Bob Blackman MP: written questions 2026
246 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Water Supply: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6739More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of placing the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development on a statutory footing with powers to coordina
Answer: We have committed to ensuring that the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) continues to coordinate and assure major infrastructure delivery, supporting faster delivery and avoiding duplication before being incorporated ...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to (a) designate and (b) deliver a national water transfer network to enable the movement of water between regions.
Answer: Government is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water tr...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6737More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) current demand reduction assumptions in water resource planning and (b) the proportion of projected savings by 2050 not tied to specif
Answer: The Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources estimates a shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 between available supply and expected demand. Government has a statutory target to reduce water use in England per he...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a statutory National Water Security Strategy on meeting projected water demand by 2050.
Answer: The Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources estimates a shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 between available supply and expected demand. Government has a statutory target to reduce water use in England per he...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordResearch: PalestineDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what published outputs have been produced under the programme “Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement: IHL vulnerabilities, ICC possibilities” (GB-GOV-13-OODA-AHRC-C4WCAGQ-R
Answer: The project “Palestinian Bedouin at risk of forced displacement: IHL vulnerabilities, ICC possibilities” (GB-GOV-13-OODA-AHRC-C4WCAGQ-R6SBCMZ-AYRNVWK) was funded under the AHRC/DFID Collaborative Humanitarian Protection Programme, which aimed to strengthe...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has conducted a written equality or non-discrimination assessment of UK ODA spending on Palestine covering differential provision of infrastructure, le
Answer: Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's work. We employ robust systems and frameworks, and continuously review our programmes, to ensure the effective and responsible use of UK taxpayers' money. Documen...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what outputs the Palestine Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning programme (PALMEL, GB-GOV-1-400409) has produced to date on value for money of UK-funded programmes in Palestin
Answer: Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's work. We employ robust systems and frameworks, and continuously review our programmes, to ensure the effective and responsible use of UK taxpayers' money. Documen...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPakistan: GirlsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5321More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor cases of abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage affecting girls from religious minority communities in Pakistan.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 13 October 2025 in response to Question 77037.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to align the categorisation of service project licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 with terminology used in the EU regulatory framework, including licences fo
Answer: The term ‘service licence’ is not a distinct legal category under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). All such licences are project licences, which authorise a defined programme of work.The term ‘service licence’ is used informally by the...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: Dogs and PrimatesHome OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what figures the Animals in Science Regulation Unit holds on the number of service project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involving (a) dogs and (b) non-human prim
Answer: The numbers of service project licences are based on information provided during the application process, with figures drawn from the Home Office’s Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) e‑licensing system. The total number of service project licences ...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what figures the Animals in Science Regulation Unit holds on the number of service project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in each of the last five years.
Answer: The numbers of service project licences are based on information provided during the application process, with figures drawn from the Home Office’s Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) e‑licensing system. The total number of service project licences ...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSS TilawaDepartment for TransportTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2026 to Question 1670 on SS Tilawa, if she will make a designation to protect the wreck of the SS Tilawa.
Answer: Under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, the Secretary of State for Transport may make designations prohibiting unauthorised access to a wreck provided it lies within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone. No similar powers are available for wrecks, such as the ...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1992More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 907723 on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, how much was spent on digital ID receive in the 2025-2026 financial year; and what is the proposed spe
Answer: The Digital ID spend so far has been limited to the early stage of the policy development. The feedback and outcomes from the consultation will now inform our final approach, design and costs.
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWest Bank: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department conducted a value for money assessment of the WBPC rebuild-after-demolition cycle; and whether programme-specific due diligence was carried out before
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 29 April in response to Question 27792.
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: HinduismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the security of Hindu and other religious minority communities in Bangladesh following the February 2026 election; and what re
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March in response to Question 112260.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: HinduismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the security of Hindu and other religious minority communities in Bangladesh following the February 2026 election; and what representations sh
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March in response to Question 112260.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordWrecks: ProtectionMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered using the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to clarify the legal status of maritime wrecks connected to the United Kingdom’s war effort which are not currently afforded protection comparable to mil
Answer: The Protection of Military Remains Act (1986) is being strengthened via the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to automatically provide ‘Protected Place’ status to shipwrecks that were under Admiralty orders at the time of their sinking. This will ensure compliant sh...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling Act 2005 ReviewDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the work of the Gambling Act Review Evaluation Advisory Group.
Answer: The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is undertaking an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review on behalf of DCMS. The findings will be published on gov.uk later this year. The Gambling Act Review Advisory Group provides objective, external advic...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling Act 2005 ReviewDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answers of 22 April 2026 to Question 127321 on Gambling: Regulation and of 28 April 2026 to Question 128520 on Horse Racing: Gambling, for what reasons her Department has no
Answer: The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is undertaking an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review on behalf of DCMS. The findings will be published on gov.uk later this year. The Gambling Act Review Advisory Group provides objective, external advic...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSS TilawaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take diplomatic steps to encourage the Government of Japan to acknowledge the sinking of the SS Tilawa in 1942, and for them to provide goodwill closure to known s
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answers he received on 27 April in response to Questions 128231 and 128238.
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSS TilawaDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of designating the wreck of the SS Tilawa, sunk in 1942, as a protected heritage site in recognition of its status as a Commonwealth wartime loss.
Answer: The sinking of the SS Tilawa, and many other merchant vessels during the world wars, represents a tragic loss of life that we must all strive to remember and reflect upon. It is right that we honour and recognise this sacrifice and strive to ensure the gr...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordWrecks: ProtectionMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1669More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered using the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to clarify the legal status of maritime wrecks connected to the United Kingdom’s war effort which are not currently afforded protection comparable to mil
Answer: The Protection of Military Remains Act (1986) is being strengthened via the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to automatically provide ‘Protected Place’ status to shipwrecks that were under Admiralty orders at the time of their sinking. This will ensure compliant sh...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether FCDO has conducted any written equality or non-discrimination assessment concerning the differential provision of UK-funded infrastructure, legal advocacy, or protect
Answer: Documentation related to the Area C Development Programme is available on DevTracker at: DevTracker Programme GB-1-203452 - https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-1-203452/documents. Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the then Department for International Development conducted any written reassessment or value-for-money analysis after receiving the December 2019 evaluation report f
Answer: Documentation related to the Area C Development Programme is available on DevTracker at: DevTracker Programme GB-1-203452 - https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-1-203452/documents. Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1666More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the then Department for International Development conducted any written assessment of the objective stated in the December 2019 evaluation report for Area C Developme
Answer: Documentation related to the Area C Development Programme is available on DevTracker at: DevTracker Programme GB-1-203452 - https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-1-203452/documents. Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament record
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