Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions 2024
150 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Private Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent school fees on funding for state schools.
Answer: This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy and will confirm the introduction of these changes at the Budget on 30 October. The Office for Budget Responsibility will also certify the government’s costings for these ...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: SchoolsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for spending on mental health support in schools; and if he will provide a breakdown of projected spending by (a) local authority area and (b) spending type.
Answer: The Department is working across the Government to deliver our commitment of a specialist mental health professional in every school. We need to ensure any support meets the needs of young people, teachers, parents, and carers which is why we are explorin...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent school fees on the number of staff in support roles in such schools.
Answer: This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy and this tax policy change will be introduced at the Budget on 30 October. Following scrutiny of the government’s costing by the Independent Office for Budget Responsibili...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: DisadvantagedDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will support the independent sector to maintain places for (a) vulnerable and (b) disadvantaged children who have difficulties settling in large state schools.
Answer: State education is accessible to all children, regardless of their financial status. All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a state-funded school place. The department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has s...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: HuntingdonDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional SEN provision will be provided in state schools in Huntingdon constituency following the introduction of VAT on independent school fees.
Answer: State education is accessible to all children, regardless of their financial status. All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a state-funded school place. The department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has s...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that children leaving the independent sector in areas with no state school availability are safeguarded.
Answer: This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) indicates that the number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of this change is likely to represent a very sma...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that children leaving the independent sector are able to access state education within commutable distance.
Answer: This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy. Projections by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicate that the number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of these changes is likely to represent a very small...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will publish a detailed timeline of the steps he intends to take to phase-out animal testing.
Answer: The Government has committed to partnering with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the requirements for phasing out of animal testing and we are currently engaging with the sector as to how to take this commitment forward. It is no...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with international partners to change International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use policy to allow results
Answer: The Government has committed to work towards phasing out of animal testing, including supporting the development and testing of new medicines.The Government is working with pharmaceutical industry partners and through our medicines regulatory agency (MHRA...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to progress the approval of existing unapproved non-animal methods of pharmaceutical testing via the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Answer: The Government has committed to partnering with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the requirements for phasing out of animal testing.It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to secure external funding for the further development of non-animal methods of pharmaceutical testing.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the development and uptake of alternative methods to the use of animals in science and we are engaging with the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities on how to take this commitment forward. The Govern...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to ensure that the (a) end-to-end process and (b) regulatory landscape for pre-clinical animal testing is better understood by the public.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science.Non Government Organisations such as The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the National Centre for the Re...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6822More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to implement the Non-Animal Methods strategy.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasin...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring franchising plans to guarantee the consideration during the planning phase of bus services to villages that do not receive any.
Answer: The government is determined to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. It has set out a plan to achieve this, based on giving local leaders the tools they need to ensure bus services reflect the ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: HuntingdonDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many settlements in Huntingdon constituency do not have a daily bus service.
Answer: At present, the majority of bus services in England outside London are provided on a commercial basis by private operators. The government does not hold information on individual bus routes. The government is determined to deliver better bus services, gro...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordClinical Waste: IncineratorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6819More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many tonnes of medical waste are incinerated annually by the NHS in the East of England.
Answer: The information is not collected in the format requested. However, the National Health Service collects data for all of England in the Estates Returns Information Collection, which is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-informa...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBorder Security Command: StaffHome OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6818More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional staff will be required in (a) Government Departments and (b) Border Security Command for that organisation to reach full operational (i) readiness and (ii) effectiveness.
Answer: The Border Security Command (BSC) has been launched and will sit as a new bespoke command led by Martin Hewitt and within the Home Office, working collaboratively with colleagues across the department and beyond. Staff will have the same opportunities for...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBorder Security Command: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6817More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the in-year budget for the Border Security Command is for 2024-25.
Answer: The Home Secretary announced on 17 September up to £75 million in new investment for the Border Security Command. This will deliver cutting edge new technology, extra officers and further covert capabilities across the system. The BSC will be appropriatel...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6816More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from what year is the population data used to calculate the police allocation formula.
Answer: The Home Office publishes a Police Grant Report on an annual basis. The Report sets out the Home Secretary’s determination, made under section 46(2) of the Police Act 1996, of:the aggregate amount of grants for police purposes paid under Section 46, and;t...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing council tax bands.
Answer: Future decisions on council tax will be taken at the spending review in which we are fully engaged. Ahead of any decisions taken on the tax, the Government will carefully consider the impact on councils and taxpayers. The Government is committed to keepin...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6814More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to announce changes to business rates.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering a fairer business rates system by levelling the playing field between the high street and online giants, better incentivising investment, tackling empty properties and supporting entrepreneurship. Any decisions on...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordChoirs: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6813More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing tax relief for (a) singing groups and (b) choirs.
Answer: The creative industries play a key role in driving economic growth. The Government is committed to supporting the creative industries as a key part of its plan to fix the foundations of the economy, creating good jobs and accelerating growth in film, musi...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBanking Hubs: CambridgeshireTreasuryTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6812More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2024 to Question 4779 on Banking Hubs, what the timeline is for the roll-out of the new banking hubs; and whether (a) Cash Access UK and (b) LINK are considering St Ives in Cam
Answer: The Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this parliament. Currently, over 80 banking hubs are already open and Cash Access UK, who o...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSugar Beet: NeonicotinoidsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6811More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further derogation for the use of (a) Cruiser and (b) other neonicotinoids on sugar-beet crops in 2025.
Answer: Pesticides are strictly regulated based on the risks and benefits of use. Decisions on Emergency Authorisation applications for use of neonicotinoids on sugar beet for 2025 will be taken in line with the legal requirements of Regulation 1107/2009 (Article...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: CambridgeshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6810More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the asset condition of flood (a) defences and (b) infrastructure across Cambridgeshire’s middle-level.
Answer: Assets in the Middle Level are primarily managed by the Middle Level Commissioners with some managed by the Environment Agency (EA). The 2021 EA’s “Future Fens – Flood Risk Management Project Baseline Report” underscores the importance of these assets acr...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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