Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Tourism: Departmental ResponsibilitiesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential benefits for her policies on tourism of appointing a full-time Tourism Minister focused exclusively on tourism.
Answer: The Government has a Minister responsible for Tourism, within a portfolio that also includes Sport, Civil Society and Youth. As ambitions to promote growth and improve the productivity of the tourism sector are reliant on a cross-government approach, DCMS...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Redundancy PayCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86849More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of Ministerial severance packages between 1 September and 8 September 2025.
Answer: Departments are responsible for making salary and loss of office payments to their Ministers. This information would only be held by individual departments.
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructureCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86848More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Boosting British jobs and skills key for firms to win major infrastructure projects, published on 16 June 2025, if he will publish an impact assessment f
Answer: This Government is committed to supporting British jobs and industry. As part of this, we have consulted on further reforms to public procurement. If appropriate, impact assessments will be undertaken following our response to the consultation, in accorda...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Bodies: ReviewsCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86847More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55254 on Public Bodies: Reviews, how many civil servants are involved in the review by grade.
Answer: As of 31st October 2025, the Cabinet Office maintains 1 Deputy Director, 1 Grade 7 and 1 HEO to staff the ALB Review. Information on departmental staffing levels for the ALB Review is not held centrally.
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRural Areas: Cost of LivingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse entitled The R
Answer: Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type, including assessment on the rural economy, transport, housing and cost of living. These are avai...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Plan for wind developers to pay for skilled job training, published on 23 August 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the poten
Answer: The Government recently consulted on proposals under the Clean Industry Bonus which aim to incentivise developers to provide routes to high-quality employment. The Government will analyse responses and set out its proposed next steps in the response due t...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular Reactors: NewcleoDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish a lessons learned review relating to the decision of Newcleo not to pursue its investment in nuclear reactors in the UK.
Answer: Newcleo Ltd’s decision to suspend its advanced nuclear activities in the UK was a commercial decision for the company. Government will not be publishing a lessons learned review into this matter. It was announced in the 2025 Spending Review that the Gover...
Answered 3 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRural Areas: Cost of LivingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the rural premium on rural communities.
Answer: Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type. These are available through The Statistical Digest for Rural England. This Government is committ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published 19 July 2025, if he will set out how the £104 billion inve
Answer: The Government will introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry, working in partnership with water companies, investors and communities to deliver a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This will have ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press notice entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, if she will set out specific measures bein
Answer: The Government will introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry, working in partnership with water companies, investors and communities to deliver a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This will have ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSewage: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, whether he will publish the evidential ba
Answer: The Government will introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry, working in partnership with water companies, investors and communities to deliver a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This will have ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTree PlantingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Trees for Climate project.
Answer: The Trees for Climate Programme is delivered by England’s Community Forests and is funded by the Defra Nature for Climate Fund Programme (NCF). Between 2020-2025 the Trees for Climate Programme has planted trees totalling 6,551ha. Defra is currently evalu...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public BodiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has prepared an impact assessments on the decisions to (a) merge Ofwat and the Drinking Inspectorate and (b) remove the environmental regulatory functions of the
Answer: The Government has committed to establishing a single, powerful regulator for the entire water sector that will stand on the side of customers, investors and the environment. The current fragmented approach to water has led to contradictory and competing ...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled UK government gathers business and environment leaders in support of UN nature agreement, published on 25 June 2025, how much
Answer: Investing in nature at home and abroad is critical to the UK’s security and prosperity. Healthy global ecosystems reduce the risk of supply chain shocks, create opportunities for UK businesses, and help prevent conflict and forced migration. To advance th...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWind PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cash boost for coastal towns hosting clean energy infrastructure, published on 21 May 2025, if he will make it his policy to provide
Answer: In May 2025, the government published a working paper on mandatory community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The proposals would require developers to contribute to community benefit funds to support people and businesse...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular Reactors: NewcleoDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Newcleo prior to its decision not to pursue its investment in nuclear reactors in the UK.
Answer: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular Reactors: NewcleoDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact for his policies of Newcleo’s decision not to provide funding for clear reactors in the UK.
Answer: As set out at the Spending Review, the Government’s policy is to develop a new framework for privately-led advanced nuclear projects to be published shortly. The framework will have a new role for Great British Energy – Nuclear assessing proposals, with t...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Modular Reactors: NewcleoDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the causes of Newcleo’s decision not to pursue its investment in nuclear reactors in the UK.
Answer: Government is aware that Newcleo Ltd has taken the decision to suspend its activities in the UK. While it is disappointing to see a company scale back UK activities, this is ultimately a commercial decision for the company.
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordStellantis: LutonDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an estimate of the number of Stellantis Luton workers who have not yet found alternative employment as of 1 September 2025.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has not made an estimate of the number of Stellantis Luton workers who have not yet found alternative employment as of 1 September 2025. The Government worked with Stellantis, Unite the Union and other partners to sup...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPost Offices: Banking HubsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of opening Post Office branches within Banking Hubs.
Answer: Thousands of Post Offices already provide the same everyday banking services, such as cash withdrawals and deposits, that are available at Banking Hubs. In its published response to the Government’s Post Office Green Paper, Post Office recently set out ho...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPost Offices: Rural AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Post Office services on rural communities.
Answer: Post Office services are vital to rural communities, providing access to mail, cash, banking, bill payments, and government services. Around 41% of branches are in rural areas, and 99% of the rural population lives within three miles of a branch. The Gove...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: Motor VehiclesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Powering Britain's future: Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses in major industry shake-up, published on 22 June 2025, whether vehicle
Answer: The Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy states that the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme “will benefit manufacturing electricity intensive frontier industries in the IS-8, such as automotive and aerospace, and foundational manufacturing indus...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Industrial Competitiveness SchemeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Powering Britain's future: Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses in major industry shake-up, published on 22 June 2025, what estimate he
Answer: As stated in the Modern Industrial Strategy, we intend to fund the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme by bearing down on levies and other costs in the energy system.
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Wealth FundTreasuryTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83588More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value is of Government funding to the National Wealth Fund that is unspent.
Answer: As of 14 October 2025, the National Wealth Fund has committed £7.5 billion to projects supporting the Government’s growth and clean energy missions, mobilising £16.2 billion in private finance. This is just over 25% of NWF’s £27.8 billion capitalisation. ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRevenue and Customs: StandardsTreasuryTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82069More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the of the average customer response times at HM Revenue & Customs.
Answer: HMRC regularly publishes its performance on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates Improving day-to-day performance is a key priority for HMRC.
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →