Ben Maguire MP: written questions
588 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture: Nature ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support and (b) protect nature-friendly farming practices in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, foo...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to encourage developers to begin building promptly after planning permission is granted.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 55898 on 9 June 2025.
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Disclosure of InformationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue updated (a) guidance and (b) statutory requirements to (i) discourage planning applicants from providing supporting information in stages an
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework encourages early engagement between applicants and local planning authorities.Pre-application discussions can help avoid disputes and reduce delays by allowing an applicant and local planning authority to agree what ...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFiresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of bonfires involving non-garden waste materials on (a) the environment and (b) public health.
Answer: Existing laws prevent burning household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. Local authorities may also issue an abatement notice if smoke from bonfires causes a nuisance. We have published further guidance on this issue Reducing air ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61998More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) recruit and (b) retain General Practitioner doctors in (i) North Cornwall constituency and (ii) other rural areas.
Answer: In the North Cornwall constituency, as of 30 April 2025, there were 61.5 full time equivalent (FTE) doctors in general practices (GPs), an increase of 2.4 FTE compared to April 2024.We acknowledge the urgent challenge of ensuring that rural areas have the...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of Surfers Against Sewage's publication entitled Water Quality Report 2025, published in April
Answer: This Government is taking significant steps to improve water quality and reform the sector. The Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, closed its public call for evidence in April with over 50,000 responses. An interim report is due in...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: CornwallMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of housing stock in areas of high deprivation in Cornwall.
Answer: My Department does not routinely assess the adequacy of housing stock in specific areas of high deprivation.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: PensionersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mixed-age couples are impacted by the rule which prevents them from claiming pension-age benefits until the youngest partner reaches State Pension age.
Answer: The requested information is not held The requirement that both members of a couple need to have reached State Pension age to be eligible for Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit took effect from 15 May 2019. Income-related benefit support for co...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: PensionersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of he rule which prevents mixed-age couples from claiming pension-age benefits until the youngest partner reaches State Pension age on the numb
Answer: The requirement that both members of a couple need to have reached State Pension age to be eligible for Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit was introduced by the previous conservative government from 15 May 2019. Benefit support for couples wher...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: EquipmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the sale of flying ring frisbees.
Answer: No, the Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the sale of flying ring frisbees. This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMarine Recovery Fund and Nature Restoration FundDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to combine the proposed (a) Nature Restoration Fund and (b) Marine Recovery Fund.
Answer: The Marine Recovery Fund is being established as a voluntary mechanism to deliver strategic compensation for offshore wind developers.
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBank Services: StandardsTreasuryTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59955More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the regulatory mandate under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 to require (a) the Financial Conduct Authority and (b) LINK to assess the a
Answer: The Government recognises that the ability to access cash and in-person banking support remains essential for many, which is why we have secured the industry’s commitment to roll out 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament, ensuring that access to ...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of high-density retirement housing schemes in rural areas that do not have corresponding funding for local healthcare infrastructure on demand
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and this means we require world class infrastructure across the NHS estate. We recognise the challenges that areas of significant housing and population growth...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that planning decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate account for local housing need in (a) areas where there is (i) acute deman
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate is an arm’s length body, responsible for examining local development plans impartially to ensure they are legally compliant and sound, and for considering appeals against planning decisions.Inspectors will make decisions in light...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisons: EducationMinistry of JusticeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59600More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether contracts agreed with the Prison Education Service will include provision for inflationary increases to budgets for each prison in each year.
Answer: The overall budget for the Prisoner Education Service is subject to the Ministry of Justice’s internal annual budget allocations process to set internal budgets following the Spending Review period, so it is not possible to comment on budgets at prison le...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisons: EducationMinistry of JusticeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Prison Education Service contracts have been agreed; for what reason there was a delay in signing the contracts; and what her planned timetable is for signing the contracts.
Answer: The Prisoner Education Service comprises of six different nationally contracted services, including Core Education and Careers Information and Guidance as the two most significant ones by total contract value. To provide some context, there are circa 70 c...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers and Seas and Oceans: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NGOs, (b) non-profit organisations and (c) Surfers Against Sewage on levels of sewage in rivers and seas.
Answer: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including Surfers Against Sewage, on levels of sewage in rivers and seas. As part of our Plan for Change, we are putting water companies under special measures through our land...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: North CornwallDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of rural transport infrastructure in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: This Government continues to work at pace to address the transport challenges people face in rural areas like North Cornwall. We recently announced £2.3 billion of Local Transport Grant funding for local authorities over the four-year Spending Review peri...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDisadvantaged: FinanceTreasuryTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59561More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, if she will publish the full list of the 350 deprived communities that will receive new investment.
Answer: The government is setting out a more targeted, long-term local growth funding model across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This is only one part of our wider regional growth strategy, including our support for devolut...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDisadvantaged: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, if her Department will publish their methodology for (a) calculating and (b) allocation of funding from her
Answer: On 11 June 2025, the government has announced communities funding for up to 350 places, including the 75 places named in the Plan for Neighbourhoods in March 2025. Within this, 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods will receive up to £20 million over the next dec...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCounty Courts: JudgementsMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate she has made of the number of County Court Judgments entered by default as a result of claimants using incorrect addresses for service of court documents.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally.
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDebt Collection: RegulationMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent statutory regulator for High Court enforcement officers.
Answer: Whilst most High Court enforcement agencies have already signed up to the Enforcement Conduct Board’s independent voluntary accreditation scheme, the Government believes that it is necessary to take action so that all High Court Enforcement Officers, enfo...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether fines received for environmental breaches are hypothecated back into environmental schemes.
Answer: Following the Spending Review, this Government has confirmed that water company fines and penalties will be allocated to projects and programmes across the country which contribute to water quality. Over £100 million in fines levied against water companie...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordJournalism: Higher EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her correspondence to the Interim Chair of the Office for Students, dated 19 May 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the reprioritisa
Answer: We have made difficult decisions, driven by the challenging fiscal inheritance, regarding the allocation of Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) funding. We are protecting support for high-cost subjects that are essential to delivery of our Industrial Strateg...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on the (a) development and (b) implementation of the registration scheme for short-term lets.
Answer: DCMS has commenced the second phase of digital development for the short-term lets registration scheme legislated for in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. During this phase, we will test the user interface with a small number of users to ensure ...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →