Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
665 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by her Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: DSIT undertakes a range of reviews, consultations, and wider public engagement to inform effective decision-making and delivery. These costs of these are not separately recorded in a way that would enable us to provide the estimate requested.
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record5G: East West Rail LineDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that the route of East-West Rail is covered by 5G mobile signal prior to the first services running on the Marston Vale Line.
Answer: East West Rail Company (EWR Co) will install high-capacity fibre along the line of route including the Marston Vale Line, which has spare capacity designated for third-party telecommunications such as to provide 5G mobile signal for passenger use. EWR Co ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: FinanceCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90885More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64583, if his Department will publish the assessment they made to inform the GREAT Campaign’s focus for 2025-26.
Answer: Evaluation results for the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign have not yet been finalised for financial year 2024/25. We expect initial economic returns generated by the campaign in 2024/25 to have been assessed and validated before the end of ...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGREAT: InvestmentCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90884More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64200, when he expects to publish the evaluation results for 2024-25.
Answer: Evaluation results for the GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign have not yet been finalised for financial year 2024/25. We expect initial economic returns generated by the campaign in 2024/25 to have been assessed and validated before the end of ...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Safety RegulatorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of low-complexity work in higher-risk buildings having to be submitted to the Building Safety Regulator for approval on
Answer: We recognise there have been significant challenges faced by applicants in getting Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval for low-complexity and lower-risk work. Category B work, generally including less-complex and lower-risk projects, carries fewer pr...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: High Rise FlatsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of the High-Risk Building regime on the Government’s target of achieving 99% gigabit-capable broadband coverage by 2032; and what discussions
Answer: Building and fire safety, including the Higher-Risk Building regulatory framework, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).The department continues to work closely with MHCLG to assess and mitigate delays...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Key findings, Statistical Digest of Rural England, updated on 15 October 2025, if she will request a formal assessment of the st
Answer: In producing the Statistical Digest of Rural England (the Digest) Defra takes the approach of voluntary application of the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Digest is a compendium publication based on secondary analysis of statistical products produced...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, how she plans to measure the success of that trial.
Answer: An independent evaluation of the Digital Pay-As-You-Go trials, including the one on East Midlands Railway between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, has been commissioned. The trial is currently expected to end in 2027, and we intend to publish the findings...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, for what reason East Midlands Rail and Northern were
Answer: The routes in the East Midlands and Yorkshire operated by East Midlands Railway and Northern were selected as being areas of the rail network that do not have existing or planned Pay-As-You-Go schemes and with large enough passenger numbers to give statis...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: GrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has carried out a value for money analysis of the Electric Car Grant.
Answer: Yes, the Department has completed an internal value for money assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials will continue to monitor the grant, and assess its value for money, to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent in a cost-effective manner.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: Public Consultation and ReviewsMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this qu...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCourts: BedfordshireMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the press release entitled Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots, published on 25 July 2025, whether the expansion will include Bedfordshire.
Answer: The expansion of Intensive Supervision Courts, as set out in the press release of 25 July 2025, builds on the success of the pilot in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Teesside. Following this, the Ministry of Justice launched an open Expression of Inter...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: Small BusinessesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of residential development projects had a main developer which was classified as an SME in each of the last five years.
Answer: This information is not recorded by my Department.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Consultation and ReviewsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: This Government is committed to using reviews, consultations and wider public engagement to inform effective decision-making and delivery. These activities are undertaken as part of the Department’s routine business, and costs are not separately recorded ...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the proportion of planning applications rejected by Councils in each of the last five years, broken down by controlling political party.
Answer: The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, av...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of planning applications which have been rejected in each of the past five years in London.
Answer: The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, av...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England.
Answer: The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, av...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Greater LondonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of houses that have been rejected for planning permission in Greater London since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, av...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data his Department holds on the number of houses in urban areas which have been rejected for planning permission since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, av...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has conducted research on the public’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different (a) local and (b) national government (i) authorities a
Answer: The department has not conducted research on the public’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different (a) local and (b) national government (i) authorities and (ii) office holders.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous Dogs Act 1991Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Answer: Defra is continuing to engage closely with the Police, local authorities, and rescue and rehoming organisations to monitor the impacts of the XL Bully dog ban. We are also working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore mea...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing statutory funding for tackling flooding to fire and rescue services in England.
Answer: Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Fire and Rescue Authorities already have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. However, we recognise the interest in ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: Consultations and reviews form part of everyday policymaking in the Department, making it impossible to disaggregate a figure for salary costs specifically relating to consultations. Therefore, the information requested is not held.
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: ApprenticesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73473 on Health Services: Apprentices, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of funding the provision of those Level 7 a
Answer: Funding for the continuation of Level 7 apprenticeships in five professions has been agreed by NHS England and the Department for courses starting from 1 January 2026 up to 31 March 2029. Funding can be used by employers to cover education costs which wou...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73482 on Integrated Care Boards: Finance, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of the use of five-year population projections o
Answer: Allocations are determined through a complex, weighted capitation formula that incorporates multiple factors beyond population projections, including age, sex, need, and cost adjustments. Isolating the effect of a single component would not accurately ref...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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