Bob Blackman MP: written questions
381 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of whether NHS care pathways are adequate for individuals harmed by sodium valproate that require lifelong, multidisciplinary care.
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, identified significant shortcomings in National Health Service care pathways for people harmed by sodium valproate, including fragmented services, limited diagnostic expertise,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether interim compensation payments have been considered for families involved in the first ten claims of the FAC litigation concerning sodium valproate.
Answer: The Department has not specifically considered interim compensation for the families involved in the Fetal Anti‑Convulsant litigation. On redress more broadly, I met with the Patient Safety Commissioner in December 2025, to discuss progress on the Hughes ...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has estimated the lifetime public cost of not compensating individuals with complex disabilities caused by sodium valproate exposure, including costs to the NHS, social care
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has not made an estimate of the lifetime public cost of not compensating individuals affected by in‑utero exposure to sodium valproate, including potential costs to the National health Service, social care services...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken since 2020 to implement the IMMDS Review recommendations on redress for those harmed by sodium valproate; and if he will publish a timetable for delivery.
Answer: The previous administration accepted seven of the nine recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, whether in full, in part, or in principle, including issuing an unreserved apology on behalf of the healthcare system, a...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of establishing a dedicated, no-fault compensation scheme for individuals harmed by sodium valproate exposure, in the context of the recom
Answer: The Department has not yet undertaken an assessment of the feasibility of establishing a dedicated, no-fault compensation scheme for individuals harmed by sodium valproate exposure, in the context of the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Me...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: CurriculumForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 98592, which independent organisation has been contracted to conduct the audit of Palestinian Authority curriculum refor
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 January 2026 to Question 104985.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether conditions haven been made as a prerequisite by his Chinese counterparts in advance of the Prime Minister’s trip to Beijing.
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will call for the removal of bounties placed on Hong Kong democracy activists living in the UK during the proposed trips to Beijing.
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government will call for the removal of Chinese sanctions on British parliamentarians during the proposed trip to Beijing
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessments of the potential impact of approving a new Chines embassy on Hong Kongers in the UK.
Answer: The decision on whether or not to approve planning permission for the proposed Chinese Embassy site at the Royal Mint Court is an independent one for the Secretary of State for the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in his quasi-judic...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make planning permission for China’s new embassy contingent on the release of political prisoners in Hong Kong.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make the approval of China’s new embassy conditional on the release of Jimmy Lai.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what concessions are being sought by China on His Majesty’s Government’s decision to approve the planning application for China’s new embassy.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide emergency day-to-day funding to hospices; and whether he will commit to releasing (a) £100 million in emergency funding now and (b) a further £100 million in Apri
Answer: Children and young people’s hospices have received £26 million of revenue funding for 2025/26 and we are also providing approximately £80 million of revenue funding for children and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, 2026/27 to 2...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCats: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to meet with animal welfare organisations to discuss the promotion of responsible cat ownership and sourcing.
Answer: The department maintains regular contact with key stakeholders on companion animal welfare issues. This includes the Canine and Feline Sector Group, which brings together leading welfare charities, veterinary bodies, trade associations and representatives...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCats: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that cats are included in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
Answer: The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements the Government aim to achieve by 2030. In the Strategy Defra has committed to take steps to improve the uptake of...
Answered 23 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102749More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date the Valuation Office Agency provided Ministers with its final advice relating to the 2026 business rates revaluation.
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) published the draft 2026 Rating List on 26 November 2025 and regularly provided Ministers with advice on progress up to that date. The VOA provides advice throughout each stage of a revaluation and will continue to do so ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Sector: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102748More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to publish an impact assessment of changes to business rates for the hospitality sector due to take effect from April 2026.
Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Sector: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102747More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has been of the number and proportion of hospitality businesses that will see an increase in their business rates liabilities between April 2025 and April 2028.
Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Sector: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102746More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has been of the cumulative change in business rates liabilities for hospitality businesses over the next three years.
Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the use of non-disclosure agreements during corporate restructuring in safety-critical sectors; and he plans to ensure that
Answer: The Government is unable to assess sector-specific trends regarding the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) because they are private contractual arrangements, and data on their use is not collected.While NDAs can legally require one or more parties to...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHunting: TourismDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to prevent British companies from selling hunting trips to British nationals to shoot so-called canned lions for sport and trophies.
Answer: The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensur...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: ApplicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many households?have been denied applications for social homes due to affordability checks; and what alternative options are available for those households?in order to?avoid
Answer: The government has already taken action to remove barriers for those most in need to access social housing including exempting care leavers under 25 years old and victims of domestic abuse from local connection tests. Local housing authorities and landlor...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing Associations: ApplicationsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of pre-tenancy checks by housing associations on the ability of households experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access
Answer: The government has already taken action to remove barriers for those most in need to access social housing including exempting care leavers under 25 years old and victims of domestic abuse from local connection tests. Local housing authorities and landlor...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he will take to?remove barriers to accessing a social home for those most in need.
Answer: The government has already taken action to remove barriers for those most in need to access social housing including exempting care leavers under 25 years old and victims of domestic abuse from local connection tests. Local housing authorities and landlor...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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