Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Land UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the land use breakdown of (a) the average Parliamentary constituency, (b) Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, (c) Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton c
Answer: The Department publishes an annual release entitled “Land use statistics: England”, which presents summary statistics showing how different land uses are distributed across England, as at 2022.This is broken down into regions, local authorities, and Parli...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFilm: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36218More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department’s news story entitled, Lights, Camera, Action! 40% business rates relief for film studios rolled out, published on 16 February 2025, whether her announcement on film business rates o
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBanks: ClosuresTreasuryTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35858More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28664, whether it is her Department’s policy to ask retail banks to keep High Street branches open during their discussions with them.
Answer: Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. While branch closures are commercial decisions for banks, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to ca...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Highways: Flood ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 30745 on National Highways: Flood Control, if she will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing additiona
Answer: The ownership and management of National Highways’ assets, at this level, fall within National Highways’ delegated authority. The Department does not plan to make an assessment on the future ownership of balancing ponds owned by National Highways.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her plans for Great British Railways will end the practice of cancelling stops to make services run faster once trains have set off.
Answer: The Government’s plans for rail reform will deliver an accountable and integrated public body, Great British Railways (GBR), which will take decisions on the use of the railway in the public interest and deliver Government priorities. GBR will plan and im...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGovia Thameslink Railway: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to increase capacity on Thameslink services through its Great British Railways proposals.
Answer: Currently all train operators are required to plan services and timetables designed to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Improving railway performance is a top priority for this Government...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGovia Thameslink Railway: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to increase reliability on Thameslink services through its Great British Railways proposals.
Answer: Currently all train operators are required to plan services and timetables designed to meet both current and future passenger demand, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Improving railway performance is a top priority for this Government...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGovia Thameslink Railway: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to reduce fares on Thameslink services through its Great British Railways proposals.
Answer: Whilst it is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway. Through futur...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Listed BuildingsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29571, if he will publish the results of the package of research.
Answer: Yes, the results of the package of research will be published in due course. The results will complement the research published in January 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defining-and-identifying-complex-to-decarbonise-homes.
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStellantis: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 31113 on Stellantis: Luton, what his Department's definition of appropriate support is.
Answer: We are supporting affected workers at Stellantis’ Luton plant by making sure they are fully aware of the options available to them and have access to services they need to assist them in taking forward these options e.g. the Job Centre Plus Rapid Response...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStellantis: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Written Question 31113 on Stellantis: Luton, whether any agreements have been reached during discussions.
Answer: Ministers have engaged closely with Stellantis on the future of its operations in the UK.Regrettably, Stellantis confirmed on 5 February that it will be closing the plant in April of this year. We have a longstanding partnership with Stellantis and will c...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgages: Interest RatesTreasuryTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35445More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Written Question 26880 on Mortgages, whether her Department makes an assessment of the potential impact of fiscal policies on mortgage rates as part of their decision mak
Answer: The government considers the potential impact of fiscal policy on a range of factors, including the potential impact on interest rates. The pricing and availability of mortgages is ultimately a commercial decision for lenders, in which the government does...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon Stock ExchangeTreasuryTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35444More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Written Question 25790 on London Stock Exchange, how many firms were listed on the London Stock Exchange (a) in July 2024 and (b) as of 4 March 2025.
Answer: The London Stock Exchange (LSE) releases monthly data on the number of companies listed on its markets and maintains historical data on these listings. This information is not published by the government and can be accessed at the following address: https...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Agency: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the increased investment in maintenance of flood defences will allow the Environment Agency to keep 98% of its high-consequence assets in the required condition over the next t
Answer: This Government inherited flood assets in their poorest condition on record, as years of underinvestment and damaging storms left just 92% of the Environment Agency’s 38,000 high-consequence assets at required condition, meaning approximately 60,000 prope...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty: Climate Change and Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, published 4 February 2025, what assessment he has made of t
Answer: The figure of £2.4 billion was an initial estimate at the time of the Autumn budget as the department worked through the details of the floods’ settlement following the Spending Review. Following the outcome of the Spending Review and as part of the Gover...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty: Climate Change and Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, published 4 February 2025, how much and what proportion of
Answer: The figure of £2.4 billion was an initial estimate at the time of the Autumn budget as the department worked through the details of the floods’ settlement following the Spending Review. Following the outcome of the Spending Review and as part of the Gover...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, published 4 February 2025, whether the additional funding o
Answer: The figure of £2.4 billion was an initial estimate at the time of the Autumn budget as the department worked through the details of the floods’ settlement following the Spending Review. Following the outcome of the Spending Review and as part of the Gover...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordForests and Rivers: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Land Use in England published on 31 January 2025, what the process is for (a) designating and (b) creating new (i) national riv
Answer: The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. This is a priority for us and we are currently considering several delivery options, as well as reviewing where...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTree Preservation Orders: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 25797 on Tree Preservation Orders: Bedfordshire, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of keeping a centra
Answer: Tree Preservation Orders safeguard individual trees or groups of trees of particular value to local amenity.Local planning authorities have the principal responsibility for applying these protections effectively.The government has no plans at present to c...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26691 on Unitary Councils, which unitary authorities were contacted on 16 December 2024.
Answer: The neighbouring unitary authorities contacted on 16 December 2024, alongside all councils in two-tier areas, were Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council, Brighton and Hove City Council, Derby City Council, Isle of Wight Council, Leicester City ...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: FloodsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 26368 on Property Development: Floods, if she will make an estimate of the number of houses that may be built on flood plain
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 26368 on 3 February 2025.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods VehiclesHome OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of support for the police to tackle breaches of HGV restrictions.
Answer: Police have a range of powers to direct HGV drivers suspected of breaching restrictions off the road and issue fixed penalty notices for breaches. Enforcement of these powers is an operational matter for local forces.The police are supported in their HGV ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Dangerous Driving and NoiseDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential connection between excessively noisy vehicles and dangerous driving.
Answer: The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the potential connection between excessively noisy vehicles and dangerous driving.
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: BedfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing noise cameras to tackle excessively noisy vehicles on rural roads in Bedfordshire.
Answer: The Department for Transport conducted roadside trials of noise camera technology between October 2022 and February 2023, which assessed a range of different road conditions. This trial demonstrated that noise cameras currently have the potential to be us...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: RegulationDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing enforcement of HGV restrictions.
Answer: The Department keeps all policies under its remit affecting Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) under review, such as those on weights and dimensions. Local restrictions, such as access times for HGVs on certain routes, is a matter for the relevant transport aut...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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