Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2024
62 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture: FloodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to manage the potential impact of housing developments on trends in the level of farm
Answer: Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk,...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FloodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) maintain and (b) extend flooding support schemes for farmers.
Answer: We are aware of the ongoing challenges farmers have been facing following the winter storms and wet weather in late 2023 and early 2024. We are committed to maintaining food production and supporting thriving farm businesses as well as protecting communit...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: MauritiusForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what annual cost to the public purse is of the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius on 3 October will, for the first time in 50 years, secure the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The base plays a crucial role in regional and international security. It is not normal practice for the...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTaxation: Electronic GovernmentTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7616More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help support small businesses to comply with the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax regulations.
Answer: HMRC have worked closely with stakeholders in the business and tax communities on the design and scope of MTD for Income Tax to make sure it is fit for purpose. This has led to practical design changes and improvements that will benefit users. HMRC is cur...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTaxation: Electronic GovernmentTreasuryTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7615More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of whether the rollout of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax will be completed by April 2026.
Answer: Making Tax Digital (MTD) is an ambitious reform that will support modernisation of the tax system. The government is working collaboratively with HMRC and external stakeholders to bring the first businesses and landlords into MTD for Income Tax. Reflectin...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordProbation Service: East of EnglandMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Probation Service in the East of England.
Answer: The performance of the Probation Service in England and Wales is closely monitored by both internal and external scrutiny bodies, including His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), who provide independent scrutiny of Probation Services. The Ministr...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordClass Sizes: BedfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce class sizes in Bedfordshire.
Answer: The average class size for state-funded primary schools in Bedford is 26.8 pupils and in Central Bedfordshire it is 25.7 pupils, which is broadly in line with the national average of 26.6 pupils. The average class size for state-funded secondary schools i...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewage: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to upgrade sewage infrastructure in Mid Bedfordshire constituency in this Parliament.
Answer: The Secretary of State and I have secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. There are several schemes at sewage treatment works in the Mid-B...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the consultation entitled Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, published on 30 July 2024, whethe
Answer: The Government is committed to building more high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes and places. There is a clear framework through policy and guidance on how to achieve well-designed places and the principles of good design are set out in the ...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSewers: Property DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sustainable drainage systems in managing flood risk on new housing developments.
Answer: Planning policy requires that Sustainable Drainage Systems are included in all new major developments, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The Government is currently assessing how best to implement its ambitions on sustainabl...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that stations without step free access are made accessible for all.
Answer: We are carefully considering the best approach to accessibility at stations across Britain. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Answered 13 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral PractitionersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 900029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure new GP surgeries are established in areas of population growth.
Answer: GPs have been neglected for too long. They are under-resourced, struggling to cope, and patients pay the price. We know that there is pressure on primary care estates and service provision in areas of high population growth. General practice provides high...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →