Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28610More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the impact of her policies on employers’ National Insurance contributions on economic growth.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indi...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Railway Company: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether funding has been provided from the public purse to offset the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on the East-West Rail Company.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government set aside funding for public sector employers for additional NIC costs. This is in line with the government’s usual approach to supporting the public sector, as was the case with the previous government’s Health and S...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Public SectorTreasuryTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28608More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has provided funding from the public purse to offset the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on public sector arms-length bodies.
Answer: The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way, w...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28607More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has produced modelling on the potential behavioural impact of increases to employers’ National Insurance.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indi...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28606More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department made of job losses when calculating the contribution to the public purse of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indi...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Employers' ContributionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contribution on the plan to build 1.5 million houses in this Parliament.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 21627 on 17 January 2025.
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28604More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on employment in the construction industry.
Answer: More than half of employers, including small businesses in the construction sector will see no change or gain overall. The Government has protected small businesses and charities from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by increasing...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28339More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraphs 24 and 26 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, if she will issue guidance to councils on joint working to meet h
Answer: The changes made to paragraphs 24 – 28 of the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 will ensure that we are making the most of opportunities for greater collaboration between local planning authorities and that the right engagement is occurr...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers: Property DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28338More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, which new measures within the framework have implications for sustainable urban drainage
Answer: The government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change.The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published on 12 December 2024 amended ...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordParish and Town CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, how she plans to reform the relationship between town and parish councils and principal local
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper was clear that we know people value the role of governance at the community scale. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood o...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFraud: Crime PreventionHome OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28336More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to help tackle financial fraud.
Answer: This Government is committed to working with law enforcement, industry and international partners to tackle financial fraud. This includes blocking fraud at its source, disrupting it before it reaches the public, and providing preventative advice and supp...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic CrimeTreasuryTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28335More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department took to help tackle (a) illicit finance and (b) economic crime between 4 July 2024 and 14 January 2025.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling illicit finance and economic crime. We have appointed an Anti-Corruption Champion Baroness Hodge to support the government's agenda in tackling corruption at home and overseas. HM Treasury has been working with part...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ringfencing funding for the entirety of the East West rail project.
Answer: £1.3bn has been provided towards the delivery of Connection Stage 1 of East-West Rail and the Budget on 30th October 2024 set out the Government’s support for the remaining stages of East West Rail, confirming funding to accelerate the delivery of works f...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCambridge Cancer Research Hospital and Milton Keynes University Hospital: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding will be allocated for (a) Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and (b) Milton Keynes Hospital through the New Hospital Programme.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care set out a credible and deliverable plan for the new hospital schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP) on 20 January 2025, following the conclusion of the review of the NHP. The Plan f...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: ConstructionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to allow bids for the New Hospital Programme from hospitals which did not bid previously.
Answer: At this stage, the Government does not have plans to add additional schemes into the New Hospital Programme (NHP) but is committed to tackling the crumbling estate through the full breadth of capital investment, of which the NHP is only one element.The pu...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail LineDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to seek private capital investment for East-West Rail.
Answer: The Department works with the East West Rail Company and other Government departments to explore opportunities for the delivery of enhancements through using third party funding and financing options. The Department has been clear with East West Rail Comp...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: Railway StationsDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether railway stations on East-West Rail will be owned by the (a) public and (b) private sector.
Answer: The exact operating model for East West Rail will be decided in due course.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Public ConsultationCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27317More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of consultations conducted by the Government since July 2024.
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not centrally collect data nor monitor consultations across Government. The Cabinet Office provides high level advice on the Consultation Principles to help departments consider how they should manage their consultations. Each depa...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27316More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle backlogs in the processing of statutory assessments for education, health and care plans.
Answer: The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.Local...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeech and Language Therapy: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her policies of the length of Speech and Language waiting lists.
Answer: We recognise the impact that long waits to access speech and language therapy can have on the individual, and their families and carers. The Department and NHS England are committed to reducing long waits and improving timely access to community health se...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils in Bedfordshire had an EHC plan in each academic year since 2019/20.
Answer: Information on the number of pupils in schools in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton with education, health and care (EHC) plans is available in the publication ‘Special Educational Needs in England’, which can be found here: https://explore-educatio...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an estimate of the number of SEN pupils in Bedfordshire that are expected to leave the Independent school sector in 2024-25.
Answer: The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils specifically in Bedfordshire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who will leave the independent school system in the 2024/25 academic year.As set out in HM Treasury’s tax infor...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the number of SEN pupils who attend independent schools in Bedfordshire.
Answer: Information on the number of pupils in schools in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton attending independent schools with both education, health and care (EHC) plans and special educational needs (SEN) support is available in the publication ‘Special E...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of SEN pupils attend a school in a different local authority area to the one in which they live in the East of England.
Answer: The number and proportion of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) who attend a school in a different local authority area to the one in which they live in the East of England is shown below. Pupils1,2 with SEN resident3 in local authority areas in...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the funding models local authorities use to support pupils with special educational needs.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the departme...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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