Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Diego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK will need permission from Mauritius to alter operations at Diego Garcia under the terms of the UK-Mauritius agreement on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: No permission is required as a result of the treaty. Annex 1, paragraph 1(b)(i) of the treaty sets out that the United Kingdom will have unrestricted ability to control the conduct and deployment of armed operations.
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: ConstructionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department’s press release Major investment partnership worth £24 billion to transform key growth sectors and deliver affordable housing across UK, published on 19 May 2025, if he
Answer: We can disclose the sites of the development as released by TCE on 19 May 2025:60 acres above and around Euston Station in London, to deliver 4.3 million square foot of commercial space, 2,000 new homes.60 acres in Silvertown in London, to deliver 1.3 mil...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52390 on Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, how many automotive manufacturing businesses are operating in the sector.
Answer: In 2024, there were 3,570 businesses operating across UK automotive, of which the vast majority are small and medium sized businesses. Our Industrial Strategy aims to significantly increase investment and jobs in eight high-growth sectors - including auto...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52390 on Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions, how many people are employed in the automotive industry.
Answer: 132,000 people were employed in automotive manufacturing in the UK in 2024, 5.1% of total UK manufacturing employment, around half in manufacturing finished vehicles and half in manufacturing car bodies, parts and accessories. In addition, a further 263,0...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press notice entitled Huge mobile signal boost across UK countryside now covering area larger than 66,000 football pitches, published on 28 May 2025, which additio
Answer: The location of Home Office masts that have been upgraded for the Shared Rural Network (SRN), including six additional masts activated for the programme since the press notice was published, can be found in the table below. We plan to upgrade over 40 more...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: AerialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press notice entitled Huge mobile signal boost across UK countryside now covering area larger than 66,000 football pitches, published on 28 May 2025, which sites h
Answer: The location of Home Office masts that have been upgraded for the Shared Rural Network (SRN), including six additional masts activated for the programme since the press notice was published, can be found in the table below. We plan to upgrade over 40 more...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release Government-built “Humphrey” AI tool reviews responses to consultation for first time, in bid to save millions, published on 14 May 2025, in which are
Answer: Consult is a tool designed to analyse responses to public consultations, it uses AI to identify themes for each question and map responses to those themes.The first live evaluation of Consult was completed using the Scottish Government’s recent consultati...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCombined Authorities and Integrated Care BoardsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential alignment of ICBs and mayoral authority boundaries.
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper sets out a clear ambition to align relevant public service and strategic authority boundaries over time, including in relation to health. The 10 Year Health Plan for England published on 3 July reiterates this commitment...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 55(a)(ii) of the report by the Competition and Markets Authority entitled Summary of CMA market study final report into housebuilding, published on 26
Answer: The government published its response to the recommendations made by the Competition & Markets Authority market study into housebuilding on 22 October 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of paragraph 55(a)(i) of the report by the Competition and Markets Authority entitled Summary of CMA
Answer: The government published its response to the recommendations made by the Competition & Markets Authority market study into housebuilding on 22 October 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of paragraph 43 of the report by the Competition and Markets Authority entitled Summary of CMA marke
Answer: The government published its response to the recommendations made by the Competition & Markets Authority market study into housebuilding on 22 October 2024. It can be found on gov.uk here.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support local authorities to increase house building.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 58440 on 17 June 2025.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRestless Legs SyndromeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider asking the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to (a) revise their guidance on and (b) respond to the concerns of (i) patient groups and (ii) other people who are
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not published guidance on restless legs syndrome but has commissioned a Clinical Knowledge Summary (CKS), which covers diagnosis and management. The CKS is available at the following link:ht...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the average (a) capital and (b) revenue funding that is required to maintain a newly built hospital over the next fifteen years.
Answer: The capital and revenue funding required to maintain a newly built hospital varies widely depending on the size and type of the facility, and is subject to a number of further uncertainties around operational costs and demand. There is no standard cost th...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's plans for English Devolution on levels of housebuilding.
Answer: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, Strategic Authorities will play a central role in the government's long term strategy for delivering housebuilding across England. All Strategic Authorities will be empowered to develop Spatial Development...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: TransportMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport supporting the delivery of transport infrastructure through the planning system.
Answer: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed. My Department continues to work closely with the Department for Transport on matters relating to transport infrastructure and planning, as...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many responses have been received for each of her Department's consultations since 4 July 2024.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 5412 on 11 October 2024 and the answer to Question UIN 16492 on 4 December 2024.
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of houses in new towns will be sold at market prices.
Answer: The government established an independent New Towns Taskforce last year to develop recommendations on suitable locations for new towns to create new thriving communities, and act as a catalyst for economic growth. The Taskforce will deliver a final shortl...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she has made an assessment of the potential impact of Part O of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations on her plans to develop beautiful communities.
Answer: The intention of Part O is to reduce the risk of overheating in new residential buildings. Overheating in buildings has been highlighted as a key risk for the health and productivity of people and businesses in the UK, and we must ensure that new homes do...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to consider the lessons learned from the development of previous new towns in its planning for new towns.
Answer: The government established an independent New Towns Taskforce last year to develop recommendations on suitable locations for new towns to create new thriving communities, and act as a catalyst for economic growth. The Taskforce will deliver a final shortl...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to provide additional funding for infrastructure for local authorities for which new towns are planned.
Answer: The government established an independent New Towns Taskforce last year to develop recommendations on suitable locations for new towns to create new thriving communities, and act as a catalyst for economic growth. The Taskforce will deliver a final shortl...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the level of (a) capital and (b) revenue funding required to maintain (i) Bedford and (ii) Luton and Dunstable hospit
Answer: The Estates Returns Information Collection survey collects data from National Health Service trusts on the quality of their estate annually, including backlog maintenance, and the projected cost of bringing all buildings into acceptable condition. The lat...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: ConstructionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62013More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average amount of capital funding provided by his Department was for each new hospital built in the last five years.
Answer: Specific national capital funding is allocated by the Department for the building of new hospitals through the New Hospital Programme (NHP).The capital funding provided to build a new hospital varies significantly between each individual hospital. Hospita...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62012More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the capital funding required to address maintenance backlogs at (a) Bedford and (b) Luton & Dunstable hospitals.
Answer: The Estates Returns Information Collection survey collects data from National Health Service trusts on the quality of their estate annually, including backlog maintenance, and the projected cost of bringing all buildings into acceptable condition. The lat...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBedford Hospital and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62011More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much capital funding will be provided for maintenance at (a) Bedford and (b) Luton & Dunstable hospitals as part of spending commitments made in the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answer: In 2025/26, the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been provided with £10.5 million from the Estates Safety Fund to address critical infrastructure and safety risks. Of this, £9.3 million will go to Bedford Hospital and £1.2 million will go t...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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