Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Education: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89005More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by her Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcare: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Over half a million children to benefit from funded childcare, published 1 September 2025, whether she has made an estimate on the average additional nu
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving opportunity for every child and work choices for every parent.From 1 September, eligible working parents of children...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: DisciplineDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89003More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government to crackdown on bad behaviour and boost attendance, published on 31 August 2025, if she will publish a list of schools receiving targeted sup
Answer: The regional improvement for standards and excellence attendance and behaviour hubs programme is intended to provide support to senior leaders to improve their whole-school attendance and behaviour practice. Participation in the programme will be voluntar...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public Consultation and ReviewsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89002More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and therefore it has not been possible to provide the answer within the allotted time frame. I will write to the hon. Member with an update in due course and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: IndustryMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New Defence Growth Deals Created to Boost Local Economies Under Major Sector Plan, published 7 September 2025, when he expects to announce further Defence
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is working at pace to develop the five Defence Growth Deals in Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Should economic and fiscal conditions allow, the Government will consider launching more Defence Growth...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: BedfordshireDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 8701, what action her Department has taken since 21 October 2024 to encourage (a) inbound and (b) domestic tourism in Bedfordshire.
Answer: The government is committed to expanding the tourism sector and enabling more inbound and domestic visitors to fully experience the UK's diverse offerings in areas including Bedfordshire, home to stately homes such at Bridgerton’s West Park and family att...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department plans to spend on maintaining the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27.
Answer: For the 2025/26 financial year, the total budget for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is £23 million. Of the £23 million, there is a remaining £10,986158 to distribute. The 2025/26 Scheme will close on 31 March 2026, or once the £23 million budge...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Visitor Economy PartnershipsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88998More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50272 on Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, whether her Department plans to provide support to areas without Local Visitor Economy Partnerships.
Answer: The purpose of the LVEP programme is to attract investment and ultimately drive growth, training, and help places tell their own unique stories to visitors. Through a collaborative approach that unites local authorities, businesses and regional partners, ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Visitor Economy PartnershipsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50630 on Local Visitor Economy Partnership, whether her Department is providing specialised support to areas without a Local Visitor Economy Part
Answer: The purpose of the LVEP programme is to attract investment and ultimately drive growth, training, and help places tell their own unique stories to visitors. Through a collaborative approach that unites local authorities, businesses and regional partners, ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: National LandscapesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 55487 on Tourism: National Landscapes, if she will make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape
Answer: National Parks are vital assets for tourism, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year and supporting local economies through recreation, hospitality, and cultural heritage. While there are no plans to make an estimate of the ec...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) other reviews undertaken by her Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this qu...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCricket: LutonDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88994More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Cricket domes to bring year-round sport to communities, published on 25 August 2025, what the location will be of the dome in Luton.
Answer: On 25 August, the Government announced £1.5 million investment into two indoor cricket domes in Luton and Farington, to be delivered through the England and Wales Cricket Board.Luton’s new state-of-the-art indoor cricket dome will be in Lewsey Park and is...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParthenon Sculptures: TourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88993More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64204 on Parthenon Sculptures: Tourism, if she will make that estimate.
Answer: There are no plans to make such an estimate.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Brownfield SitesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled First-time buyers to benefit from 40,000 new homes on brownfield railway land, published on 30 June 2025, whether these properties will be earmarked for first-time b
Answer: First time buyers will be amongst those to benefit from the 40,000 homes unlocked over the next decade on a mix of surplus Department for Transport land and third-party land. Platform4 is committed to providing a mix of housing, including affordable and b...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how Great British Railways will work with (a) Mayoral transport agencies and (b) Transport for London.
Answer: Great British Railways (GBR) will work in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) and their transport agencies to ensure local priorities are reflected in rail planning and delivery. These partnerships will enable closer integration with loc...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to make train journeys more affordable since July 2024.
Answer: We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, and the move to Great British Railways will also help ensure passengers get a more consistent offe...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBridges: Large Goods VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled £1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash, published on 16 June 2025, whether it is her Department’s p
Answer: The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. It offers an opportunity to support places to repair local bridges that currently have weight restrictions placed on them so that these restricti...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffice for Value for MoneyTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88019More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of the Office for Value for Money.
Answer: The Office for Value for Money's (OVfM) has successfully delivered on its remit, including working with departments to identify credible plans to deliver almost £14 billion of efficiencies per year by 2028-29 as well as wider reforms to improve value for ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLandfill TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88018More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the press release by the Mineral Products Association entitled Landfill Tax reforms could trigger shortages and damage growth ambitions
Answer: The Government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill Tax to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the Government’s circular economy objectives. As part of the consultation, t...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLow Pay: RetirementDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to ensure that low paid workers have adequate income in retirement.
Answer: This government is committed to enabling tomorrow’s pensioners to have security in retirement. The Pensions Commission has been revived to consider what is required in the long term to deliver a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustain...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: Self-employedDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to encourage self-employed workers to pay into private pension funds.
Answer: The proportion of the self-employed who are saving into a pension has fallen significantly from almost 50% in the late 1990s to less than 20% at present. While self-employed workers are not eligible for Automatic Enrolment, the National Employment Savings...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 29 of the document by the OBR entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published on 8 July 2025, whether her Department has made its own assessment of the long-term sustainabilit
Answer: The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. State Pension payments are paid from the National Insurance Fund (NIF). The Government reviews forecasts of the NIF balanc...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an estimate of the number of food delivery drivers who operate on a provisional motorcycle driving license.
Answer: Around 180,000 compulsory basic training (CBT) certificates are issued by the motorcycle instructor training industry per year. Neither the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency nor the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency hold data on the professions of tho...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Public Consultation and ReviewsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88013More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Sector and Public Sector: PayCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88012More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of levels of wage growth in the (a) public sector and (b) private sector since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th November is attached.
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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