Ben Spencer MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Magna Carta SchoolDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rebuild the Magna Carta School in Egham.
Answer: Magna Carta was announced as part of the school rebuilding programme in February 2024. The department remains committed to rebuild or refurbish all schools within the programme and we can confirm that early planning work for Magna Carta has started.
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHeathrow Airport: RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) local traffic and (b) air pollution of a direct rail link from Egham to Heathrow.
Answer: A direct rail link from Egham to Heathrow is not currently being developed by the Department for Transport. Heathrow Southern Rail Ltd (HSRL) is developing proposals for a southern rail link to the airport, and I would expect impacts on local traffic and...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make a comparative estimate of the potential reduction in local noise pollution on the M25 in Runnymede and Weybridge constituency by (a) repairing the sections of concrete motorway and (b) replacin
Answer: National Highways has already undertaken trials to monitor the noise generated by concrete road surfaces following surface treatments (including Next Generation Concrete Surfacing) and the noise generated by other types of road surface. The outcome of the...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWritten QuestionsLeader of the HouseTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8887More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, how many and what proportion of (a) named day and (b) ordinary written parliamentary questions were answered within the response deadline by (i) Department and (ii) month since 4 July 2024.
Answer: Data on response times to written parliamentary questions (PQs) is held by the House, not the government. PQs are an important part of the scrutiny of government and we are committed to ensuring that Members receive full and timely responses. In May 2024,...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: LiftsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of lift (a) availability and (b) maintenance and repair at train stations.
Answer: This is an operational matter for Network Rail and the train operating companies. Lifts should be available whenever passengers need them, however, there have been many occasions where this has not been the case. Network Rail has been aware of lift and es...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many enforcement actions relating to flood risk prevention were taken by the Environment Agency in each constituency in 2023.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) regulate works in rivers through a permissions-based approach under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. These are referred to as “flood risk activities”. The primary purpose of the regulations is to ensure in-river works ...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Environment Agency's (a) actions and (b) policies in managing flood risk from watercourse in riparian ownership.
Answer: Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the Environment Agency (EA) has a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal change and are the lead authority for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, estuaries an...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFloods: Home InsuranceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the provisions of Flood:Re beyond 2039.
Answer: Flood Re is a flood re-insurance scheme that aims to ensure UK householders living in properties at high risk of flooding can access affordable home insurance. The scheme is due to end in 2039, at which point the aim is for the market to offer affordable ...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that (a) new homes are not build on high risk flood areas and (b) cumulative development does not increase local flood risk.
Answer: The government recognises the devastating impact which flooding can have on communities, and the role the planning system plays in directing development to areas of lowest possible flood risk. National planning policy is clear that inappropriate developme...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce flood performance certificates.
Answer: Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Flood Re is a UK-wide, Government and industry led flood re-insurance scheme which aims to promote the affordability and availability of insurance for UK households at high flood ...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: Park HomesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of Park Home Residents who are unable to take up Pension Credit due to pitch fees not being treated equivalently to ground rent in the application process.
Answer: An award of Pension Credit can include certain housing costs where the dwelling occupied as the home is not owned by the claimant and if these costs cannot be covered by Housing Benefit. Examples of housing costs covered by Pension Credit include: rents o...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies for the (a) care and (b) treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) of the report entitled Ma
Answer: Our deepest sympathies go out to Maeve’s family and friends in this tragic case. Every patient deserves to have their condition understood and treated to the highest standard, and this is a heart-wrenching example of a patient falling through the cracks.T...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on reviewing guidance for the (a) diagnosis, (b) care and (b) treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis or chr
Answer: We have had no discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on reviewing its guidance for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).The NICE develops i...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has issued guidance to integrated care systems (ICS) on commissioning specialist care and treatment services for myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS); and wheth
Answer: The Government has made a commitment to publish a final delivery plan for ME/CFS. The consultation responses, alongside continued stakeholder engagement, will inform the development of the final delivery plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to produce a national myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) strategy.
Answer: The Government has made a commitment to publish a final delivery plan for ME/CFS. The consultation responses, alongside continued stakeholder engagement, will inform the development of the final delivery plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what meetings he has had with (a) NHS clinical teams specialising in the care and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), (b) researchers, (c) patients and (d)
Answer: The Government has made a commitment to publish a final delivery plan for ME/CFS. The consultation responses, alongside continued stakeholder engagement, will inform the development of the final delivery plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordME/CFS: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Research on support for research into (a) care and (b) treatment for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis or c
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not had any recent discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) specifically on research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue ...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Development Consent Order application process to speed up the delivery of the River Thames Scheme.
Answer: The Secretary of State is aware of the importance of the River Thames Scheme in reducing flood risk and enhancing resilience for communities along the Thames. The Development Consent Order (DCO) application process plays a critical role in ensuring that l...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the public information campaign for RSV vaccination uptake; and what further communication he plans for (a) people over 80 and (b) other ineligib
Answer: To raise awareness of the potential vaccination benefits and increase awareness of the programmes amongst health professionals, parents, carers, and the wider public, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides a comprehensive suite of public facing re...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers she has to (a) ensure the timely delivery of the M25/A3 works and (b) prevent unnecessary disruption from the works while they are under way.
Answer: National Highways has public commitment dates for delivery in their Delivery Plan and they are held to account on these dates by the Highways Monitor, Office of Rail and Road. Additionally, through the Department’s established governance framework with Na...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRiver Thames: AssetsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish an audit of the state of (a) operation and (b) maintenance of publicly owned assets on the River Thames.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) manages many of the publicly owned assets along the non-tidal Thames, ranging from flood defences, navigation infrastructure, river gauging stations and some of the Thames Path bridges. These assets are managed in accordance wi...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBoats: Runnymede and WeybridgeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on when the Environment Agency plans to take enforcement action against illegal moorings in Runnymede and Weybridge constituency.
Answer: Environment Agency (EA) officers have been actively patrolling the Desborough Cut area and have mapped all trespassing vessels, including wrecks and abandoned boats. As of 27 September 2024, there are 29 vessels in total in this area. These include both r...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Speech and Language DisordersDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of and (b) geographical inequalities in access to Speech and Language Screening in educational and early years settings.
Answer: The department is aware that the most prevalent type of primary need identified among pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is ‘speech, language and communication needs’ (SLCN). Our vision for children and young people with SLCN is the same as it is...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: Disease ControlDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many trade agreements require the use of biosecurity (a) facilities and (b) services provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency in New Haw; and if he will make an estimate of the contribution o
Answer: The UK has over 70 trade agreements in place. APHA facilities and services managing the risks posed by animal diseases to human and animal health are crucial to underpinning the biosecurity of imports and exports under all of them. Published impact assess...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: MisuseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what advice he has received from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on the harm to health of drinking in public houses compared to (a) private residences and (b) other settings; and
Answer: Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people in living longer, healthier lives. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how to best reduce alcohol ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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