Ben Spencer MP: written questions 2025
104 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with AI companies on the potential risks of the provision of advice by AI programmes that would otherwise be provided by a regulated individual or entity.
Answer: We regularly meet with industry stakeholders, including AI firms, on potential risks that AI poses to businesses and the public.There are a range of existing rules that already apply to AI systems to address risks, with the UK’s expert regulators empowere...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCourt of ProtectionMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve timescales for cases in the Court of Protection.
Answer: HMCTS is working to increase overall system capacity to reduce processing times. Measures taken include a targeted action plan to allocate additional administrative resources in response to higher demand, as well as training and upskilling new staff. Addi...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordData Protection: EU LawDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill on the EU’s data adequacy decisions in relatio
Answer: The CSR Bill updates the UK’s cyber resilience framework set out in the NIS Regulations 2018 and does not impact the UK's key data protection legislation. It includes a range of measures that affect the Information Commission in its capacity as a NIS regu...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEmbassies: Electoral RegisterForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 906684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the role of British embassies in encouraging overseas voter regis
Answer: We encourage all British nationals to register as overseas voters if they move or live abroad. British Nationals abroad can contact their local Embassy or High Commission for more information.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Government: OutagesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 92210 on Internet: Outages, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) recognises the importance of robust protections for the services essential to our society and economy. That is why we introduced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB) on 12 November - by...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: AssetsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the level of resource required to a) repair and b) maintain essential river assets, including weirs and sluice gates, on the River Thames.
Answer: The 195 sets of weirs and sluices that exist along the 217km of non-tidal Thames are owned and operated by the Environment Agency (EA) and are regularly inspected to assess their condition, operational effectiveness, and safety. Critical parts of the weir...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the capacity of (a) sectoral regulators and (b) the NCSC to process and respond to cyber incident reports as a result of the expanded rep
Answer: Officials have worked closely with regulators and the NCSC in developing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and will continue to do so throughout its parliamentary passage and implementation planning. The NCSC already leads the UK’s response to cyber ...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures his Department is taking to mitigate any potential increase in waiting times for neurodiverse assessments in Runnymede and Weybridge as a result of the recent ICB decision to pause as
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. Th...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93190More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of Indicative Activity Plans limiting neurodiverse assessments through Right to Choose providers on waiting lists for neuro
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. Th...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: OutagesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) Government services and (b) critical national infrastructure faced disruption as a result of the Cloudflare outage on 18 November 2025; and what estimate her Department has
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is leading government’s response to the Cloudflare outage which occurred on Tuesday 19 November 2025. We understand that Cloudflare services were restored on Tuesday evening, and DSIT is engaging with ...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with (a) officials and (b) local authorities on making planning enforcement a non-discretionary service.
Answer: Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance. It is for authorities to decide how and when they use their powers depending on the circumstances of each case. It is also for local planning aut...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of financial pressures in local government on the delivery of effective planning enforcement.
Answer: Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance. It is for authorities to decide how and when they use their powers depending on the circumstances of each case. It is also for local planning aut...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural HeritageMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to local planning authorities to ensure the protection of (a) buildings and (b) areas of historic importance.
Answer: My Department has made no specific assessment of trends in relation to historic buildings and unlawful development. The government is committed to the protection of the historic environment. There are strong protections in both the National Planning Polic...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHistoric BuildingsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) loss and (b) damage to (i) English heritage and (ii) buildings of historic importance due to unlawful development.
Answer: My Department has made no specific assessment of trends in relation to historic buildings and unlawful development. The government is committed to the protection of the historic environment. There are strong protections in both the National Planning Polic...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Centres: WeybridgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any further action or information is needed to determine whether final approval for the rebuild of the Weybridge Health Centre will be granted.
Answer: Final approval for the business case for the rebuild of Weybridge Health Centre was granted by NHS England on 4 November 2025. Planning approvals have been secured, and pre-construction demolition began on 10 November 2025. Full construction is scheduled ...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Centres: WeybridgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions and correspondence he and his officials have had on the decision for final approval of the rebuild of the Weybridge Health Centre; and what timescale has been established for a fin
Answer: Final approval for the business case for the rebuild of Weybridge Health Centre was granted by NHS England on 4 November 2025. Planning approvals have been secured, and pre-construction demolition began on 10 November 2025. Full construction is scheduled ...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to correspondence dated (a) 16th July 2025, (b) 8 September 2025 and (c) 8 October 2025 from the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, on final approval for the rebuild
Answer: I responded to the Hon. Member’s correspondence on 13 November 2025.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport (Duty to Cooperate) BillDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill on the economy.
Answer: The Government will outline its position on this Bill during the scheduled second reading.
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMicrosoft: OutagesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) Government services and (b) critical national infrastructure faced disruption as a result of the Microsoft Azure outage on Wednesday 29 October 2025; and what estimate her D
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is leading Government’s response to the Microsoft Azure outage that took place on Wednesday 29 October 2025. We understand that all Azure services were restored on Wednesday evening, and DSIT is...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84960More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, case reference BS35944, dated (a) 15 July 2025 and (b) 8 September 2025 .
Answer: The Government is committed to transparency and accountability, including through clear and timely responses to correspondence. I can confirm that your letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office dated 15 July, and subsequent email 8 September, have bee...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAmazon Web Services: OutagesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what government services faced disruption as a result of the Amazon Web Services outage on Monday 20 October; and what assessment her Department plans to make of the cost to the economy
Answer: Many government departments use AWS services, and we are aware that the Home Office, DVLA, DWP and HMRC all experienced impacts as a result of the outage on Monday 20 October.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is working with bot...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2025 to Question 75683 on Neurodiversity: Children, what discussions he has had with NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board on the steps they are taking to
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no such discussion with the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB).The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines are developed by experts based...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77617More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to correspondence dated (a) 5 March 2025, (b) 13 May 2025 and (c) 11 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, case reference BS35623.
Answer: The Government is committed to transparency and accountability, including through clear and timely responses to correspondence. I can confirm that your letter to the then-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster dated 5 March, and subsequent emails of 13 May ...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy performance of Surrey and Borders NHS FT assessment pathway for neurodevelopment disorders in children.
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. Th...
Answered 8 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWeybridge Station: LiftsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) data sources and (b) methodology was used by South Western Rail to (i) measure the performance and (ii) monitor outage events of the lifts at Weybridge Station.
Answer: South Western Railway (SWR) uses the Network Rail data source system Citadel, which logs lifts reported out of use, alongside SWR customers advising of lifts out of use. This approach is used at all SWR stations with lifts including Weybridge. This data i...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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