Ben Spencer MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Inland WaterwaysDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many enforcement actions to require riparian landowners to discharge their watercourse maintenance obligations were taken by the Environment Agency in each constituency in 2023.
Answer: In 2023 the Environment Agency (EA) recorded 404 incidents nationally where riparian ownership was referenced. Where offences were identified the EA took action in line with their enforcement and sanctions policy to protect the environment. One warning le...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: SchoolsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what professional accreditations will new mental health practitioners employed in schools be required to hold.
Answer: We are currently working with colleagues at the Department for Education and NHS England to consider the options.
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFloodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Thames Water's operational response to flooding during Storm Henk (a) nationally and (b) in Surrey.
Answer: Storm Henk was the eighth named storm of the 2023/24 flood season, with flood warnings across the country from 02 to 09 January. River flooding impacts were due to heavy rainfall falling on saturated catchments. On 4 January, the impact from flooding in t...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewage: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Thames Water’s surface and foul water drainage asset management in the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.
Answer: It is important for companies to maintain assets to ensure compliance with legal obligations and continuity of service for customers now and into the future. There are two common performance commitments that Ofwat uses, alongside other information, to mon...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: Park HomesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the impact of excluding pitch fees from pension credit applications on park home residents.
Answer: No such discussions have taken place. Pitch fees can usually be met through Housing Benefit. In cases where there is a tenancy of over 21 years, then the pitch fees are not eligible for Housing Benefit but instead may be met by the housing cost element in...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: SewersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of her increased housing targets on sewerage capacity by (a) water company region and (b) constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of water and wastewater provision on new developments. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of grow...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEducational Psychology: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) train, (b) recruit and (c) retain educational psychologists.
Answer: Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). However, the department knows that current workforce shortages are a barrier to d...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with which countries she is negotiating a reciprocal agreement on uprating state pensions.
Answer: My department is not negotiating any reciprocal social security agreements.
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Environment Agency’s performance on flood risk asset management along the non-tidal Thames; and what discussions he has had with that
Answer: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedn...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordThames WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the performance standards he expects Thames Water to meet in response to a sewer flooding incident.
Answer: The Environment Agency expects water and sewerage companies to take all possible measures to avoid pollution incidents and to mitigate environmental impact if they occur. Thames Water’s current performance on pollution incidents is unacceptable and the co...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) flood risk and (b) primary navigation assets along the non-tidal Thames that are below their target condition lie within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency
Answer: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedn...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the condition of flood risk assets along the non-tidal Thames on flood risk in that area.
Answer: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedn...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) ability of river users to safely navigate the Thames river and (b) potential economic impact of the proportion of navigation assets along
Answer: (a) The safety of river users navigating the non-tidal Thames is a priority for the Environment Agency (EA), although it remains the responsibility of the master of their vessel to ensure the safety of it and everyone on board. The EA have measures in pla...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the economic impact to businesses and communities in Runnymede and Weybridge constituency of the M25/A3 improvement works.
Answer: National Highways (NH) is delivering a scheme on the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange and selected surrounding roads to reduce congestion, improve safety, support planned housing and economic growth, and improve provision for pedestrians, cyclists an...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBridges: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the causes of delays in repairing bridge 142 in Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.
Answer: To ensure public safety and prevent access to the bridge, Egham Hythe (Bridge 142) will be closed until the Environment Agency (EA) has completed the necessary repair. Following a tree strike in 2023 the EA has conducted several specialist surveys of this...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools are participating in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme; and how much funding is provided to each school as part of the Early Language and Support for Every Child in Surrey.
Answer: There are 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme currently, following the continuation of the programme for an additional academic year, which was announced in July 2024. The full list of schools registered...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Mole: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of improvements to sewage works discharging into the river Mole and (b) extent of further work needed to reduce storm overflows from tho
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has 31 Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) schemes in the current investment period 2020-25. These cover the Mole catchment as a whole. The schemes involve a range of actions including increasing storm tank ca...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewage: WeybridgeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of improvements to Weybridge sewage works and (b) extent of further work needed to reduce storm overflows from that site.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has required Thames Water to improve the Event Duration Monitoring of storm overflows at Weybridge Sewage Treatment works as part of the current Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) 2020-25. The EA has inspecte...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewage: Water TreatmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of improvements to Chertsey Sewage Works and (b) extent of further work needed to reduce storm overflows from that site.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has required Thames Water to significantly improve the storm tank capacity at Chertsey Sewage Treatment works as part of the current Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) 2020-25 to reduce the frequency of storm...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: Adrenaline Auto-injectorsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) staff training and (b) equipment for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in schools.
Answer: Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, Academies and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions.The accompanying statutory guidance, entitled Supporting Pupils...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal and Plant Health AgencyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planned upgrade and improvement works at the Animal and Plant Health Agency on (a) current and (b) future trade agreements.
Answer: Work to safeguard and enhance the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) site in Weybridge continues. This capability ensures the Government can continue to manage a wide range of biosecurity threats which may otherwise affect our ability to trade. Defra...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what metrics are in place to (a) monitor and (b) enforce the timely response of the Environment Agency to reports of (i) waterway obstructions, (ii) lack of waterway maintenance and (i
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is accountable to Parliament via the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). As the principal sponsor of the EA, Defra works closely with EA officials at every level to provide constructive challenge...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what enforcement powers he has over the Environment Agency if they fail to remove (a) a tree under the Wey Bridge and (b) other waterway obstructions.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is accountable to Parliament via the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). As the principal sponsor of the EA, Defra works closely with EA officials at every level to provide constructive challenge...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewage: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take enforcement action against Thames Water in response to sewer flooding in the Runnymede and Weybridge Constituency.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) assesses all incident reports and responds to those which pose the greatest risk to the environment. The EA has received one recent report of sewer flooding in the Runnymede and Weybridge Constituency (since 1 September 2024). ...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Centres: WeybridgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress his Department has made on building a new healthcare facility to replace Weybridge Community Hospital.
Answer: Since the fire at Weybridge Community Hospital in 2017, the NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been working on plans to develop a replacement health centre. The planning application is due to be submitted shortly, following a public con...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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