Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visitor LevyTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92182More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to give Mayors the power to introduce a visitor levy.
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy, if they so choose.We have published a consu...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92181More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has (a) undertaken (i) modelling or (ii) impact assessments and (b) consulted the hospitality sector on the introduction of a visitor levy.
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy, if they so choose.We have published a consu...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor LevyTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92180More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on domestic tourism, hospitality businesses and inflation.
Answer: The Government has announced powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their region, to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy, if they so choose.We have published a consu...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality IndustryMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and (c) mayoral authorities on the Government's comm
Answer: In April, the Government launched a joint government and industry taskforce to bring together representatives from the hospitality industry, police, local and central government to explore a more enabling approach to licensing with a greater focus on grow...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTreasury: Public Consultation and ReviewsTreasuryTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91671More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of a) consultations and b) reviews conducted by their Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: HM Treasury does not centrally hold this data 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 que...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, what proportion of the £104 billion funding will be sp
Answer: The Government has secured £104 billion of investment which includes over £10 billion to reduce sewage discharges from over 2,500 storm overflows in England and £4.8 billion to reduce phosphorus pollution. This will deliver on cleaning up our rivers, lake...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHoney: SalesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the (a) amount and (b) proportion of mechanically dried honey sold as honey in the UK; and what steps he is taking to ensure that honey sold in the UK me
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the amount and proportion of mechanically dried honey sold as honey in the UK. However, we do regularly collect UK honey import trade data. The Government recognises the importance of protecting food standards and h...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Workplace PensionsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90902More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of Ministerial pensions in the 2024-25 financial year.
Answer: Each government department discloses their ministerial pension benefits in their own Annual Report and Accounts. Pension benefits of Cabinet Office Ministers for 2024-25 is disclosed on page 90 of the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25. htt...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2025 to Question 74693, if she will consider the potential merits of the UK becoming a global leader in SAF production.
Answer: The Government is working at pace to deliver greener aviation as a key enabler of Government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.The UK plays a key role on coordinated international action through ICAO and fo...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 74254, what steps she will take to ensure that increased production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels delivers high skilled jobs.
Answer: The Government is working at pace to deliver greener aviation as a key enabler of Government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.The UK plays a key role on coordinated international action through ICAO and fo...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 74254, what steps she will take to (a) speed up and (b) scale the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Answer: The Government is working at pace to deliver greener aviation as a key enabler of Government’s missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.The UK plays a key role on coordinated international action through ICAO and fo...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: SalesDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 04 September 2025 to Questions 73487 and 73488, if she will set out the benefits to British consumers.
Answer: The Government’s investment of £4.5 billion will benefit British consumers by reducing the upfront price of new zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), supporting the rollout of charging infrastructure and investing in the manufacturing and supply chain of ZEVs th...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, 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: The information requested could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: BedfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled £104 million government investment to deliver faster, more reliable travel for millions, published on 2 September 2025, how much funding has been alloca
Answer: Local Transport Grant resource funding allocations totalling £104m for the years 2026/27 to 2028/29 were published on gov.uk in September. This funding is in addition to the Local Transport Grant capital funding allocations totalling £2.2bn, which were pu...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Scooters: CrimeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to tackle the illegal usage of e-scooters.
Answer: Enforcement of illegal e-scooter use is a matter for the police and there are a range of motoring offences and penalties that can be used, such as criminal prosecution, points on the user’s driving licence, and having the e-scooter seized. The Government ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Scooters: BedfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to provide more resources to Bedfordshire Police for increased enforcement against illegal usage of e-scooters.
Answer: The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including those relating to offences involving e-scooters. The police are operationally independent and decide how resources are d...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: TicketsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, for what reason nationalised all rail s
Answer: Trial locations were primarily selected based on them not having existing or planned Pay as You Go schemes, there being a significant commuter demographic, and where existing fares structures supported trial delivery. As a result, the lead operators are E...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment 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 record
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