Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2024
62 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Public Sector: Rural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 901934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the equality of access to public services in rural areas.
Answer: Public bodies, in exercising their statutory responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), consider the adequacy of equality of access to public services, including through the use of tools such as Equality Impact Assessments. We are alre...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAlternative FuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support off-grid properties to transition to clean fuels.
Answer: Currently, the Government’s Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) provides grants for energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to low-income households living in the worst performing, off-grid homes in England. In September 2024, the Government announced a ne...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrees: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential role of (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees in place-making for (i) large-scale new towns and (ii) urban extensions.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering a new generation of new towns. We have made clear these must be well-connected, well-designed, sustainable and attractive places where people want to live and that they must have all the infrastructure, amenities ...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrees: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting additional protections to (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees in planning policy.
Answer: Ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees are already strictly protected in national planning policy, while Tree Preservation orders safeguard individual trees or groups of trees of particular value. Local planning authorities have the principal resp...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her policies on (a) agricultural and (b) business property relief on ancient woodlands.
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTrees: ConservationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Tree Protection Order regime in protecting (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees.
Answer: Ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees are already strictly protected in national planning policy, while Tree Preservation orders safeguard individual trees or groups of trees of particular value. Local planning authorities have the principal resp...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrees: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to enhance the protection of (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees.
Answer: The Ancient Woodland Inventory, updated Planning Practice Guidance and the Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees are in place to support local decision makers make informed decisions about planning applications near these habi...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordKinship CareDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to produce a national kinship carers strategy.
Answer: The government is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve, and kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this.In November 2024, the government published ‘Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive’, which is available here...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordKinship Care: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to carry out kinship carers pilot trials in eight local authority areas.
Answer: Through the Autumn Budget 2024, this government announced a £40 million package to trial a new kinship allowance in up to 10 local authorities to test whether paying an allowance to cover the additional costs of supporting the child can help increase the ...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what changes she expects to make to governance arrangements in Bedfordshire through the English Devolution White Paper.
Answer: In July, the Deputy Prime Minister invited places without devolution agreements, including Bedfordshire, to come forward and submit devolution proposals for their areas. This process closed in September and the government is now working closely with local...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much she expects (a) Central Bedfordshire Council and (b) Bedford Borough Council to increase council tax in 2025/26.
Answer: Council tax levels are decided by each council. The local government finance policy statement 2025 to 2026 proposed a core council tax referendum limit of up to 3% and an adult social care precept of 2% for all local authorities responsible for adult soci...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much she expects the non-Council Tax element of the core spending power of (a) Central Bedfordshire Council and (b) Bedford Borough Council to increase in 2025/26.
Answer: The government published a policy statement on 28 November 2024 that confirmed that local government will receive an around 3.2% real-terms increase overall in Core Spending Power as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26.We will set out ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBroadband and Mobile Phones: StandardsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support people in areas of poor (a) broadband and (b) mobile phone signal during the switchover to digital alternatives to landlines.
Answer: For current landline-only customers it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing a general internet connection. Customers will only be offered VoIP if they live in an area with sufficient broadband connectivity. In areas with insufficie...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThameslink Line: BedfordDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of delayed services on the Bedford Line in (a) Q3 and (b) Q4 2024.
Answer: Information relating to the number of delayed services on the Bedford line is not held by the department. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes quarterly statistics on punctuality and reliability for passenger trains in Great Britain at: https://da...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of train delays in (a) Q3 and (b) Q4 2024 on productivity.
Answer: Whilst the Department has not made an assessment of the impact of train delays on productivity, we recognise the inconvenience and costs felt by passengers, local communities and businesses arising from poor performance. Ministers have been clear that rai...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to improve the reliability of train services.
Answer: Improving railway performance and delivering reform is a top priority for the Department. Ministers continue to meet with Managing Directors of the worst performing train operators and their Network Rail counterparts to address poor performance and demand...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThameslink Line: BedfordDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Thameslink on the performance of services on the Bedford Line.
Answer: Recent levels of disruption experienced on Thameslink due to delays and cancellations are clearly not acceptable and passengers deserve better. Ministers are meeting with the Managing Directors of all Train Operating Companies and their Network Rail count...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to help the automotive industry meet the 2030 phase-out date for petrol and diesel cars.
Answer: We will continue to support industry and consumers to make the switch to zero emission vehicles, with over £300 million announced in the Budget to drive uptake of electric vehicles and £2 billion to support the transition of domestic manufacturing and sup...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStellantis: Motor VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had discussions with Stellantis on the phase-out timeline for petrol and diesel cars.
Answer: The Secretary of State met Stellantis on multiple occasions throughout the summer and more recently in relation to its manufacturing presence in the UK. The Department has close engagement with the vehicle industry and engages regularly on topics includin...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVauxhall Motors: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to take steps to help Luton Borough Council secure the long-term future of employment at the Stellantis Vauxhall site in Luton.
Answer: Stellantis announced on 26 November that it was starting a consultation with staff on its plans to consolidate its two UK manufacturing sites into one plant at Ellesmere Port. The Department is actively engaging with the company and has asked them to shar...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVauxhall Motors: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact of the closure of the Stellantis Vauxhall site in Luton on the economy of (a) Luton Borough and (b) Bedfordshire.
Answer: Stellantis announced on 26 November that it was starting a consultation with staff at its Luton plant on its plans for the future of its manufacturing there. The Department is actively engaging with the company and has asked them to share the full details...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVauxhall Motors: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he had discussions with Stellantis prior to the announcement of the closure of the Vauxhall site in Luton.
Answer: The Secretary of State has been in contact with Stellantis since July to discuss the pressures in their UK and global business and the future of the Luton plant. He met them again on 26 November where they regrettably shared their proposals to consult on ...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCarers: BedfordshireDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of financial support available to unpaid carers in Bedfordshire.
Answer: Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting elderly or disabled relatives or friends. Sometimes unpaid carers will need to turn to the benefit system for financial support, so it is right that we keep Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meet...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCarers: CharitiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask local authorities to improve signposting of support groups for unpaid carers.
Answer: Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. It is for local authorities to decide how best to support their local population, including how they signpost unpaid carers to support groups.The...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDangerous Driving: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle dangerous driving in rural areas.
Answer: Any form of dangerous driving is a serious road safety issue. Dangerous driving is the offence of driving far below the standard that would be expected of a careful and competent driver. The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is an unlimited fine, dis...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →