Ben Spencer MP: written questions 2024
122 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Housing: 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 recordAutism and Learning Disability: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce the Oliver McGowan training Code of Practice.
Answer: Under the Health and Care Act 2022, a Code of Practice must be issued to guide providers registered with the Care Quality Commission on how to meet their statutory requirement on learning disability and autism training under the same Act. The Oliver McGow...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordObesity: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of online advertising regulations for prescription weight loss drugs.
Answer: The advertising and promotion of medicines in the United Kingdom is set out under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (Part 14). These legal requirements are set out in the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Blue Guide, which is ...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMental IllnessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish a mental ill health strategy.
Answer: The Department has no plans to publish a mental ill health strategy. We will fix the broken system to ensure that we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, and that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental heal...
Answered 25 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordM25: A3Department for TransportTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with National Highways on (a) the expected completion date for works on the Painshill junction of the M25 and A3 and (b) the steps being taken to (i) ensure the timely complet
Answer: National Highways are due to complete the main works at the Painshill roundabout and junction 10 of the M25 by Summer 2025 however, there will be other minor works including environmental enhancements that will be completed towards the end of 2025. To ens...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the total number of (a) children whose parents or guardians have applied for them from independent to state sector schools and (b) independent schools that (i) closed and (ii) ha
Answer: The department does not hold data on the total number of children whose parents or guardians have applied for them to move from independent to state sector schools. The Get Information about Schools website shows that five private schools across four cons...
Answered 19 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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