David Smith MP: written questions 2025
101 published records · newest first.
Written questions
East Coast Main Line: Energy SupplyDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an assessment of the potential merits of an increased power supply on the East Coast Mainline north of Berwick.
Answer: In order to support the planned introduction of the route’s recast timetable in December 2025, Network Rail have conducted detailed route-wide power modelling. Network Rail will continue to undertake similar activity to help inform future plans for East ...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Great British Railways to ensure equality of access to the rail network for (a) nationalised and (b) open access operators.
Answer: The Government does not believe the current access is working in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers. Our consultation set out proposals for fundamental reform of the access and charging framework under Great British railways, a single directin...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to include representatives of the (a) voluntary and (b) charitable sector in the consultation on the proposed welfare reforms.
Answer: We strongly value the input of disabled people and people with health conditions, in addition to representative organisations that support them, and that is why we have brought forward this Green Paper and the consultation.The consultation welcomes the vi...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the merits of involving the (a) voluntary and (b) charitable sector to support people in need of employment support as part of her Department's proposed welfare reforms.
Answer: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work, backed up by £1 billio...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCybercrime: North KoreaTreasuryTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47050More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the vulnerabilities of cryptocurrency to North Korean criminals.
Answer: The Government is aware of reporting relating to the recent cyber activity linked to the DPRK, involving the cryptocurrency exchange ByBit. The UK works closely with our allies to deter all malign actors from conducting malicious cyber activity. This incl...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMoney Laundering: North KoreaTreasuryTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47049More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to prevent North Korean cyber criminals laundering stolen funds through UK institutions.
Answer: The Government is aware of reporting relating to the recent cyber activity linked to the DPRK, involving the cryptocurrency exchange ByBit. The UK works closely with our allies to deter all malign actors from conducting malicious cyber activity. This incl...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordCybercrime: North KoreaHome OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of cybercrime from North Korea on the UK.
Answer: The UK is one of the most digital, connected and online countries in the world. This increases our exposure to a range of cyber threats including from states, ransomware gangs, and cyber criminals. Cyber crime causes immense damage to people and businesse...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHospicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47047More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with hospices on (a) their role in and (b) funding in relation to the forthcoming NHS 10 Year Plan.
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receiv...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with local authorities on updating the adult social care funding formula in the local government finance settlement for the 2026-27 financial year.
Answer: MHCLG’s consultation on the principles and objectives of reform to the local government finance system, which was published alongside the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on the 18 December 2024, included material on the approach to distrib...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to include funding for home-to-school transport in the local government finance settlement in the 2026-27 financial year.
Answer: Funding for home-to-school transport is allocated to local authorities via un-ringfenced funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement. In total, the Local Government Finance Settlement for financial year 2025-26 makes available £69 billion to l...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to consult with stakeholders on the adequacy of the rurality weighting in the new council funding settlement.
Answer: Places with a significant rural population will on average receive almost a 6% increase in their Core Spending Power for 25-26, which is a real terms increase alongside new funding available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments. I reg...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: TechnologyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of waiting times for processing (a) applications to and (b) the release of funds from the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund in the past year.
Answer: a) The application window for Productivity and Slurry FETF 2024 grants closed on the 07 April 2024; the application window for Animal Health and Welfare FETF 2024 closed on the 01 May 2024.The majority of Productivity applicants received their Grant Funde...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: DisabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that eligible families have access to the Support for Families with Disabled Children programme.
Answer: Each year, the Support for Families with Disabled Children (SFDC) programme provides individual grants to approximately 60,000 low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child. The department is pleased to support the SFDC programme and we ex...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43280More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on reform to the British coal staff superannuation scheme.
Answer: I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter and we will continue to work closely with His Majesty’s Treasury on aspects related to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made a comparative assessment between (a) young adults and (b) other age groups experience of homelessness; and if she will help support young adult's
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the homelessness sector on tackling youth homelessness.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 20895 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: Renewable FuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of steps taken by the (a) Scottish Government, (b) Northern Ireland Executive and (c) Irish Government to commit to
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 6 March 2025 to my hon Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth to Question UIN 35113.
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxation: USATreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36267More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will have discussions with her US counterpart on the impact of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act on the privacy rights of UK citizens who have US citizenship but have never resided in that country.
Answer: US law subjects all US citizens to US taxation, regardless of where they reside. This can include US citizens who were born in the US but who may have left at a young age and have few remaining ties with the country. US tax policy is a matter for the US, ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: PrisonersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is provided to people with mental health issues who are serving IPP sentences.
Answer: NHS England Health and Justice commissioned healthcare providers deliver both primary and secondary care mental health services to all individuals within the custodial estate, irrespective of their detained status. Each individual will be assessed, their ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrison SentencesMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest period is that a person is in prison over their minimum tariff; and what the original tariff length was for that person.
Answer: We believe that disclosing the exact tariff information for a single person would be likely to lead to the individual concerned being identified. For this reason, we have chosen to provide figures for the ten prisoners who have served the longest period o...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisoners: SuicideMinistry of JusticeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people took their own life in prison while serving an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence in 2024.
Answer: There were four self-inflicted deaths of those serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection in 2024. This information can be found in Table 1.7 of the 'Safety in custody: quarterly update to September 2024. Self-inflicted deaths are any deaths ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to consult young people on the homelessness strategy.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 20894 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27740More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to include youth homelessness in the cross-government homelessness strategy.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 20894 on 19 December 2024.
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: FarmersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22817More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the Minimum Income Floor for self-employed farmers on Universal Credit.
Answer: Universal Credit treats all forms and sectors of self-employment in the same way, focusing on the level of a customer’s earnings rather than the sector in which they work. The Minimum Income Floor (MIF) encourages self-employed customers to progress in wo...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Coast Main Line: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of public ownership on rail fares on the East Coast mainline.
Answer: Whilst it is our ambition through public ownership to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers, and the railway.
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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