Cat Eccles MP: written questions 2025
78 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Health Services: West MidlandsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the length of NHS waiting lists in the Black Country since 4 July 2024.
Answer: In July 2024, the waiting list at the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) was 192,268. Of these, 110,482, or 57.5% of pathways, were waiting within 18 weeks.The latest data shows that as of March 2025, the waiting list at the Black Country ICB has d...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed UK-US trade agreement on the future of the NHS.
Answer: On 8th May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States. The NHS will never be on the table for any trade agreement and the US trade deal will not lead to privatisation of the NHS. The NHS is not for sale under any circumst...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52143More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve palliative care.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help prevent rogue energy brokers from targeting small businesses.
Answer: The Government wants to provide all businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPathways to WorkDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on (a) local government and (b) the voluntary sector.
Answer: No assessment has yet been made. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here: ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.A further programme of analysis to support devel...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-US trade agreement on the UK (a) steel and (b) aluminium sectors.
Answer: This government is determined to look after the country's national interest. That's why we have concluded a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. For steel and aluminium,...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSoft Drinks: TaxationTreasuryTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51074More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits increasing duties on additional (a) food and (b) drink products that cause
Answer: The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is recognised as a transformative health tax intervention. Following the announcement of the Levy, the average sugar content of soft drinks in scope fell 46% between 2015 and 2020. Further, the policy has been linked to 5,000...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFluoride: Drinking WaterDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of fluoridisation of water for dental health.
Answer: Water fluoridation is an evidence based, effective public health intervention for improving the oral health of children and adults. The 2022 Health Monitoring Report showed that five-year-olds were less likely to experience dental caries, and less likely ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve dementia care.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving dementia care and is empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including for those with dementia. That is why we have recently published the Dementi...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPathways to WorkLeader of the HouseTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51071More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, when she plans to provide parliamentary time for the House to debate the Pathways to Work Green Paper.
Answer: The House has had a number of opportunities to discuss the Pathways to Work Green Paper, including:An Oral Statement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 18th March following its publication, lasting around 2 hours;An Urgent Question on 27th...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPathways to Work: PovertyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on the number of people in poverty in each of the next five years.
Answer: An assessment of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on the number of people in poverty in each of the next five years is not yet available.The government's impact assessment regarding the Pathways to Work Green Paper is available her...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: IsraelForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Israeli counterpart on its military strategy in Gaza.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly with his Israeli counterparts. Following the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on 12 May, the Foreign Secretary urged Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar of the need for an end to the aid blockade ...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLimitation of ActionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the merits of increasing the six year period for claims allowed under s.32(1)(c) of the Limitation Act from the consequences of a mistake.
Answer: The effect of the legislation is that for civil claims which involve the consequences of a mistake, the relevant limitation period only starts when the claimant discovers the mistake or could have discovered it with reasonable due diligence (subject to ce...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWest Bank: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle settler violence in the West Bank.
Answer: Settler violence is unacceptable, and settlements are illegal under international law. The Foreign Secretary has been clear with Israeli ministers that they must clamp down on settler violence and end settler expansion and has previously met with Palestin...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Buildings: Transgender PeopleWomen and EqualitiesTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50391More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what guidance she is issuing to public buildings on the facilities post operation trans women should use.
Answer: The Government has set out our expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is developing its updated statutory Code of Practice to support organisations. Ministers will consider the EHRC’...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered adopting a phased introduction of the extended producer responsibility fees to allow businesses time to adapt.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I provided on 7 April 2025 to PQ 42929.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Per Capita CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the merits of increasing the funding per-pupil for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.From the 2018/19 financial year to 2023/24, th...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Per Capita CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of differences in funding per child between SEN children educated in state schools and those educated in privately owned institutions.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.From the 2018/19 financial year to 2023/24, th...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: MaintenanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the merits of writing off debt payments for Child Support Agency payments valued below £500.
Answer: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has the ability to write off Child Support Agency (CSA) debt that is £500 and under in circumstances where no payment has been made within the last 90 days and where administrative powers have been considered but were d...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGivinostatDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase the provision of Givinostat free at the point of use for people with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.
Answer: The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for th...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRents: IncreasesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle unaffordable rent increases.
Answer: The government recognises that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense. The Renters’ Rights Bill empowers private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable rent increases, with all rent increases taking place via an existing s...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to increase funding for social housing in the next Spending Review in the context of levels of homelessness.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30393 on 24 February 2025 for more detail on the steps we have already taken ...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity: ReviewsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will conduct a review of the statutory framework for biodiversity net gain; and if he will take steps with environmental horticulture experts to include cultivated pl
Answer: The Government is working with stakeholders, including the horticulture sector, to monitor the implementation of biodiversity net gain to make sure it is working as intended.
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRecreation SpacesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that green spaces are adequately designed to (a) tackle climate challenges, (b) support water availability and (c) increase flood re
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that the planning system should take full account of all climate impacts, including water scarcity and flood risk. Planning should help to shape places in a way that ...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCats: Animal BreedingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices, p
Answer: The Government welcomes the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations.
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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