Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
665 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Housing: Solar PowerMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Rooftop solar for new builds to save people money, published on 6 June 2025, if she has made an estimate of the potentia
Answer: As part of the consultation on the Future Homes Standard, the proposed net zero-ready standard for new build homes, we published a consultation-stage impact assessment estimating the costs and wider impacts of the proposals, including rooftop solar. In de...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit BillDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Personal Independence Payments Bill on public finances.
Answer: As I set out in the House of Commons on 1 July 2025, this Government has listened to the concerns raised by Members from across the House regarding the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).Clause 5 of the Universal Credit and Personal I...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCapital MarketsTreasuryTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75409More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June to Written Question 61630 on Investment, what steps she is taking to talking to support retail participation in UK capital markets following the cancellation of the retail sale of N
Answer: The Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms will give more people the confidence to invest in our world-leading capital markets, benefitting both consumers and the UK economy. In particular, the Treasury is working closely with the FCA to roll out a system of targeted...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRegional Planning and Development: Health ServicesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service, published on 11 June 2025, when he plans to confirm the 35
Answer: At Spending Review 2025, the Chancellor announced that up to 350 of the most deprived places will receive support from government. Full profiles and detailed guidance will be published in due course.The programme will adopt a flexible approach offering ar...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Employment Rights BillDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 14 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Emp
Answer: The Employment Rights Bill is the first stage of Make Work Pay, which is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. The approach is designed to help more people to stay in wo...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Private SectorDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the percentage of NHS services provided by private healthcare providers (a) on 6 September 2025 and (b) at the end of the 10 Year Health Plan period.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan builds on the Elective Reform Plan and the Independent Sector Partnership Agreement, published in January 2025. It reinforces the commitment to use available capacity in the independent sector to treat National Health Service patie...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which areas he plans to designate as integrated health organisations in 2026; and what criteria he will use to identify those areas.
Answer: As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, National Health Service foundation trusts that have shown an ability to meet core standards, improve population health, form partnerships with others, and remain financially sustainable over time will be eligible fo...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIntegrated Care Boards: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the
Answer: NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and reduce duplication of responsibilities within the health and care structure. All ICBs shared their delivery plan in accordance ...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGenomics: BabiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, how long individualised genomic data for newborns will be retai
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to offer newborn genomic testing as part of routine care within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is eva...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGenomics: BabiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, whether parents will be able to opt-out of universal newborn ge
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to offer newborn genomic testing as part of routine care within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is eva...
Answered 25 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what incentives will be provided for healthier choices.
Answer: The Department will shortly launch a market engagement process with business to inform the creation of the newly announced NHS Points digital scheme. This will include inviting views and evidence as to what types of incentives could be provided in return ...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: SoftwareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether patients will be able to access private healthcare services provided through the NHS on the NHS app.
Answer: We estimate there are around 450 independent sector providers that are providing National Health Service services via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). There is no classification of private healthcare or independent sector in the e-RS Directory of Servic...
Answered 25 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the size of the maintenance backlog in the NHS at the end of the 10 Year Health Plan.
Answer: Alongside the 10-Year Health Plan detailing our ambition to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future, the Government recently published a 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy setting out 10-year maintenance budgets for the public estate, with £6 bi...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: StrikesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doctors’ strikes on the measures in his 10 Year Health Plan.
Answer: Whilst the Department has not made a specific assessment, there is data which demonstrates the number of appointments rescheduled because of strike action. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/08/nhs-publishes-strike-imp...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Flood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislation on the treatment of flooding in the planning system before the end of the current Session.
Answer: The government has no plans to bring forward primary legislation concerning the treatment of flooding in the planning system, given the strong safeguards which already exist in national planning policy.
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNatWest Group: Government ShareholdingTreasuryTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75370More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government completes exit from NatWest, published on 30 May 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the potential income from the retail model of sale
Answer: On 30 May 2025, the government sold its remaining shares in NatWest Group, bringing to an end the public ownership of banks resulting from the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. The government focused on ensuring sales of NatWest shares were delivered in ...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Ofwat to be abolished in biggest overhaul of water since privatisation, published on 21 July 2025, whether the new water regul
Answer: This Government has confirmed that it will abolish Ofwat and bring water functions from four different regulators into one – a single regulator responsible for the entire water sector. Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing re...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to legislate to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills.
Answer: The Government has no plans to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills. Several water companies are currently trialling rising block tariffs. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including fami...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: MetersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to legislate to mandate the installation of smart meters for water usage.
Answer: Water companies are already able to install smart meters in homes as part of their planning and, in areas of water stress, can charge on a mandatory basis where there is overall customer support and value for money for consumers has been proved. The Gover...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rising block tariffs for water usage on (a) families with young children, (b) households of multiple occupancy and (c) multi-ge
Answer: The Government has no plans to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills. Several water companies are currently trialling rising block tariffs. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including fami...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Millions more families to get £150 off energy bills this winter, published on 19 June 2025, what support is available for families in
Answer: The Warm Home Discount is available for homes off the gas grid, as it is an electricity bill discount, not tied to gas supply.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: Alternative FuelsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to support increasing the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in addition to legislating for the certainty mechanism.
Answer: The SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production. In addition, we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are also supporting the...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the cost of the (a) pylons, (b) cables and (c) batteries required for upgrading the power grid to net zero by 2030.
Answer: In the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the Department estimated that the plan would require around £40 billion of investment on average per year between 2025-2030, much of which will be private investment [1]. This included around £30 billion of investment ...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64210 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the number of civilian visits to Diego Garcia on securit
Answer: Chagossian Heritage Visits to Diego Garcia were routine prior to COVID-19. They are not frequent, are limited in the number of participants and are tightly controlled. Any person visiting Diego Garcia is subject to a number of security protocols.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: In-flight RefuellingMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of improving the UK’s capability to facilitate in air refuelling.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63066 on 4 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon.
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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