David Williams MP: written questions
21 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the SEND system on (a) family wellbeing, (b) employment and (c) mental health.
Answer: The current system for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is failing too many children and too many families. Improving the life chances of children and young people with SEND is the first priority for these reforms, in turn a...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of accessibility of statutory SEND rights for (a) parents and (b) carers.
Answer: The views of parents, carers and young people remain a key underpinning principle for decisions made in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. The government’s proposed reforms will expand the legal duties to meet the needs of child...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil Society: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6590More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public procurement processes are (a) accessible and (b) proportionate for organisations in the VCSE sector.
Answer: The Government is determined to ensure the £400 billion of public money spent on public procurement annually, delivers economic growth and supports small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs).Government...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCombined Authorities: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5278More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what comparative assessment he has made of levels of funding allocated to (a) mayoral combined authority areas and (b) non-mayoral local authority areas.
Answer: We have not made a direct comparative assessment of all levels of funding allocated to Mayoral Strategic Authorities and non-mayoral local authorities. All funding information is published online through the “Local authority capital expenditure and receip...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what oversight Ofwat exercises to ensure that unmetered fixed charges set by water companies are proportionate and do not disadvantage low-occupancy and low-usage households.
Answer: The Government is working to make the charging system for water fairer in England. Unmetered charges for households are based on rateable values, which the Valuation Office has not updated since 1990. To provide greater billing fairness to household custo...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy and transparency of unmetered fixed charges set by water companies, including Severn Trent Water.
Answer: The Government is working to make the charging system for water fairer in England. Unmetered charges for households are based on rateable values, which the Valuation Office has not updated since 1990. To provide greater billing fairness to household custo...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department is supporting schools to meet SEND needs where specialist placements are unavailable or inappropriate.
Answer: From September, the government is providing upfront investment for schools, colleges and early years providers to intervene early in meeting the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), through our inclusi...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding is available for ongoing professional development in SEND for teachers and support staff, and whether this provision meets demand.
Answer: The department’s core professional development offer, including Initial Teacher Training, the Early Career Framework, and national professional qualifications for leaders and Special Educational Needs Coordinators, is grounded in the latest evidence, revi...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: StaffordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the condition of local roads in Staffordshire.
Answer: The Department published a new traffic light rating system for all local highway authorities in England on 11 January which rates authorities red, amber or green based on the condition of their roads, how effectively they spend their record Government fun...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCrown Estate: Public HousesTreasuryTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129360More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to bring back into use the vacant Duke of Bridgewater pub on the Crown Estate in Stoke-on-Trent North constituency.
Answer: This property is subject to escheat, meaning it is effectively ownerless. The only action that the Crown Estate may take in relation to such property is to dispose of it to an appropriate person or body. The Crown Estate is currently in touch with Stoke-o...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Special Educational NeedsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the health and care needs of young people with SEND in Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove are identified and met in a timely and effective manner.
Answer: The Government has published ambitious special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, supporting the treatment to prevention shift in the 10-Year Health Plan and its focus on early intervention, to prevent needs escalating. Close partnership w...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: BuildingsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department are taking to address the deteriorating condition and poor maintenance of national heritage buildings in and around Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove.
Answer: This government recognises the impact that the deterioration of heritage buildings can have on local communities, including those in Stoke-on-Trent. I am aware the Minister for Heritage, Baroness Twycross will be meeting with you in the coming weeks to di...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPride in Place Programme: Kidsgrove and Stoke-on-Trent NorthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms his Department has put in place to help ensure that communities are consulted on the use of Pride in Place funding in Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove.
Answer: The community will decide how to invest £20m of Pride in Place Funding allocated to Bradeley and Chell Heath. A Neighbourhood Board led by an Independent Chair, made up of local people, will come up with a plan for this investment. The programme’s Prospec...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what safeguards are being put in place to ensure that forthcoming changes to the Universal Service Obligation do not further disadvantage constituents who rely on the timely delivery of essential corre
Answer: Ofcom, as the independent regulator, has a statutory duty to secure the provision of a universal service that meets the reasonable needs of users and to consider the impacts of any changes to the Universal Service Obligation. Ofcom conducted extensive res...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: Delivery ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure Royal Mail improves first- and second-class delivery performance following Ofcom’s recent findings and fines.
Answer: Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for setting and enforcing Royal Mail’s service standards. I met senior officials from Ofcom on 11 March.I met Royal Mail’s CEO, Alistair Cochrane, on 3 February to press him on making demonstrable improv...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123860More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of Royal Mail’s failure to meet its Universal Service Obligation delivery targets in each of the past three years.
Answer: The government has been clear that Royal Mail’s service has not been good enough.Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for assessing Royal Mail’s compliance with Universal Service Obligation delivery targets. Following investigations into Ro...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: InternetDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to make it easier for people who cannot use the telephone to communicate changes in their circumstances online.
Answer: We understand that not everyone can use the telephone to communicate with us and we are committed to making our services more accessible, inclusive and responsive to customer needs.We already offer alternative channels for several services. We’ve successf...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTell Us Once ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of allowing private sector organisations to access the Tell Us Once service on (a) the administrative burden on bereaved families a
Answer: Following previous discussions with the Minister for Lords and the Minister for Transformation, Tell Us Once is currently exploring opportunities to expand its existing service offering. The existing capabilities of the system are being investigated to as...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeech and Language TherapyDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the the findings of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' report entitled, A Profession Under Press
Answer: Speech and Language Therapists break down communication barriers, unlocking learning, inclusion, and opportunity for every child. They play a critical role in early intervention for children and young people. However, they have the second highest waiting ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of the provision of a hot meal at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.
Answer: The department spends over £1.5 billion annually supporting schools to provide free meals to around 3.4 million children. We have recently confirmed that free meals will be extended to all households receiving Universal Credit from September 2026. This ex...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeech and Language TherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists entitled A Profession Under Pressure, published on 16
Answer: The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s report, ‘A Profession under Pressure’, identified a series of recommendations to help address retention issues in the Speech and Language Therapist workforce.The report identifies issues around work-lif...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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