Blake Stephenson MP: written questions
865 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Planning: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Bureaucratic burden lifted to speed up building in growth agenda, published on 10 March 2025, when she plans to publish
Answer: As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult shortly on reform of the statutory consultee system. A publication date is yet to be confirmed.
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of industrial energy prices in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) the USA.
Answer: Our Clean Power 2030 target is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions with homegrown clean energy the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. We are also already bringing electricity costs for key UK industries c...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to Question 48234 on Planning Permission, if she will set out her planned timeframe.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 53569 on 28 May 2025.
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May to Question 49985 on Planning: Appeals, when he plans to publish the guidance.
Answer: Guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees will be published at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMayors: TaxationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to Question 47409 on Mayors: Taxation, whether the list of taxes is exhaustive.
Answer: The government keeps all tax policy, including local taxes, under review.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Inspectorate: StandardsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning Inspectorate Performance update – April 2025, published on 25 April 2025, what steps she is taking to reduce the median decision time.
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate's Strategic Plan commits to removing all casework backlogs and meeting all Ministerial targets by 2027. Casework including nationally significant infrastructure projects, local plan examinations, critical Secretary of State casew...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to require new town masterplans to include designated sites for future pubs.
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 recordPublic Houses: Community DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of pubs on (a) community cohesion and (b) reducing loneliness in new towns.
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 recordHousing: Digital TechnologyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled, Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records, published on 19 April 2025, for how lon
Answer: Local planning authorities should consider several factors in the retention of their records. These include compliance with statutory requirements such as the General Data Protection Regulation, the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Informatio...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: AgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department’s decision to end funding for the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme on levels of nature recovery.
Answer: We recognise the huge importance of nature friendly farming, and we will look to maintain momentum in the coming years. Decisions on funding of FiPL and other relevant programmes will be announced after the conclusion of the spending review.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025, whe
Answer: Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape focussed on developing recommendations to ensure that the Department is driving economic growth while protecting the environment. As mentioned in the introduction to the review, Dan Corry was aware of sev...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTheme Parks: PembrokeshireTreasuryTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56713More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased NICs on the financial viability of Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support efforts to scale up the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Answer: On 19 May, the UK issued a joint statement calling for full aid resumption and for Israel to allow United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) partners to operate independently. We will continue to convene international partners to increase pr...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Answer: The UK is taking firm steps to expand humanitarian aid in Gaza, working with trusted partners including UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations to deliver food, healthcare, and shelter. A significant portion of our Financial Year 2024/25 funding ha...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help achieve the release of the remaining Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.
Answer: Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term pea...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Landscapes: FarmersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for farmers of being part of a National Landscape area.
Answer: England's National Landscapes are some of our most iconic and inspiring places. The specific merits for farmers will vary due to the unique local contexts. However, benefits range from additional support from National Landscapes teams, the ability to leve...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: National LandscapesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Protected Landscapes programme in helping to protect communities from flooding.
Answer: The impact of flooding across England’s 44 Protected Landscapes varies according to their local context and geographies. Work undertaken by Protected Landscape organisations makes a valuable contribution to protecting communities from flooding. The Protec...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of wildlife management and protection legislation in relation to (a) the number and (b) nature of (i) reported offences an
Answer: Wildlife crime is abhorrent, and significant sanctions are already available for judges to hand down to those convicted of such crimes. Anyone who commits an offence under existing legislation can face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimi...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: Green BeltMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 70 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s publication entitled Economic and Fiscal Outlook of March 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment
Answer: The government is committed to preserving Green Belts which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns merging into one an...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Public ExpenditureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that the Spending Review recognises the contribution of the nature friendly farming budget in (a) supporting farmers, (b) restoring nature and (c) tackling climate ch
Answer: We recognise the huge importance of nature friendly farming, and we will look to maintain momentum in the coming years. The budgets for which will be set in the Spending Review.
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCoal: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50278 on Coking Coal: Imports, if he will encourage businesses to source coal domestically used in (a) steel making, (b) the cement and chemi
Answer: Coal mining in Great Britain has been in long-term decline and there are only a handful of coal mines currently operating – these are unaffected by the Government commitment to not grant new coal licences and can continue in line with their existing conse...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will confirm when his Department will publish a fully-costed plan to achieve a Net Zero power grid by 2030.
Answer: The Clean Power Action Plan published in December 2024 outlines the Government’s approach to reaching clean power by 2030, including the need to deliver an estimated £40 billion a year of investment on average per year between 2025-2030. The vast majority...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Artifical IntelligenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records, published on 19 April 2025, if she will issue guidanc
Answer: The ‘Extract’ tool is currently being tested. When the tool is launched the department will provide guidance alongside it to support local authorities in verifying and producing accurate data. The tool has also been designed to include a human verificatio...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: CostsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of how long housing delivery of 300,000 per year would need to be sustained to result in a reduction in the ratio of wages to house prices to 1997 le
Answer: As the hon. Member is aware, the government has not set interim annual targets in respect of its ambitious Plan for Change milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. As such, we do not have an annual housing target of 30...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, over what period her Department plans to require housing supply of 370,000 houses per year.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing need that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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