Ben Lake MP: written questions
153 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Western Sahara: Self-determination of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 8 February 2024 to Question 13004 on Western Sahara: Politics and Government and pursuant to the Answers of 5 August 2024 to Question 1972 on
Answer: The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the ...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCrown Estate: Fees and ChargesTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7523More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the Crown Estate to publish the fees it receives from local authorities in (a) Wales (b) England and (c) Northern Ireland to access its land.
Answer: The Crown Estate receives payment on its assets from local authorities through regulating leases. The terms of those leases are determined based on several factors, including the nature and value of the asset, the specific terms and conditions of the leas...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCrown Estate: WalesTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7522More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fees the Crown Estate charges for leasing land to local authorities in Wales.
Answer: The Crown Estate receives payment on its assets from local authorities through regulating leases. The terms of those leases are determined based on several factors, including the nature and value of the asset, the specific terms and conditions of the leas...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCrown Estate: WalesTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7521More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much have each local authority in Wales paid to the Crown Estate to access Crown Estate land in each year of the last five years.
Answer: The Crown Estate operates as an independent and unified commercial entity, engaging in a variety of business activities across Wales, England and Northern Ireland. To achieve efficiency in its operations, The Crown Estate runs many of its functions at a w...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAcquittals: CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using alternative methods of determining eligibility for compensation in the event of an acquittal following a re-trial.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the statutory Miscarriages of Justice Application Service (MOJAS). Individuals who have had their convictions quashed in an out of time appeal are eligible to apply for compensation, including those who have subs...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenLeader of the HouseTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5354More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, if she will facilitate a vote on proposals for financial redress contained in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.
Answer: The Government is taking the necessary time to properly review and consider the Ombudsman's report, given the significance and complexity of the issue. Once the Government has outlined its approach, opportunities for the House to debate this matter would ...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help community pharmacies with increases in the cost of medications.
Answer: The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compa...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of medication costs on community pharmacies.
Answer: The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compa...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) drug prices, (b) appliance prices and (c) fees paid to pharmacy contractors in the NHS Drug Tariff.
Answer: The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compa...
Answered 18 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordVoluntary Organisations: Mileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4766More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of abolishing the mileage allowance scheme reduced rate for over 10,000 miles of travel in the tax year on the travel costs of people working in the voluntary sec
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified mo...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordVoluntary Organisations: Mileage AllowancesTreasuryTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4765More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment has she made of the potential impact of uprating mileage allowance scheme rates on the travel costs of people working in the voluntary sector.
Answer: Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. These rates are also used by self-employed drivers to claim tax relief on business mileage (simplified mo...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on violence against Palestinian civilians.
Answer: We are clear that International Humanitarian Law and the rules-based order must be upheld, and civilians protected. From the Prime Minister down, we have repeatedly urged Israel to improve aid access, minimise civilian casualties and engage seriously with...
Answered 13 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTaxation: International CooperationTreasuryTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4409More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support the implementation of UN General Assembly resolution A /RES/78/230 on the Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations adopted on 22 De
Answer: The UK has been an active participant in negotiations at the UN, as we are committed to working with others to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation. We maintain the view that a UN Framework Convention will only be successful in del...
Answered 10 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMineworkers' Pension SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mineworkers Pension Scheme Trustees on potential reforms to the Mineworkers Pensions Scheme.
Answer: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock WorryingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on livestock worrying.
Answer: The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected. We will set out next steps i...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock WorryingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle livestock worrying.
Answer: The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected. We will set out next steps i...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock Worrying: WalesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on taking steps to help tackle livestock worrying.
Answer: The Secretary of State has spoken to his Welsh counterpart on a range of issues. The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this a...
Answered 20 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock WorryingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to farmers of dog attacks on farm animals in the last 12 months.
Answer: Defra does not collect its own data on the cost of dog attacks on farm animals to farmers. However, the National Farmers’ Union approximates that UK farm animals worth an estimated £2.4million were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2023. The Governmen...
Answered 17 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Expenditure: WalesTreasuryTabled 3 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4013More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Welsh Government will receive in additional Barnett Formula consequential funding as a result of the most recent pay award for NHS staff in England.
Answer: The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL). When UK Government departmental budgets change, the Barnett formula will apply in the usual way. Any Barnett consequentials in 2024-25 resulting from the r...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCrown Estate: WalesTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3769More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Crown Estate publishing the (a) asset value and (b) net revenue profit of the Crown Estate in Wales within its annual accounts.
Answer: To achieve efficiency in its operations, the Crown Estate runs many of its functions at a whole enterprise level. As a result, separate financial statements for Wales would not reflect the fact that expenditure is incurred for the benefit of the whole por...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMorocco: Overseas TradeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Morocco on the trade of natural resources originating in Western Sahara.
Answer: We do not consider commercial activity to be illegal in Western Sahara, providing it respects the interests of the Sahrawi people. The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-Gene...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Non-governmental OrganisationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council on unfettered media and humanitarian NGO access to the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
Answer: We have consistently supported language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including the freedoms of expression and a...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordMorocco: Western SaharaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council to send a fact finding mission to investigate the human rights of Saharawis in the (a) occupied territory of Wester
Answer: The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps. We have consistently supported language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to co...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the UN Security Council on giving the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara the legal mandate to (a) monitor and (b)
Answer: The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the ...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament recordWestern Sahara: International LawForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent breaches of international law in Western Sahara.
Answer: The UK is committed to the promotion of respect for International Law worldwide. With regard to Western Sahara, we strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahar, and we continue to encourage ...
Answered 5 Aug 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →