Gareth Snell MP: written questions 2025
131 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Literacy: Digital TechnologyDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75463More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to use digital resources to promote literacy in (a) early years, (b) school age children and (c) adults.
Answer: The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life and essential skills.We are building the evidence base on the impact of technology in education through the EdTech...
Answered 6 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: LiteracyDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing access to (a) Kindles and (b) audiobooks on children’s literacy.
Answer: The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life and essential skills.We are building the evidence base on the impact of technology in education through the EdTech...
Answered 6 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: LiteracyDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing access to digital resources on children’s literacy.
Answer: The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life and essential skills.We are building the evidence base on the impact of technology in education through the EdTech...
Answered 6 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: LiteracyDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Premier League Primary Stars literacy initiative.
Answer: The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life and essential skills. Reading is central to this mission and is crucial for success at school and in life, and so ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to strengthen the regulatory framework for waste (a) carriers, (b) brokers, and (c) dealers to reduce criminal activity in the sector.
Answer: The Government recently announced plans to tighten up the regulation of those who transport and manage waste services, moving them from a light-touch registration system into environmental permitting. This will give the Environment Agency a greater range ...
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate his Department has made of the annual cost to the public purse of (a) waste crime and (b) illegal waste exports.
Answer: The Environmental Services Association (ESA) estimated in 2021 that waste crime costs the economy in England about £1 billion per year of which at least £42 million per year could be attributed to illegal waste exports. (see here: ESA_Cost_of_Waste_Crime....
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of rolling out family hubs across the country.
Answer: On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that the government...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Libraries: ClosuresDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of closures of (a) libraries and (b) other cultural spaces on the availability of early years services.
Answer: Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.Public libraries significantly contribute to early childhood development by offering a variety of events like storytimes, rhymetimes, and craft sessions. Thes...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of early years support for parents in disadvantaged areas.
Answer: On 7 July 2025 the government published its Best Start in Life Strategy which sets out plans to ensure all young families can benefit from high quality family services and early years education and childcare, delivering our Plan for Change.This includes n...
Answered 12 Aug 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of early intervention on children's readiness to start school.
Answer: The government’s Plan for Change sets out our ambition for a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn. The department will measure progress through 75% of children at the end of reception reaching a good level of development in the ear...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school educationDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to take steps to support nursery workers to encourage learning through play.
Answer: The early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS) sets the standards and requirements that all early years providers must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life and is prepared for school. The EYFS is clear that children learn t...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHome EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide training on home education for parents of school-age children.
Answer: The department does not have plans to provide training for parents on home education.We have published guidance for home-educating parents to help them understand their rights and responsibilities.The department is also introducing a new duty on local aut...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFamily HubsDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of rolling out family hubs nationally.
Answer: On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that the government...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordKashmir: Self-determination of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his Department's policy that the people of Kashmir should have the right to a referendum to determine their future.
Answer: India and Pakistan are important friends of the UK. We encourage both to engage in dialogue and find lasting, diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability. The UK Government’s longstanding position on Kashmir that it is for India and Pakist...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeship starts at level 7 there were in the academic years (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 for individuals aged 16-21.
Answer: There were 2,710 apprenticeship starts at level 7 by learners aged under 22 in the 2023/24 full academic year. So far for 2024/25 (August 2024 to January 2025), there have been 2,540 apprenticeship starts reported.
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Education: Written QuestionsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to provide an Answer to Question 50886 on Apprentices: Taxation, tabled on 8 May 2025.
Answer: The response to Written Parliamentary Question 50886 was published on 21 May 2025.
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDisabled Students' Allowances: Assistive TechnologyDepartment for EducationTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many organisations were consulted on the decision to cut funding for specialist software from the Disabled Student's Allowance.
Answer: The department engaged with disability experts who support disabled students to gather their feedback and insights on the decision to remove non-specialist spelling and grammar software from Disabled Students’ Allowance funding. These persons contributed ...
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: TaxationDepartment for EducationTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to levy funding for level 7 apprenticeships on the educational opportunities available in Stoke-on-Trent.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43275.
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of PIP claimants currently have more than four points in any one category.
Answer: The information you requested can be found in Table 2.27 in the Pathways to Work: Evidence Pack: Chapter 2. The assessment of the Office for Budget Responsibility, published at the Spring Statement, is that most of the current claimants of PIP Daily Livi...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when a person who reached state pension age before 2016 would become entitled to their basic state pension.
Answer: The basic State Pension was available for those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.Men were eligible for basic State Pension at age 65. Women born prior to 6 April 1950 were eligible for the basic State Pension at age 60.Following changes t...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Emissions Trading Scheme: CeramicsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 38091 on UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Ceramics, which recommendations he supports for the decarbonisation of the ceramics sector; and what
Answer: I refer my hon Friend to the answer given in the House on 1 May which focussed on the ceramics sector. The Government recognises that we need to support a range of energy intensive industries, including ceramics, that are essential to our economy and our ...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLibraries: FinanceTreasuryTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47773More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on (a) public and (b) school library funding.
Answer: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.Local government is responsible for running or commissioning public library services. The Government has delivered a Local Government Finan...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Health: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help tackle health misinformation due to levels of media literacy.
Answer: The government understands the importance of building audience resilience to mis- and disinformation, noting that improved media literacy is essential for helping people to recognise this content. The Online Safety Act updates Ofcom’s statutory duty to pr...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Health: DisinformationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of health misinformation due to levels of media literacy on public health decision-making.
Answer: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of health misinformation on public health decision making, but recognises the importance of accurate health information being available to the public and of preventing misinformation.The Depa...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMedia: EducationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of poor media literacy skills on young people's (a) employability and (b) workplace readiness.
Answer: According to the Essential Digital Skills Framework, media literacy-related skills, including understanding online risks, are essential for work. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked with FutureDotNow to analyse the benefits of...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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