Gill Furniss MP: written questions 2026
28 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Digital Technology: Older PeopleDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that older demographics in particular are safeguarded from the impacts of digital exclusion.
Answer: Everyone in every community should benefit from technology but we know some people face real barriers. That’s why in 2025 we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, helping over a million people get online and benefitting communities across the UK th...
Answered 11 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: ReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the National Literacy Trust’s report on ‘Children and young people’s reading in 2026’ relating to children’s reading enjoymen
Answer: Reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a wide range of benefits, from increased wellbeing, confidence and empathy to better vocabulary and aptitude for learning. That is why this government, in collaboration with our delivery partner, the Nat...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCardiovascular Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for publication of the cardiovascular disease Modern Service Framework.
Answer: The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (CVD MSF) is being finalised to ensure it reflects the strongest available evidence and is due to be published soon.The CVD MSF will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering ...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordActive TravelDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the proportion of short stages in towns and cities in England that are currently walked and cycled.
Answer: Estimates of the proportion of short stages in towns and cities in England that are walked and cycled are obtained from the National Travel Survey. In 2024, 48% of stages of less than 5 miles made by residents of towns and cities in England were walked or...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing multi-year funding for Active Travel England grants.
Answer: Following publication of the Devolution White Paper in 2024, the majority of grants to local authorities are consolidated and are provided on a multi-year funding basis, including Active Travel England funding. This reduces burdens on authorities and allo...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: MenopauseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has identified links between menopause and a heightened risk of suicide; and what support his Department provides to safeguard the mental health of women reaching menopause.
Answer: Menopause can have a significant impact on a woman’s mental health, and low mood and anxiety are recognised symptoms that some women may experience during the perimenopause and menopause.The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that women expe...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: MenopauseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the mental health of women going through (a) menopause, (b) perimenopause and (c) hormonal treatment related to menopause.
Answer: The Government recognises the impact menopause can have on women’s lives.The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy identifies menopause as a core women’s health priority, recognising its impact on women’s health, wellbeing, work, and quality of life. The strate...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHeart Valve Disease: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of treatment delays on outcomes for patients with heart valve disease.
Answer: We recognise the importance of reducing waiting times. We are making progress - hitting our target of 65% against the 18 week standard this March and delivering largest single month elective performance improvement in 17 years - excluding the pandemic. Ou...
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to include metrics on endometriosis diagnostic times, access to imaging, menopause prescribing, treatment review and referral variation in the women’s health data dashb
Answer: The women's health data dashboard is available on the NHS Futures website and is available to anyone working within the health and care sector who requires insight into women's health. The dashboard records need, access, outcomes, and experiences across a...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMenopause: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to ensure that Integrated Care Boards have clear pathways for access to specialist menopause advice and escalation for complex cases, including premature ovarian insuf
Answer: The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, published in April 2026, committed to redesigning clinical pathways, including for menopause.These redesigned pathways will create roadmaps for health systems to use and adapt for local needs that will enable women to ...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMenopause: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that menopause training is included in routine primary care continuing professional development and the women’s health workforce model to ensure consis
Answer: The Government recognises the ongoing need to ensure healthcare practitioners have sufficient knowledge of women’s health, including menopause, to provide the best possible care.General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical k...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of single points of access for non-urgent gynaecology referrals, specialist ultrasound and community diagnostic routes on reducing di
Answer: From October 2026, all providers, supported by integrated care boards, are expected to ensure that all appropriate requests and referrals flow through a Single Point of Access (SPoA) model, to support patients to receive rapid specialist assessment and a ...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support Integrated Care Boards to implement NICE guideline NG73 on endometriosis in primary care, including training for GPs and practice nurses on recognisin
Answer: The Government acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.NHS England encourages adherence to guidanc...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the level of the rise in water connection charges for domestic consumers.
Answer: Water connection charges for domestic consumers vary by water company and are set on a cost-recovery basis in line with Ofwat’s charging rules. Administration fees and application charges for new connections differ by water company. There is no centrally ...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNeurofibromatosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a) what steps are being taken to inform those living with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) that they are entitled to earlier screening for breast cancer, and b) what steps are being taken to improve
Answer: This Government is committed to improving cancer screening services in line with the National Cancer Plan and as part of the 10-Year Health Plan’s shift from treatment to prevention.Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) affects individuals differently. An indivi...
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSomalia: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 908765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the human rights situation in Somalia.
Answer: We remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Somalia, including the devastating conflict-related violence against women and children, and deteriorating media freedom.The UK advocates for greater respect for human rights through targeted pro...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: SheffieldDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the equity of the Early Years funding formula on families and childcare providers in Sheffield.
Answer: The department uses the early years national funding formulae (EYNFF) to allocate early years entitlement funding to local authorities in a fair and transparent way.The formulae ensure each area receives a base rate for each age group individually, regard...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ArrearsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the findings of the Money Advice Trust’s Lost in the system report; and if he will make a statement.
Answer: The Government is grateful to the Money Advice Trust and the important work carried out by the National Debt line to support people facing financial difficulties.We acknowledge the concerns and issues raised in the report regarding council tax collection ...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the Government’s response to the Modernising and improving the administration of council tax consultation, and if he will make a statement confirming the
Answer: The Government is grateful to the Money Advice Trust and the important work carried out by the National Debt line to support people facing financial difficulties.We acknowledge the concerns and issues raised in the report regarding council tax collection ...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTravel: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 6 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118540More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the overseas scale rates.
Answer: Where employers reimburse allowable travel expenses, tax relief is available provided the expenses are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred for work purposes. Ordinarily, employers must hold evidence of the employee’s actual expenditure. However, ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordYemen: Peace NegotiationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support a peaceful political settlement in Yemen.
Answer: The UK remains committed to working towards lasting peace and prosperity for the Yemeni people. We continue to support the work of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and use our role as penholder for Yemen at the UN Security Council to galvanise international...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordYemen: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support humanitarian aid organisations operating in Yemen.
Answer: The UK remains committed to working towards lasting peace and prosperity for the Yemeni people. We continue to support the work of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and use our role as penholder for Yemen at the UN Security Council to galvanise international...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: StaffSpeaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards AuthorityTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118240More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, on what dates, and in what form, have IPSA asked hon. Members to provide information about (a) the volume of casework
Answer: IPSA regularly engages and communicates with both Members and Members’ staff through informal and formal channels.IPSA has discussed the need for information and evidence relating to casework volumes and other pressures experienced by offices, including t...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: StaffSpeaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards AuthorityTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118239More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if the transcript of the meeting titled Staffing budget drop in - session 1 held on Monday 23 February 2026 will be pl
Answer: The transcript of that meeting will be placed in the Library and sent to the hon. Member once it has been reviewed for any personal data.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHelp to Buy Scheme: Individual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112908More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to increase the purchase limit for properties outside of London when using a Help to Buy ISA.
Answer: This Government is committed to helping first time buyers own their own home and will do this by building 1.5 million more homes.The Government keeps savings policy under review, any changes of this kind would be made at a relevant fiscal event.
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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