Chris Hinchliff MP: written questions
93 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Catering: Public SectorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role will organically certified produce have in achieving 50 percent of public sector catering contracts from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standard
Answer: We have published a new national procurement policy statement, which sets out expectations for government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards. We are currently considering the policy options available to deliver further ...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Industrial Competitiveness SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme on electricity bills for non-exempt consumers.
Answer: The government is looking to fund this support by bearing down on levies and other costs in the energy system, alongside revenues from the strengthening and expansion of carbon pricing.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMarine Recovery Fund and Nature Restoration FundDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Nature Restoration Fund proposed by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the Marine Recovery Fund.
Answer: The Marine Recovery Fund is being established as a voluntary mechanism to deliver strategic compensation for offshore wind developers. The Nature Restoration Fund will offer a new way for developers to discharge existing environmental obligations related ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: IndustryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of its proposed exemptions for certain industrial users from (a) Feed-in Tariffs, (b) Renewables Obligation Certificates
Answer: The government is looking to fund this support by bearing down on levies and other costs in the energy system, alongside revenues from the strengthening and expansion of carbon pricing.
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of Personal Independence Payment claimants who use some of their Personal Independence Payment to pay for housing costs.
Answer: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to provide a financial contribution towards the extra costs faced by disabled people and people with long-term health. Claimants are free to use PIP according to their own needs and priorities. Information o...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the proportion of projected additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme that will be allocated to homes for social rent in the next three
Answer: The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the projected percentage increase in nominal funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.
Answer: The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62127More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the real-terms percentage change in funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.
Answer: The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes ...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Written Statement of 5 June 2025 on School Food, HCWS682, what the (a) timeframe and (b) scope of the consultation on revising School Food Standards will be; and whether that consultation
Answer: To ensure quality and nutrition in meals for children, the department is acting quickly with experts across the sector to revise the school food standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance. The department is currently engagi...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children aged between 28 days and 17 years old were admitted to NHS care for more than seven days in the latest period for which data is available.
Answer: NHS England collects the data on patient discharge episodes, including for children, through the Hospital Episode Statistics. Discharge data does not represent the number of individual children with a hospital stay, as a child may have more than one disch...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overseas voters from North East Hertfordshire constituency are impacted by frozen British Pensions; and whether she is taking steps to help tackle this.
Answer: There are no plans to change the policy on frozen State Pension. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only up-rated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have ...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the implementation of community energy projects.
Answer: In 2025 and 2026 Great British Energy will provide over £9m in support directly for community energy projects – from solar on rooftops to hydropower in rivers - through the GBE Community Fund as well as support for the CARES scheme in Scotland. These proj...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Cultural HeritageDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national support scheme for the insurance of (a) thatched and (b) listed residential properties to help home
Answer: The government acknowledges that homeowners can face challenges in managing increased insurance costs and preserving heritage buildings, such as thatched properties.The Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a nationa...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordParental Leave: ExpenditureTreasuryTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57157More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent on (a) maternity, (b) paternity and (c) adoption leave in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answer: HMRC hold information on the amounts paid by employers to employees for Statutory Parental Pay, but do not hold this for additional ‘occupational’ pay offered by employers.The table below shows the amounts paid for statutory pay in 2023/24 (the latest com...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: Artificial Intelligence and CopyrightDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of provisions within the Data, Use and Access Bill on (a) copyright and (b) AI on the long-term sustainability of the music and art
Answer: The Data (Use and Access) Bill does not contain any provisions relating to copyright law and AI or the music and arts sectors. Nor does it change copyright law in any regard. In response to concerns, the Government has committed on the face of the Bill to...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Health Services: Medical EquipmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department’s long-term plan is for the community equipment services sector in the health and social care system.
Answer: Local National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for assessing the timeliness and the quality of medical equipment delivered for their patients, procured under contracts they hold with suppliers.Timely provision of community equipment s...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Health Services: Medical EquipmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with providers of community equipment services on their role in supporting (a) timely hospital discharge and (b) effective community-based care.
Answer: Local National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for assessing the timeliness and the quality of medical equipment delivered for their patients, procured under contracts they hold with suppliers.Timely provision of community equipment s...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: Arms TradeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 904095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his policy on arms trade with Israel.
Answer: In September 2024, we took decisive action, suspending licences for the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. We have maintained the suspension and assess there are ...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGovia Thameslink RailwayDepartment for TransportTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has issued an expiry notice to Govia Thameslink Railway; and what her planned timetable is for the nationalisation of Govia Thameslink Railway.
Answer: The date on which Govia Thameslink Railway’s franchise will end, and its services transfer to public ownership, has not yet been decided. Accordingly, no expiry notice has been issued to Govia Thameslink Railway. The Rail Minister and Secretary of State m...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Neurone DiseaseDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to consult people living with motor neurone disease on the development of the health and disability green paper.
Answer: This government strongly values the input of disabled people and people with health conditions, and that is why we have brought forward this Green Paper and opened a public consultation. The consultation welcomes their views, and we hope that a wide range...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordData (Use and Access) Bill (HL)Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the (a) music and (b) arts sector on the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
Answer: Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders from the creative industries about the Data (Use and Access) Bill.Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on GOV.UK.
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: Intellectual PropertyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Data, Use and Access Bill on the long-term sustainability of the music and arts sector.
Answer: The Data (Use and Access) Bill does not contain any provisions relating to the music and arts sectors.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice Community Support OfficersHome OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the benefits of creating a long service award to recognise PCSOs with 20 years of service.
Answer: The Home Office will consider any proposal for national long service recognition for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).It is only right that we recognise the commitment shown by PCSOs across the country and whose role are undeniably at the sharp e...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHorticultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish a horticulture strategy.
Answer: The Government’s commitment to the horticulture sector and its vital role in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of home-grown fresh produce remains steadfast. We are taking a strategic approach to support for horticu...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: UkraineDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the war in Ukraine on the horticulture sector.
Answer: It is not possible to precisely determine the direct impacts of the war in Ukraine on the UK horticulture sector, as they are dependent on a range of interrelated factors. The war in Ukraine led to rising oil, fuel and energy prices, which created inflati...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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