Ben Lake MP: written questions
341 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fuel Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas: WalesTreasuryTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121502More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultations were had with the (a) fuel distribution industry and the (b) Welsh government on the development of the support package for households in Wales using heating oil and Liquid Petroleum gas as heatin
Answer: The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support for those households struggling with the rising price of heating oil. Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have coordinated closely with industry since the conf...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHeating: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic properties which use (a) oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas for heating purposes by parliamentary constituency.
Answer: The Department does not produce bespoke estimates of the number of domestic properties using oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating by parliamentary constituency. Information on the heating fuels used by households is published by the Office for...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTelevision: Digital BroadcastingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the role of the UK’s digital terrestrial television network in supporting national resilience and emergency communications.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of everyone being able to access information in times of national emergency. Both television and radio play a vital role in providing such access for a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios w...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTelevision: WalesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the interests of viewers in Wales, including those in rural communities who rely on terrestrial television, are represented in Government discussions on th
Answer: The Government is leading a project to assess the future of TV distribution beyond 2034 and is committed to maintaining access for audiences in all parts of the UK. The project is engaging with devolved governments and audience groups representing the int...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: Royal ChartersDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to require the BBC, as part of the next BBC Charter, to continue to distribute its services through platforms that do not require a fixed broadband connection to rece
Answer: The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this co...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: Royal ChartersDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the role of free to air terrestrial television in supporting the reach and universality of the BBC as part of the ongoing BBC Charter Review.
Answer: The BBC Charter Review was officially launched on 16 December with the publication of the Terms of Reference and Green Paper. The Charter Review is looking at a range of issues to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this co...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: PricesTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119990More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the adequacy of current levels of available crisis support funding delivered through Welsh Local Authorities to assist off-grid households with the cost of p
Answer: The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities. HMT officials and Ministers meet regular...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: PricesTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119989More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support off-grid households in Wales with the changing costs of domestic heating oil.
Answer: The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities. This funding has been allocated based on...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: PricesTreasuryTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119988More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she made of the potential impact of the recent rise in the cost of domestic heating oil on levels of fuel poverty in Wales.
Answer: The government recognises the pressures facing households who rely on heating oil. This is why we are providing an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities. This funding has been allocated based on...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTurkey: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Turkish counterpart on the detention of opposition mayors in Turkiye, including Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu; and what diplomatic steps s
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 30 April 2025 in response to Question 47082.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTurkey: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterpart on the detention of opposition mayors in Turkiye, including Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu; and what steps she is taki
Answer: The Government does not routinely discuss matters relating to Türkiye with the Egyptian Government.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEgypt: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterpart on religious expression online in Egypt; and what steps her Department is taking to help protect freedom of religio
Answer: The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and we continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities where appropriate.
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the written statement of 20 January 2026 on Mobile Phones and Social Media: Use by Children, HCWS1262, when she plans to publish the consultation on proposed measures
Answer: We have now launched our consultation on children’s use of technology and social media. This is a short, swift consultation which allows the different voices within the debate to be heard. The consultation will close on the 26th May . The government is pl...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLivestock Industry: Migrant WorkersHome OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of withdrawing the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers on (a) animal welfare in Wales and (b) the We
Answer: Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this peri...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLivestock Industry: Migrant WorkersHome OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with a) British Wool, b) the Farmers' Union of Wales and c) NFU Cymru on the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.
Answer: Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this peri...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLivestock Industry: Migrant WorkersHome OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.
Answer: Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it is reasonable to expect that over this peri...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIndia: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90911 on India: Christianity, what assessment she made of the potential impact of her Department's discussions with civ
Answer: We continue to track these issues closely and engage wherever possible to promote religious freedom and tolerance. Our High Commission in New Delhi, along with our network of Deputy High Commissions, monitors the human rights situation closely. We also en...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111188More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how will property subject to tenancies agreed under (a) the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and (b) the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 be valued for the purposes of calculating an estate's inheritance tax liability.
Answer: The reforms to reliefs for agricultural and business property do not affect the existing rules on how assets are valued. The general rule for inheritance tax is that assets are valued at their ‘open market value’ at the date of death. If a property is sub...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSyria: KurdsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help protect and support Kurdish communities in North-East Syria.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 28 January 2026.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Wealth FundTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111186More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure equitable funding by the national wealth fund across all nations of the United Kingdom.
Answer: The National Wealth Fund's Strategic Plan sets out its ambition to accelerate place-based investment across all four nations of the UK, and it has dedicated directors in each nation to support this. The National Wealth Fund is already investing in Wales a...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Wealth Fund: WalesTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111185More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the spending of the national wealth fund in Wales.
Answer: The National Wealth Fund's Strategic Plan sets out its ambition to accelerate place-based investment across all four nations of the UK, and it has dedicated directors in each nation to support this. The National Wealth Fund is already investing in Wales a...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFloods: Social Rented HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of data on the impact of flooding on social housing tenants.
Answer: In January 2025 the Environment Agency commissioned an independent review of Property Flood Resilience (PFR). The review identified gaps and opportunities to grow the PFR market, resulting in a new action plan for all relevant parties to take forward. The...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordVATTreasuryTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110039More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made and assessment of the potential merits of completing an updated assessment of the potential savings to the Exchequer from withdrawing the postponed VAT accounting process, taking into account (a
Answer: Postponed VAT accounting provides significant support for businesses, helping to manage cash flow and facilitate imports. HMRC undertakes regular operational work to ensure compliance with the rules around postponed VAT accounting. The VAT gap has reduced...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109189More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment she has made of levels of relative spending per head on reserved matters in (a) Wales and (b) England.
Answer: Spending on reserved matters is determined by the UK Government according to UK-wide priorities. The Country and Regional Analysis publication shows estimates for the allocation of identifiable expenditure in the nations and regions of the UK: Country and...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109188More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HM Treasury's press release entitled Government announces support package that backs British pubs, published on 27 January 2026, what her proposed timeline is for the Barnett Formula Consequentials
Answer: Any Barnett consequentials for the Welsh Government resulting from policy changes will be confirmed at the relevant fiscal event.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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