Ben Lake MP: written questions 2025
163 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Block Grant: WalesTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68529More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 66247 on Public Expenditure: Wales, when her Department plans to publish a new release of Block Grant Transparency data.
Answer: The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review to Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. The next publication will include...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxation: International CooperationTreasuryTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67429More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 4409 on Taxation: International Cooperation, what recent steps she has taken to support the implementation of UN General Assembly resolution A /RES/78/230 on t
Answer: The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been engaging in discussions at the UN over a future Framework Convention, including the recent informal sessions for the technic...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMcClure Solicitors: InsolvencyMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to (a) identify and (b) support people affected by the collapse of McClure solicitors.
Answer: We are aware that the collapse has had a serious impact on a substantial number of former clients of McClure solicitors, particularly in relation to Family Protection trusts and other estate planning arrangements. The responsibility for regulation of such...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMcClure Solicitors: InsolvencyMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate has she made of the number of people in Wales who have had difficulty in dealing with their (a) property and (b) other investments placed in trusts following the collapse of McClure solicitor
Answer: We are aware that the collapse has had a serious impact on a substantial number of former clients of McClure solicitors, particularly in relation to Family Protection trusts and other estate planning arrangements. The responsibility for regulation of such...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66247More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the total amount of Barnett consequential funding which will be made available to Wales following the City Region Local Transport funding announced on 4 June 2025.
Answer: The 2025 Spending Review set the Department for Transport’s budget for 2026-27 to 2028-29. In line with the Statement of Funding Policy, the Barnett formula is applied to changes in overall department settlements, not to individual programmes. As a result...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to establish an alternative disputes resolution process for people affected by changes in state pension age for women.
Answer: We have no such plans.
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEpilepsy: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review report, published on 8 July 2020, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a public inquiry i
Answer: Everyone who has been harmed following use of anti-seizure medication has our deepest sympathies. We fully understand the importance of patient safety, which is a top priority for this government. It is vital we do all we can to stop harm from happening i...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: UN High Commissioner for Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Moroccan counterpart on Morocco's refusal to allow a visit to Western Sahara by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since Januar
Answer: The UK remains committed to the promotion and protection of human rights globally, including in Morocco and Western Sahara. Officials, including up to Ambassador level regularly engage on these issues with the Moroccan Government and authorities according...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatically exempting armed forces veterans with severe, long-term PTSD from repeat disability assessments.
Answer: Currently, Work Capability Assessment re-assessments are prioritised for customers on Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit who report a change in their health condition. Routine department-led reassessments are sched...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory veteran-aware training for benefit assessors.
Answer: I have interpreted your question to refer to health professionals (HPs) who conduct Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments and Work Capability Assessments (WCA) for our assessment suppliers on behalf of the department, and not Department for Work...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60085More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on updating the Welsh Fiscal Framework.
Answer: The UK and Welsh Governments have regular discussions on the delivery funding arrangements, including the Fiscal Framework.We remain committed to working in partnership with the Welsh Government to ensure the Fiscal Framework continues to deliver value fo...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTelemedicine: Voice over Internet ProtocolDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the National Telecare Campaign is delivered bilingually in (a) English and (b) Welsh across all platforms.
Answer: The Government supports the industry-led National Telecare Campaign. The objective of this campaign is to identify telecare users so that they can receive additional support when their landlines are upgraded from analogue to digital.It is important for th...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has received representations from the Welsh Government requesting that the East-West rail project be reclassified as an England only project.
Answer: There have been no formal representations from the Welsh Government on this matter.The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so t...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department classifies heavy rail projects located entirely within England as (a) local and (b) national projects.
Answer: The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by th...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and CustomsTreasuryTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58681More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48499 on Revenue and Customs, whether her Department plans to publish the minutes of the 2024 meeting of the Statutory Payment Consultation Group.
Answer: Minutes of the Statutory Payments Consultation Group meeting held on 30th January 2024 will be published before the Autumn. A date has not been set for a future meeting of the group.
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and CustomsTreasuryTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58680More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48499 on Revenue and Customs, when HMRC's Statutory Payment Consultation Group will next be convened.
Answer: Minutes of the Statutory Payments Consultation Group meeting held on 30th January 2024 will be published before the Autumn. A date has not been set for a future meeting of the group.
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: FinanceTreasuryTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58256More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is her Department's policy that the classification of the East-West rail project as carrying 100% comparability factor for Wales is a publishing error in each Statement of funding policy, published betwee
Answer: The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales so spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by th...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDeirdre MurphyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Máire ní Mhurchú has access to legal representation following her detention by Israel.
Answer: We were in contact with the Irish embassy about the case, and we understand that she has since left Israel.
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: InfrastructureDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any of the regional transport infrastructure projects announced on 4 June 2025 will be classified as England and Wales projects.
Answer: The Chancellor announced the £15.6 billion Transport for City Regions settlements on 4 June 2025 for investment in the local transport networks of 9 eligible mayoral strategic authorities in England. Local transport is devolved to the Welsh government.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57682More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much additional funding through the Barnett Formula will the Welsh government receive from regional transport infrastructure funding in England announced on 4 June 2025.
Answer: The Barnett formula is applied when departmental budgets change – not when departments announce how they are spending their budgets. When changes to the Department for Transport’s budget are confirmed at Spending Review 2025 on 11 June, the Barnett formul...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security: Advisory ServicesTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57316More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential cost savings to public services resulting from investment in independent social welfare advice services.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role that independent advice services play in supporting individuals.For example, DWP provide grant funding to Citizens Advice, who deliver Help to Claim support for customers to apply for Universal Credit. Help to ...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid Scheme: Rural AreasMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of civil legal aid providers in rural areas; and what steps she is taking to help reduce gaps in legal aid provision.
Answer: It is vital that those who need legal aid – some of the most vulnerable people in our society – can access it wherever they happen to live.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. The LAA monitor...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with disabled people’s organisations in Wales on the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
Answer: As part of our commitment to hear from members of the public directly, including disabled people and their representatives, we have now held a number of virtual and in person public consultation events, as per the advertised schedule on GOV.UK. Unfortunat...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Economic Zones: WalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the value for money of new jobs created by Special Economic Zones in Wales.
Answer: Government applies rigorous value for money assessment during the development of policy, including in relation to the creation of special economic zones. Welsh Freeports and Investment Zones are required to demonstrate value for money before their proposa...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to (a) give the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara the legal mandate to (i) monitor and (i
Answer: The UK believes there is an urgent need to resolve this long-held dispute. That is why the Foreign Secretary announced on 1 June that Morocco's autonomy proposal is the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Saha...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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