Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Environment Protection: PlanningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024
Answer: We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to e...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: PlanningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36881More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024
Answer: We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to e...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: PlanningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024
Answer: We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to e...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTrees: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often the Ancient Woodland Inventory is audited.
Answer: The Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) was originally surveyed in the 1980s. Counties in the south-east of England were reviewed and updated between 2005 and 2015. The AWI is currently being audited with 35 counties in England being reassessed and where nec...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTreesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of all (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees included in the Ancient Woodland inventory.
Answer: The Ancient Woodland inventory (AWI) identifies the location of ancient woodland sites and does not map individual ancient and veteran trees therein or outside of ancient woodlands. The Ancient Tree Inventory (ATI) is hosted and managed by the Woodland Tr...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to support mental health services for children in Bedfordshire.
Answer: We know that waits for children and young people's (CYP) mental health services are far too long, including in Bedfordshire. That is why the NHS planning guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that one of the priorities for children's mental health services is ...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health services for children in Bedfordshire.
Answer: We know that waits for children and young people's (CYP) mental health services are far too long, including in Bedfordshire. That is why the NHS planning guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that one of the priorities for children's mental health services is ...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns TaskforceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled New Towns Taskforce: Terms of Reference, published on 18 September 2024, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy o
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, whether the New Towns Taskforce can recommend more
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: LandMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether housing
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: Local PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether local au
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Sustainable DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025 in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire, Official Report,
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, column 4, if she will set out the incentives her Department will off
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, for what reasons her Department has not discussed t
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDerelict Land: RegenerationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published 13 February 2025, whether the £51.5m funding to inc
Answer: The £51.5 million package announced on 13 February 2025 is additional to the funding outlined at the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, how the £20 million to help tr
Answer: This funding will be made available through the next round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund. Further details on the application process and funding criteria will be announced in due course.
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of homes expected to be built between July 2024 and July 2025.
Answer: The government do not routinely publish a supply forecast or projected profiles of housing delivery.Our Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. Progress will be measured ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, if she will publish a list of
Answer: To date, ten sites with a combined capacity to deliver over 35,900 homes have been announced as benefitting from site-specific government support through the New Homes Accelerator. These are: Liverpool Central Docks, Northstowe, Worcestershire Parkway, La...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Press Release Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, if she will publish a list of the sites unlocked thr
Answer: To date, ten sites with a combined capacity to deliver over 35,900 homes have been announced as benefitting from site-specific government support through the New Homes Accelerator. These are: Liverpool Central Docks, Northstowe, Worcestershire Parkway, La...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns: Mid BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, whether any of the proposals r
Answer: The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNew TownsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, if she will publish a list of
Answer: The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36223More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of houses that would be built if all active planning permissions were approved.
Answer: The Department does not hold the information requested.
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the amount of land in hectares which has an active planning permission.
Answer: The Department does not hold the information requested.
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what she expects the average density per hectare to be of housing developments built during this Parliament.
Answer: Development density is influenced by a range of factors, such as the type of land use, building types and form, and building heights. The National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide guidance on these elements.Local Design Guides and Desig...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make a comparative assessment of the cumulative housing target for (a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Broxtowe, (c) Nottingham, (d) Greenwich, (e) Oldham and (f) Tameside under (
Answer: The government published the revised standard method for assessing local housing need on 12 December 2024. This aligns with our ambition for 1.5 million new homes to be delivered over this parliament and better directs new homes to where they are most nee...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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