Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2024
62 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fire and Rescue Services: FloodsHome OfficeTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory duty for firefighters in England to respond to flooding.
Answer: Defra is the Lead Government Department for flooding, and they are responsible for the response to and prevention of flooding. Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flo...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Network Rail on accelerating the delivery of Access for All schemes.
Answer: The Rail Minister has had several meetings with Network Rail about improving delivery of access for all and can report that 32 stations are due to complete this financial year, the most since the programme was launched in 2006.
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFarms: FloodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of flooding of agricultural land on UK food security.
Answer: We recognise that the recent period of wet weather has impacted UK agriculture. On 13 November we announced that additional financial support will be provided to rural communities, recognising the importance of preventing flooding for farmers and protecti...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the support available to pensioners (a) this winter and (b) in winter 2023/24.
Answer: From 2024/25, Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales will be targeted to low-income pensioners. Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will require local authorities to refer planning decisions where the Environment Agency objects for a call in.
Answer: Local planning authorities are currently required to refer certain planning applications where they are minded to grant planning permission. Such applications include proposals for major development in a flood risk area to which the Environment Agency has...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPlanning: FloodsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that local planning authorities use the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.
Answer: National planning policy and guidance expects flood risk assessments to consider all sources of flooding, and to take the most up-to-date information into account, which will include the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.During the course of ne...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordResearch: Budget October 2024Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on UK R&D.
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor on a range of issues. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26, with DSIT's R&D budget...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: Supply ChainsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence supply chain.
Answer: The Autumn Budget settlement means the defence budget will grow in line with the economy. The Department is committed to bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy which will ensure national security and a high-growth economy. The strategy will de...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPeople Smuggling: English ChannelTreasuryTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13056More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled Prime Minister unveils game changing investment to tackle national security threat from people smuggling gangs, published on 4 November 2024, whether the £75m funding anno
Answer: The Border Security Command is funded from within the Home Office’s Spending Review settlement, as announced at the Budget.
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pupils in Bedfordshire who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.
Answer: The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils in Bedfordshire who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees. The government predicts that, in the long-run steady state, there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in th...
Answered 7 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11616More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s global reputation.
Answer: On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. Internationa...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11615More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s relations with European and international allies.
Answer: On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. Internationa...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: Mid BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11189More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to replace capital funding originally allocated to (a) Arnold Academy, (b) Parkfields Middle School, (c) Toddington St. George Church of England School, and (d) The Firs Lower Scho
Answer: The department has written to the responsible bodies to encourage them to reapply to the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), which opened for applications for the 2025/26 round on 22 October 2024. The bodies should closely review the guidance and all the do...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFree Schools: BedfordDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the planned free school in Bedford Borough is under review by her Department.
Answer: The government wants to ensure children achieve and thrive in education, whatever type of school they are in, including free schools. School capacity varies from place to place, and demand for places varies from area to area and year to year, so the depar...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 900890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reforming the planning system to introduce new measures to help reduce 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 recordNational Insurance ContributionsTreasuryTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10551More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on National Insurance Contributions for employees of paragraph 4 of the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled The economic effect
Answer: In the October 2021 Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR set out “a central forecast to 2026-27 taking account of recent data and Government policies announced up to and including the October 2021 Budget and Spending Review”. The Government does not specul...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: BedfordshireMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the role of Bedfordshire in the UK’s military supply chain.
Answer: The East of England plays an important role in defending the UK from growing threats and Defence's contribution to the economy, with approximately £1.4 billion of Ministry of Defence (MOD) spend in the region in 2022-23. Bedfordshire in particular is home...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBedford Hospital: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the condition of Bedford Hospital.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare services requires safe, resilient, and effective infrastructure.As part of the management of their...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversities: TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he plans to take to support the development of tech clusters for specialist universities.
Answer: The UK tech ecosystem achieved a record combined market valuation of $1.08 trillion in 2023. Supporting its continued development across the UK is a priority for my department, and vital to this government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.As set out...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTourism: BedfordshireDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of future opportunities to grow the tourism industry in Bedfordshire.
Answer: Tourism is a significant driver of economic growth and employment and the government is committed to growing this sector and enabling more inbound and domestic visitors to experience the full diversity of the UK tourism sector across the country. Bedfords...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPubs Code AdjudicatorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Pubs Code to allow tenants of pub-owning businesses to sell one beer of their choice.
Answer: The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPubs Code AdjudicatorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make a comparative assessment of the Pubs Code in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales.
Answer: The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPubs Code AdjudicatorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what his planned timetable is for the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator.
Answer: The third statutory review of the Pubs Code will commence following the end of the current three-year review period on 31 March 2025. It will consider the extent to which the Code is consistent with the principles of fair and lawful dealing of tied pub te...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make it his policy to ringfence Project Gigabit funding for rural areas.
Answer: No. Project Gigabit is designed to subsidise the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband to premises that would otherwise not be reached by suppliers’ commercial plans.These premises will predominantly be in rural areas, but the evidence from our regular eng...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of Age UK's Equality Impact Assessment on the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answer: An equality analysis was produced as part of Ministerial decision making in line with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty. This was published on 13th September. By convention, such analyses are not published alongside secondary legislation...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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