Blake Stephenson MP: written questions 2025
1235 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sewers: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to reject planning applications from developers on the basis of previous failures to (a) build and (b) maintain sustainab
Answer: The government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that developments of all sizes shoul...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Flood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to direct local authorities to always reject planning applications which the lead local flood authority deem would increase the risk of flooding for
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing Associations: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of housing associations.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 76512 on 16 September 2025.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAllotmentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the value of allotments to local communities.
Answer: We recognise the significance of allotments and the valuable contribution they make to the health, wellbeing, and spirit of communities. Local Authorities have a duty to provide allotments if there is sufficient demand, and we believe they are best placed...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFloods: PlanningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Public First report entitled From risk to resilience - the case for flood-resilient communities, econ
Answer: This Government is investing at least a record £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history which is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to long-term funding as recommended by ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning permissions were granted in each of the past five years.
Answer: My Department publishes the number of planning applications granted permission per quarter in our quarterly planning applications statistical release which can be found on gov.uk here. England level data can be found in live table 120 for all planning dec...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: ApprenticesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61255 on Planning: Apprentices, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the number of planners with a Level 7 Chartere
Answer: My Department currently has no plans to collect data on the number of planners with a Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship qualification employed by local authorities or developers.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: MapsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61248 on Green Belt: Maps, if he will list the local authorities that have received funding.
Answer: The government has provided 133 local planning authorities with £70,000 of pump priming funding each to contribute towards the costs of carrying out Green Belt reviews in their areas. Eligible local authorities submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) fo...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: BedfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is his planned timetable for implementing local government re-organisation in Bedfordshire.
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 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 73359 on Visas: Migrant Workers, on how many occasions her Department received such a notification by visa type since 4 July 2024; and how many
Answer: The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisasHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of visa applications were rejected by visa type since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa route, including Religious Worker, and applicant type in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, how many and what proportion of organisations on the register have received an in-person
Answer: Routine reviews of the register of licensed sponsors are undertaken to check that sponsors are still classified as active.It is normal practice to contact a sponsor if we have any concerns over any individuals they have sponsored or are seeking to sponsor...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: StudentsHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many student visas have been issued to people studying at each university in the 2025-26 academic year.
Answer: The Home Office does not publish information on how many student visas have been issued to people studying at each university. The Home Office does publish data on sponsored study visas by course level in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Relea...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented WorkersHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of people whose visa expired since 4 July 2025 who have not (a) renewed their visa and (b) left the UK; and how many and what proportion of those people have
Answer: Removals of those with no right to be here have risen significantly under this government, with over 35,000 people removed - 13% more than the same period 12 months prior. Of the total returns since 5 July 2024, 10,191 were asylum related returns. This is...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSkilled Workers: PayHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what step her Department is taking to ensure that Skilled Worker visa holders are earning an income above the qualifying threshold for that visa.
Answer: Our compliance officers regularly check workers salary particulars, including bank statements detailing payments made to them by their employer, as well as the payment documentation provided by sponsors. In addition, routine checks are carried out with OG...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: PayHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the average salary earned by (a) all and (b) skilled worker visa holders.
Answer: An estimate of the average salary earned by all visa holders is not available, as the information is not held.HMRC and Home Office have introduced a data sharing process to match visa data to administrative tax data. The Home Office published a research r...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Personal RecordsHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of visa holders her Department holds a UK residential address for.
Answer: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.People applying for UK visas may provide a UK residential address on their application but large proportions of visa holders coming to the UK on a short-term basis such as a visitor...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: Ministers of ReligionHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of organisations on the register who
Answer: The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: CharitiesHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have dependent visas associated with a holder of a charity worker visa.
Answer: In total, 3,971 Charity Worker visas have been issued from 2023 to the end of June 2025.Data on charity worker visas issued is published as part of the Immigration system statistics data tables regular releases on the Gov.uk website at: Immigration system...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: CharitiesHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have a charity worker visa.
Answer: In total, 3,971 Charity Worker visas have been issued from 2023 to the end of June 2025.Data on charity worker visas issued is published as part of the Immigration system statistics data tables regular releases on the Gov.uk website at: Immigration system...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: CharitiesHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial requirements there are to be granted a work visa related to charity work.
Answer: The financial requirements for the Charity Worker route are published in Appendix Temporary Work – Charity Worker of the Immigration Rules: Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work - Charity Worker - Guidance - GOV.UK.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79859More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, how many organisations on the register are in receipt of public funding; and how many vi
Answer: Routine reviews of the register of licensed sponsors are undertaken to check that sponsors are still classified as active.It is normal practice to contact a sponsor if we have any concerns over any individuals they have sponsored or are seeking to sponsor...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, how often her Department communicates with organisations on the register in relation to
Answer: Routine reviews of the register of licensed sponsors are undertaken to check that sponsors are still classified as active.It is normal practice to contact a sponsor if we have any concerns over any individuals they have sponsored or are seeking to sponsor...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, how often her Department communicates with organisations on the register in relation to
Answer: Routine reviews of the register of licensed sponsors are undertaken to check that sponsors are still classified as active.It is normal practice to contact a sponsor if we have any concerns over any individuals they have sponsored or are seeking to sponsor...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, how often her Department checks whether organisations on the register are still in opera
Answer: Routine reviews of the register of licensed sponsors are undertaken to check that sponsors are still classified as active.It is normal practice to contact a sponsor if we have any concerns over any individuals they have sponsored or are seeking to sponsor...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →