Brian Mathew MP: written questions
126 published records · newest first.
Written questions
NHS: DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101191More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is being done to support disabled people working in the NHS.
Answer: Local employers across the National Health Service have arrangements in place for supporting disabled staff including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and a focus on healthy working environments.Employers have a legal duty under...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department monitors the impact of highway runoff on rivers and lakes.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has a monitoring regime that sets out to identify pressures on rivers and lakes as well as estuaries and coasts and groundwaters. This involves monitoring (of water quality, chemicals and ecology) to determine reasons for not a...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Pollution ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department monitors the discharge of highway runoff entering rivers along the network.
Answer: National Highways carries out targeted monitoring at key locations on the strategic road network and is working with the Environment Agency to develop a further monitoring strategy. National Highways also has its 2030 Water Quality Plan setting out what i...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: Intellectual PropertyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 906330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to protect intellectual property rights in the training of AI models.
Answer: As a government, we are determined to back both our world-class creative sectors and our technology sector. Both are essential to our plan for growth.We recognise the potential impact of AI technology on intellectual property rights, including patents, tr...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSudan: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recent fighting in el-Fasher, Sudan.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October.
Answered 6 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of enriched cages on laying hens.
Answer: We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The impact of enriched cages on laying hens is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving tests have been booked in Wiltshire in 2025.
Answer: The table below shows how many car practical driving tests have been booked for test centres serving Wiltshire in 2025.Driving Test CentreTests Booked (Net Demand)Chippenham7,737Salisbury4,432Swindon8,694Trowbridge1,323Total22,186*Trowbridge is a taking t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Instruction: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of approved driving instructors there are in Wiltshire.
Answer: The table below shows how many car practical driving tests have been booked for test centres serving Wiltshire in 2025.Driving Test CentreTests Booked (Net Demand)Chippenham7,737Salisbury4,432Swindon8,694Trowbridge1,323Total22,186*Trowbridge is a taking t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: WiltshireDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times for a practical driving test in Wiltshire were in the last 10 years, by driving test centre.
Answer: The table below shows how many car practical driving tests have been booked for test centres serving Wiltshire in 2025.Driving Test CentreTests Booked (Net Demand)Chippenham7,737Salisbury4,432Swindon8,694Trowbridge1,323Total22,186*Trowbridge is a taking t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProbate and WillsMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what mechanisms are in place at HM Courts and Tribunals Service Probate Registries to ensure that when a later will is lodged and an objection is submitted prior to the granting of probate on an earlier will, th
Answer: HMCTS has an established process in place for when a later will is lodged, which requires HMCTS staff to submit the later Will and earlier Will to a Registrar for their directions on how to proceed.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: South WestDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 905590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve rail services in rural areas of the South West.
Answer: This government is committed to improving rural rail services in the South-West, and public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways will help to deliver this. We are striving to enhance connectivity and increase service frequency across under...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPrison Officers and Probation OfficersMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) prison and (b) probation staff.
Answer: By the nature of their roles, HMPPS staff can come into contact with some of the most challenging and dangerous people in our society. We want to ensure all staff, whether they are based in prisons or probation, feel proud to work for HMPPS and feel suppo...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordEstate Agents: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team on the (a) prevalence of conditional selling practices by estate agents and (b) the
Answer: It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold offers from sellers because the potential buyer declines to use their additional services. Where there is evidence of such practices, agents can face sanctions including a ban.The government is committed to...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHearing: TestingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of hearing tests.
Answer: We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services, including for audiology services such as hearing tests. Our Elective Reform Plan ...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHuman Papillomavirus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of HPV vaccine uptake in different local authorities.
Answer: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage is presented for England at national, National Health Service commissioning region, and local authority levels. HPV vaccine uptake is known to vary by local authority, and assessments of trends by locality are o...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Dysphoria: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of waiting times for specialist gender services for under-18s.
Answer: The Government and NHS England are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review in full. NHS England developed an ambitious two-year action plan which sets out how they will continue to transform and improve gender services, helping to...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including water companies as a statutory consultee in the planning process to advise on (a) the impacts o
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 60676 on 23 June 2025.
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help support homeowners to meet the costs of remedial work caused by foam roof insulation installed using a government grant.
Answer: There is no government financial assistance available to have insulation removed. Any measures fitted under government schemes must be fitted to the highest standards with issues promptly and properly rectified. In any instance where insulation is install...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: RegistrationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a national register of defibrillators.
Answer: The Circuit is the independently operated national automated external defibrillator databased, developed by a partnership of the British Heart Foundation, the National Health Service, the Resuscitation Council UK, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Ex...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: TribunalsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of people waiting for tribunals as part of their PIP application process.
Answer: The Department understands the potential effect of waiting for a tribunal hearing, which is why our aim is to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey so that people can get the support they are entitled to, without the need for a...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department is taking steps with animal protection organisations to phase out animal experimentation.
Answer: The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternat...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to retrofit schools to help meet net zero targets.
Answer: The department is committed to supporting the UK net zero carbon targets. Since 2021, our own building standards have required that all new school buildings we deliver are net zero carbon in operation and are adapted to climate change.The department is al...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51056More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of minimum service standards for cross county bus services.
Answer: Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) already often work closely together when tendering routes that cross shared boundaries and in delivering their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP). There are also requirements set out in the Transport Act 2000 for LTAs ...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic: NoiseDepartment for TransportTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51055More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of levels of car use on (a) congestion and (b) road noise.
Answer: The Department periodically publishes the national road traffic projections. The most recent being the National Road Traffic Projections 2022. This includes a measure of congestion expressed as lost time per mile, per vehicle in seconds. This is split by ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Workplace PensionsDepartment for EducationTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51054More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle processing delays of valuations by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that pensions are paid promptly once teachers have chosen ho
Answer: The scheme administrator has made significant progress to reduce the backlog of Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) figures that had built up whilst the necessary guidance was developed, following the Transitional Protection (McCloud) remedy taking effe...
Answered 30 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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