Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Pensioners: PovertyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners in poverty during the winter of 2024-25; and how this compares to the winter of 2023-24.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2025 to Question 24306 Statistics on the number of people living in relative and absolute poverty both before and after housing costs are produced on an annual basis and published in the Household...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: Local GovernmentDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of funding provided to local authorities to promote tourism.
Answer: I note that the honourable member is asking us to spend more money and would be grateful if they could advise me on which other budget should be cut or tax should be commensurately increased. Government recognises the vital role that local authorities pla...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgagesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26880More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the average annual cost of a five year fixed rate mortgage (a) on the week commencing 21 October 2024 and (b) in January 2025.
Answer: The pricing and availability of mortgages is ultimately a commercial decision for lenders, in which the Government does not intervene. Changes in offered mortgage rates are broadly driven by changes in financial market expectations for Bank Rate.Monetary ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgagesTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26879More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Autumn Budget 2024 on recent trends in the level of mortgage rates.
Answer: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is the UK’s official forecaster of the economy and public finances. The OBR published its assessment of the UK economy, and the effect of policies announced at the 2024 Autumn Budget, in its October 2024 Economic...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome Tax and National Insurance ContributionsTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26878More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the total amount of (a) income tax and (b) employee national insurance paid by a full time minimum wage worker in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.
Answer: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxp...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome TaxTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26877More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the total amount of tax someone on the median salary will pay in financial year (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
Answer: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxp...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome TaxTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26876More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of taxpayers set to pay the additional rate of income tax in financial year 2025-26 compared with financial year 2024-25.
Answer: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxp...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome TaxTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26875More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of taxpayers set to pay the higher rate of income tax in financial year 2025-26 compared with financial year 2024-25.
Answer: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxp...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIncome TaxTreasuryTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26872More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of additional individuals her Department expects to pay tax in financial year 2025-26 as a result of the freeze on income tax thresholds.
Answer: The information requested on the impact on taxpayer numbers as a result of threshold freezes is published as part of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO). The published table sets out the estimated numbers of taxp...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns Taskforce: CostsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of the work of the New Towns Taskforce.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22561 on 27 January 2025.
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns TaskforceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what engagement the New Towns Taskforce will have with hon. Members.
Answer: As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Towns Taskforce: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions the New Towns Taskforce has had with (a) Bedford Borough Council, (b) Central Bedfordshire Council and (c) Luton Borough Council.
Answer: As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest.
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined AuthorityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.1 of her Department's English Devolution White Paper, published 16 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Camb
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper sets out clear principles this Government will have regard to when considering proposals for new devolution agreements. This includes a new default assumption that proposals cover a combined population of 1.5 million or ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.2.1 of her Department's English Devolution White Paper published 16 December 2024, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper sets out clear principles this Government will have regard to when considering proposals for new devolution agreements. This includes a new default assumption that proposals cover a combined population of 1.5 million or ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what ratio of Councillors to electors she expects new unitary authorities to be created with.
Answer: As set out in the White Paper, we want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level. My department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for Engl...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ConstituenciesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity available at the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to draft electoral boundaries for new un
Answer: My department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMayors: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26694More
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, what electoral system will be used to elect mayors created under this plan.
Answer: The voting system for unitary elections is First Past the Post.For Mayoral Elections, I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26693More
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, what electoral system new unitary authority areas will use.
Answer: The voting system for unitary elections is First Past the Post.For Mayoral Elections, I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20691 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26692More
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, whether she plans to require local consultations to be carried out ahead of local government
Answer: For local government reorganisation, it will be essential for councils to work with local partners, stakeholders, and MPs, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and d...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26691More
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 designate (a) smaller and (b) failing unitaries.
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper announced that we will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ab...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26690More
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, what her planned timetable is for (a) smaller and (b) failing unitaries to develop proposals
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper announced that we will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ab...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary CouncilsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26689More
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, what her definition is of (a) smaller and (b) failing unitaries.
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper announced that we will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ab...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRural Areas: DisadvantagedCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26376More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the UK’s statistics authorities at identifying rural deprivation.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response from the Director General for Office for Statistics Regulation to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 24 January is attached.
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Highways: Flood ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of maintaining balancing ponds owned by National Highways.
Answer: Maintenance costs for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are borne by National Highways and their financial systems do not categorise spending to the level of sub-asset class granularity. I, therefore, cannot provide a reliable estimate for the costs of mai...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Highways: Flood ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the maintenance regime for balancing ponds owned by National Highways.
Answer: The maintenance requirements of the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are governed by a robust set of standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - and National Highways determines the maintenance works to be undertaken on all assets, based on t...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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