Ben Maguire MP: written questions 2025
333 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Outdoor Education: SafetyDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that (a) universities and (b) students' unions have a duty of care to students while und
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Cornwall to the answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54501.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that a proportion of all new build homes are disability-ready.
Answer: Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities. Everyone deserves to live in a decent home that is suitable for them and meets their needs. The revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, requires local planning authorit...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: ConsumersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that water customers have access to (a) impartial and (b) independent avenues of redress.
Answer: The Government has already committed to a number of Sir Jon Cunliffe’s recommendations as set out in the Independent Water Commission’s final report. As announced by the Environment Secretary on 21 July 2025, water customers will have more support than ev...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: ConsumersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of availability of independent (a) advice and (b) support to consumers who have problems with their water company.
Answer: The Government has already committed to a number of Sir Jon Cunliffe’s recommendations as set out in the Independent Water Commission’s final report. As announced by the Environment Secretary on 21 July 2025, water customers will have more support than ev...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: TravelDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on support for care workers with the costs of travel.
Answer: Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent of central Government.The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sust...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: Electric VehiclesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles for care workers.
Answer: Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent of central Government.The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sust...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBodmin KeepMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that the proposed transfer of Bodmin Keep from his Department to its Trustees is accompanied by sufficient funding to (a) enable the museum to rem
Answer: The Department is in regular communication with the Military Museum at Bodmin Keep about how they will transition from their current supported status in 2030, and what this will mean. The Department is also exploring a number of long-term options with the...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms exist for his Department to engage directly with SMEs providing patented technology to address (a) illegal sewage discharges and (b) freshwater shortages.
Answer: The Government is supporting innovation through Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, which has doubled in size to £400 million for 2025-2030. Since 2020, it has awarded funding to 109 projects - ranging from trialling artificial intelligence to detect algae in reserv...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: Small BusinessesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding streams are available for SMEs offering (a) patented and (b) environmentally beneficial technologies in the water sector.
Answer: There are a number of funding schemes available to innovative companies and SMEs in the water sector. Since 2020, Ofwat’s £600m Innovation Fund has supported 109 projects and facilitated almost 300 collaborations between companies, universities, charities...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: AccountabilityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered using external bodies with (a) forensic accounting and (b) corporate fraud expertise to support investigations into alleged (i) deliberate misrepo
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is the enforcement body responsible for investigating illegal pollution and misreporting by water companies.The EA has concluded 83 prosecutions since 2015, securing record fines of over £150 million against water companies. Fu...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: FiresDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating health conditions linked to exposure to domestic bonfire smoke in areas with high rates of respiratory illness.
Answer: Local authorities have a duty to monitor and review air quality in their areas. The Environment Agency manages the United Kingdom's national monitoring sites on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.No specific assessment of t...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFires: Air PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the impact of domestic bonfire smoke on (a) rural air quality and (b) wider environmental health.
Answer: Smoke from domestic bonfires can negatively affect both rural air quality and broader environmental health. Current legislation prohibits the burning of household waste where it may lead to pollution or pose a risk to public health. In addition, local aut...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSecurityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 905370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with President Trump on global security.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are deepening defence and security ties with the US to uphold peace and security, working together to respond to a more contested and volatile world. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regul...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: LauncestonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of public transport to and from other healthcare centres around Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of Lau
Answer: The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately ...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: LauncestonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will conduct an impact assessment of the closure of Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.
Answer: The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately ...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: LauncestonDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of healthcare services in Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.
Answer: The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately ...
Answered 1 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRegional AirportsDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to develop a long-term strategy for regional air connectivity that (a) reduces reliance on (i) Gatwick Airport (ii) Heathrow Airport and (iii) other major hubs and (b) suppor
Answer: The Department recognises how vital aviation is to maintaining connectivity between the regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to the wider world. Ministers and officials at the Department meet regularly with regional airports, including Cornwa...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDeveloping Countries: DebtsTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68645More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to work with (a) The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and (b) other relevant charities to help reduce the high interest public debt owed by certain developing countries.
Answer: The UK is concerned by impacts of the high debt servicing costs faced by developing countries. We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. Enhanced transparency wil...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDeveloping Countries: DebtsTreasuryTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68644More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of high interest public debt obligations owed by developing nations to UK private creditors on the public finances of those developing nations.
Answer: The UK is concerned by impacts of the high debt servicing costs faced by developing countries. We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. Enhanced transparency wil...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: BusinessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will produce an impact assessment on the potential impact of increases in costs for (a) butchers, (b) abattoirs and (c) other food business operators on those busines
Answer: The UK food processing and manufacturing sectors are highly resilient and adaptable and continue to supply healthy and affordable products in spite of the many challenges they have faced in recent years including the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukrai...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMeat: Small BusinessesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is offering to small independent family (a) butchers and (b) abattoirs.
Answer: The Government recognises the important contribution small independent family butchers and abattoirs make to the food supply chain and remains committed to maintaining a resilient and accessible meat processing sector. A strong network of local abattoirs ...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the registration scheme for short-term lets will include appropriate (a) checks and (b) enforcement to ensure that holiday lets are both (i) leg
Answer: During the Short Term Lets registration process, providers of short-term lets will be reminded of their legal responsibilities and required to confirm that their properties comply with legal requirements and meet safety standards. Details of the scheme, i...
Answered 5 Aug 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal Cornwall Hospital: ConstructionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to build the new Women and Children's Hospital at Treliske on the local community.
Answer: The new Women and Children's Hospital scheme at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is in Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme (NHP), as set out in the Plan for Implementation, and is due to commence construction between 2027 and 2028. An equality impact assessme...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Key WorkersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of (a) affordable and (b) social housing for key workers in North Cornwall constituency.
Answer: The government recognises the need for social and affordable housing for key workers in North Cornwall and other areas.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that local planning authorities should assess t...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordA30: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to include the A30 junction at Plusha in the Road Safety Strategy.
Answer: The Department is aware of the safety issues at the junction between the A30 and B3257 at Plusha. National Highways is investigating a number of possible modest safety improvements for this stretch of the A30 as part of its A30 Kennards House to Five Lane...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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