Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visas: Health ProfessionsHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas have been issued where the NHS is the sponsoring employer since July 2024; and how many of those employees continue to work for 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.The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work ...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VisasHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department requires sponsoring employers to notify them when an employee whose visa they are sponsoring leaves their employment.
Answer: Sponsors are required to report to the Home Office when they stop sponsoring a worker for any reason, including where the worker resigns, is dismissed or is made redundant.A sponsor’s reporting duties are set out in the Workers and Temporary Workers: guid...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian SituationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he will take to support the US Government in improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBeer and Public Houses: Soft PowerForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the beer and pub sector on the UK’s soft power.
Answer: The UK has consistently ranked within the top three countries in indices that measure soft power. The UK pub and beer industry are key assets for the UK economy and society and contribute to our soft power. The pub is also a key tourism destination for ma...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Atlantic Ocean: FisheriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable U
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in conjunction with the Falkland Islands Government, continue to collaborate closely to assess the implications of the Agreement on fishing in the...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChiropracticDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of utilising chiropractors to reduce NHS waiting lists.
Answer: As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for musculoskeletal treatment, wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.The Electi...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: StudentsHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of Student Visa holders who have overstayed their visa in each of the last five years.
Answer: The government has launched a direct messaging campaign to remind students their visas are expiring. The first-of-its-kind communication comes during the autumn period where asylum applications typically spike and is part of continued Home Office measures...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of how many and what proportion of people who entered the UK on a skilled worker visa in each of the past ten years continue to (a) live in the UK and (b) work in an occup
Answer: Obtaining the specific information requested would involve collating and verifying information from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office and, therefore, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Home Office publishes d...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VisasHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many inspections of Home Office approved visa-sponsoring employers have been made 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.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordVisasHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of visa holders who have left the UK prior to the expiry of their visa in each of the last five years.
Answer: The government has launched a direct messaging campaign to remind students their visas are expiring. The first-of-its-kind communication comes during the autumn period where asylum applications typically spike and is part of continued Home Office measures...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VisasHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will review the employment history of applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain who have been in the UK on a (a) social care visa, (b) health visa and (c) other work-related visas to
Answer: The process for considering applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications from Skilled Worker visa holders is set out in caseworker guidance which is available on gov.uk: Skilled Worker visa: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help (a) end the recent violence and (b) ensure the protection of minority groups in Syria.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 4 September to Question 69285.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the safe provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Answer: The previous Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 23 August to discuss a number of issues including humanitarian aid. We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations and United States, to push for unrestricted humanitarian ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPalestinian Authority: HamasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the future role of Hamas in the Palestinian Authority.
Answer: The former Foreign Secretary held regular discussions with his US counterpart on shared priorities, including bringing an end to the war in Gaza, and the new Foreign Secretary will do the same.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: CeasefiresForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to Hamas on agreeing US proposals to secure a ceasefire.
Answer: The UK has long retained a policy of no contact with Hamas who are a proscribed terrorist organisation. We are clear that Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel anymore.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: HamasForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on diplomatic steps to end the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Answer: The former Foreign Secretary held regular discussions with his US counterpart on shared priorities, including bringing an end to the war in Gaza, and the new Foreign Secretary will do the same.
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe provision of humanitarian aid to people in need in Gaza.
Answer: The previous Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 23 August to discuss a number of issues including humanitarian aid. We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations and United States, to push for unrestricted humanitarian ...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Mid BedfordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the (a) safety, (b) dignity and (c) provision of healthcare for (i) transgender and (ii) non-binary people in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
Answer: The Denny Review, published in September 2023, investigated health-related inequalities in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. This included a report commissioned from Healthwatch Luton on the experiences of LGBT+ people in the town.Subsequently, train...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Dysphoria: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the new specialist gender centre for children and young people in the East of England will open.
Answer: A Children and Young People’s Gender Service is anticipated to open in the East of England later in the year.NHS England is making progress towards its ambition to open a gender service in each region of England by 2026. Three new services have opened in ...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of building regulations on the speed of development of new towns.
Answer: The Building Regulations 2010 are intended to protect people’s safety, health and welfare. They establish minimum legal performance standards for the design and construction of new building work. The government assesses the impact of any proposed changes ...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of delivery timescales for New Towns Development Corporations on the ability of those corporations to build beautiful house
Answer: Development corporations are well placed to achieve significant volumes of housebuilding at the same time as delivering high-quality and well-designed homes and neighbourhoods.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the Chagos Islands deal.
Answer: The UK/Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia has not been discussed.
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: FuelsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65103More
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 waste hierarchy to encourage councils to assign more black bin waste to the production of sustainable aviation fue
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Falkirk on 8 May 2025 to Question 49143.
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: AttendanceDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the most common causes of school absences were in the 2024-25 academic year.
Answer: The department publishes figures on pupil attendance using daily data submitted by state-funded schools. The latest data for the 2024/25 academic year to date is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-att...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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