Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Universities: Economic Growth and ResearchDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the value for money of the (a) economic growth contribution and (b) research output provided by each university.
Answer: The department recognises the vital role universities play in driving economic growth, producing world-leading research, and delivering value for money to students. Frameworks like the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (...
Answered 22 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Capital InvestmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to provide capital funding to local authorities on an annual basis.
Answer: The government has taken steps towards the simplification of capital local growth funding by consolidating the Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals and Simplification Pathfinders Pilot Fund into a single Local Regeneration Fund - providing greater flexibility an...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Town Development CorporationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will require New Towns Development Corporations to produce a design code for new towns.
Answer: The government has been clear that the next generation of new towns must be well-connected, well-designed, sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities, and services necessary to sustain thriving ...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of planning permissions granted since July 2024 that have led to house building starts.
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the time taken between the granting of planning permission for a residential development and the start of housebuilding within the development.The information that the Department routinely collects on house building...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the average time since planning was granted for house building starts in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the time taken between the granting of planning permission for a residential development and the start of housebuilding within the development.The information that the Department routinely collects on house building...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62017 on Housing, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential impact of Part O on internal temperatures.
Answer: Part O of the Building Regulations, which aims to address the risk of overheating in new residential buildings, came into force in June 2022. A transition period was put in place to minimise disruption to projects that were already underway and to allow i...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: MapsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61248 on Green Belt: Maps, whether local authorities will be required to publish a map of grey belt areas within their areas du
Answer: It is for individual local planning authorities to undertake the necessary assessments to identify if land is grey belt, either through plan making or through considering specific applications that come forward. Similarly, it is for authorities to determi...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Fairer funding for councils across the country in major reform, published on 20 June 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the effe
Answer: This government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. The Fair Funding Review 2.0 ran from 20 June to 15 August 2025, and proposed reforming the local government funding system. The updated assessment which was c...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVisasHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how often her Department checks that UK visa holders are living at the address provided.
Answer: Home Office decision makers can make enquiries as part of the visa consideration process to confirm that a person is intending to stay at the address provided in their application. Customers are encouraged to update their personal details, including their...
Answered 6 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Social ServicesHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of social care visa holders have transferred to another visa type since July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. Official statistics published by the Home Office...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VisasHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas have been issued where a public sector body is the sponsoring employer since July 2024; and how many of those visa holders are still employed by those bodies.
Answer: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. Official statistics published by the Home Office...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VisasHome OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas have been issued where the National Health Service is the sponsoring employer since July 2024; and how many of those visa holders are still employed by the NHS.
Answer: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. Official statistics published by the Home Office...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to p.81 of the 10 Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of triage using AI on the NHS App for each patient.
Answer: We are currently developing our plans in response to the 10-Year Health Plan commitments to support artificial intelligence (AI) assisted triage. We will do so following stringent clinical safety standards as outlined in the NHS Service Standard, as well ...
Answered 8 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic GrowthTreasuryTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75741More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2025 Issue 1, published on 3 June 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the OECD's growth forecast for the UK
Answer: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an independent international organisation. As part of ongoing engagement with many different stakeholders relevant to the conduct of economic and fiscal policy, the Government engages re...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release New drainage standards tackle pollution in England’s communities, published on 19 June 2025, if he will list the (a) flooding and (b) drainage exper
Answer: A range of stakeholders including expert consultants, devolved administrations, local authorities, arms length bodies, water companies, drainage experts, environmental groups and developers were consulted.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled New drainage standards tackle pollution in England’s communities, published on 19 June 2025, if he will list the stakeholders that were con
Answer: A range of stakeholders including expert consultants, devolved administrations, local authorities, arms length bodies, water companies, drainage experts, environmental groups and developers were consulted.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Solar PowerMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the potenti
Answer: As part of the consultation on the Future Homes Standard, the proposed net zero-ready standard for new build homes, we published a consultation-stage impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including rooftop solar. In de...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Solar PowerMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, if she has made an estimate of the potentia
Answer: As part of the consultation on the Future Homes Standard, the proposed net zero-ready standard for new build homes, we published a consultation-stage impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including rooftop solar. In de...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit BillDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Personal Independence Payments Bill on public finances.
Answer: As I set out in the House of Commons on 1 July 2025, this Government has listened to the concerns raised by Members from across the House regarding the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).Clause 5 of the Universal Credit and Personal I...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCapital MarketsTreasuryTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75409More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June to Written Question 61630 on Investment, what steps she is taking to talking to support retail participation in UK capital markets following the cancellation of the retail sale of N
Answer: The Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms will give more people the confidence to invest in our world-leading capital markets, benefitting both consumers and the UK economy. In particular, the Treasury is working closely with the FCA to roll out a system of targeted...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and Development: Health ServicesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service, published on 11 June 2025, when he plans to confirm the 35
Answer: At Spending Review 2025, the Chancellor announced that up to 350 of the most deprived places will receive support from government. Full profiles and detailed guidance will be published in due course.The programme will adopt a flexible approach offering ar...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Employment Rights BillDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 14 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Emp
Answer: The Employment Rights Bill is the first stage of Make Work Pay, which is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. The approach is designed to help more people to stay in wo...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Private SectorDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the percentage of NHS services provided by private healthcare providers (a) on 6 September 2025 and (b) at the end of the 10 Year Health Plan period.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan builds on the Elective Reform Plan and the Independent Sector Partnership Agreement, published in January 2025. It reinforces the commitment to use available capacity in the independent sector to treat National Health Service patie...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which areas he plans to designate as integrated health organisations in 2026; and what criteria he will use to identify those areas.
Answer: As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, National Health Service foundation trusts that have shown an ability to meet core standards, improve population health, form partnerships with others, and remain financially sustainable over time will be eligible fo...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIntegrated Care Boards: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the
Answer: NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within the health and care structure. All ICBs shared their delivery plan in accordance ...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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