment in her plans for justice reform.
Answer: We know continued engagement with treatment and recovery throughout an offender’s journey is vital to reduce drug misuse, drug-related crime, and reoffending. Responsibility for funding and commissioning of substance misuse treatment lies with the Departm...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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