Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Peatlands: Mid BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to strengthen protections for peatland from development in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
Answer: Safeguarding peatland plays an important role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as maintaining and enhancing biodiversity. The National Planning Policy Framework contains a very high level of protection against proposals which might aff...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: MapsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to map grey belt land.
Answer: It is for individual local planning authorities to assess if land is grey belt and to determine whether and how to amend Green Belt boundaries through the preparation or updating of plans. On 27 February 2025, Planning Practice Guidance was published to a...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordThameslink Line: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 49562 on Railways, if she will publish the rail demand scenarios for Thameslink she has modelled.
Answer: The Department undertakes a range of detailed forecasts for the rail network under different scenarios and these are used for both financial planning and business case analysis. We do not routinely publish route or train operating company level forecasts....
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of long waiting times for driving tests on social and economic mobility of young people in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) other rural areas.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport S...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more reliable system for passengers.
Answer: GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – a...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways provides a more efficient system for passengers.
Answer: GBR will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to deliver for passengers and freight. Most passengers will travel on GBR trains, running on GBR tracks, and working to a GBR timetable – al...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 46979 on Railways, what steps she plans to take to ensure that Great British Railways will have a relentless focus on passengers.
Answer: GBR will have a statutory duty to run the railway in the interest of passengers. It will have the tools and operational independence it needs to plan and run the rail system on a long-term basis to meet the needs of current and future passengers.
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: TempsfordDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the new NaFRA flood zone data, published on 25 March 2025 on plans for an East West Rail station at Tempsford.
Answer: The new flood risk assessment (NaFRA) published by the Environment Agency in March 2025 is an improved service which now includes surface water data. EWR Co. is already considering the new NaFRA flood zone data in the development of all its plans, includi...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDroughts: East of EnglandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled EA steps up dry weather prep after driest spring start since 1956, published on 7 May 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potent
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) are working closely with the Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Park Trust, and other stakeholders including Water Resources East, to consider the benefits and opportunities for water management in the local area and across the Eas...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the trends in capital investment in the farming sector ahead of the implementation of reforms to agricultural property relief and business property rel
Answer: Data on farm investment income is available in the table 5 series of Farm Accounts in England – these tables show data for 2022/23 and 2023/24. The Farm Business Survey is currently collecting the 2024/25 data.
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: BedfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to expand the Chilterns National Landscape area to cover the whole of the Chilterns Character Area in Bedfordshire.
Answer: Natural England has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. Once the designation assessment has been completed, Natural England may submit a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Envir...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational LandscapesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of National Landscape status on (a) planning and (b) development of that land.
Answer: Natural England has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. As part of this, they undertake evidence-based assessments to consider the potential impact of any proposed changes. As set out in ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: Mid BedfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the designation of National Landscapes on nature recovery in Mid Bedfordshire.
Answer: Natural England (NE) has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. As part of this, they undertake evidence-based assessments to consider the potential impact of any proposed changes. This asse...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a deterrent to reduce the numbers of migrants arriving in small boats.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (UIN HCWS406) made by the Home Secretary on 30 January 2025 on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliam...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPISCESTreasuryTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57791More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System on economic growth; and when the regulatory framework for that system will
Answer: In May 2025, the government delivered legislation to establish the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System (PISCES). An impact assessment was published alongside it. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published their rules underpinn...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumersTreasuryTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57790More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32505 on Winter Fuel Payment, whether her Department measures the potential impact of its policies on consumer spending.
Answer: HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy. These forecasts, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions on UK household consumption, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR does...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEast West Rail Line: BedfordDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the East-West Rail station Stewartby for Universal once the Universal UK theme park opens.
Answer: Between November 2024 and January 2025 EWR Co. held a non-statutory consultation where they presented options for stations and services on the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford; feedback from this is currently being considered. No decisions ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Studios: BedfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the new station Wixams for Universal once the Universal UK theme park opens.
Answer: While the Department for Transport does not directly determine station names, it recognises the importance of names reflecting local identity and supporting wider community and economic objectives. Any proposals for naming will be considered by the rail i...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: AdvertisingDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will direct Great British Railways to promote local tourism (a) on trains and (b) at stations.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of tourism to the national economy. Domestic tourism was one of the drivers of the expansion of the railway, bringing people to new destinations outside of their regions for the first time. The railway currently pr...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the UK from the Aarhus Convention to enable damages to be sought from people who bring frivolous judicial reviews relating to road infrastru
Answer: The Government remains committed to protecting access to justice in environmental cases, while supporting the timely delivery of infrastructure projects under the Government’s Growth Mission. The issue of cost caps relating to Judicial Review in the plann...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57785More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) mandatory and (b) routine reporting on the number of animals that are bred and not used in scientific testing every
Answer: The Home Office is presently reviewing the collection and publication of additional statistics on animals that were bred but not used in scientific procedures.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIslamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsHome OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Answer: The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under close review, as we seek to protect the UK from the threats that we face. However, as a matter of longstanding policy we do not comment on whether or not an organisation is being considered f...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational LandscapesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the programme to designate and expand national landscapes.
Answer: Defra provided direct funding of £1.1 million per annum for years 2022/23 - 2024/25 to accelerate Natural England's work on designations. As well as the programme to consider designating and expanding National Landscapes, Natural England used this funding...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational LandscapesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to enable the completion of work that has started following the announcement of the decision to reduce funding to Natural England's programme to designate
Answer: Natural England have the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new National Landscape designations. For year 2025/26 the direct funding for this work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of l...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Community DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Brewing Communities: How we can create new towns that foster successful pubs, h
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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