Gregory Stafford MP: written questions 2024
42 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 902021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve bus services in rural areas.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering better, more frequent and more reliable bus services for passengers. We have already made significant progress, introducing the Bus Services Bill to help give local leaders the powers they need to take control of ...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMilkDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) banning the use of Bovaer and (b) allowing the use of Kelp in milk products.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised milk from cows given Bovaer is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone a rigorous safety assessment and is approved for use in Great Britain. Regulation of feed additives and materials, such as kelp, is the responsi...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish data on welfare claimants by (a) nationality and (b) immigration status.
Answer: Non-UK / Irish citizens can only access benefits like Universal Credit if they have an immigration status that provides recourse to public funds. Those without immigration status or with a no recourse to public funds condition on their status are not enti...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMeat: Ritual SlaughterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that halal products are clearly marked on food labelling.
Answer: There are no regulations that require the labelling of halal meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the industry, wh...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: UniformsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sourcing military uniforms from China.
Answer: Tenders to supply items of military clothing are conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which ensure best value for the taxpayer in the delivery of Defence requirements. Through the Logistics Commodities and Services Transform...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of raising the bus cap to £3 on pensioners.
Answer: Those of state pension age, currently sixty-six, have access to free off-peak bus travel under the terms of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Ground RentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16384More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ground rent costs on the ability of long-term leaseholders to sell their leased properties.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the agreement with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory on global security.
Answer: The base on Diego Garcia is critical to national and international security. It has enabled the UK, the US, and our allies and partners to combat some of the most challenging threats to global peace and security, including those from terrorism, organised ...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister for Border Security and Asylum to the Urgent Question on Asylum Seekers: Hotel Accommodation of 20 November 2024, Official Report, column 279, w
Answer: The statistic that I referred to in the question referenced an ad-hoc statistical release published by the Home Office on 4 November containing data on enforced and voluntary returns between 5 July and 28 October 2024, which can be accessed here: Returns ...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Ground RentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ground rent costs on the ability of long-term leaseholders to sell their leased properties.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSpringer Nature: ChinaDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports that Springer Nature has restricted access to academic articles in China on (a) human rights, (b) democracy and (c) other politically
Answer: This government is absolutely committed to, and will continue to protect, academic freedom.The department recognises the concerns of overseas interference in the academic sector and regularly works with colleagues from across government, the Office for St...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordInnovation and ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help protect the integrity of global research from authoritarian regimes.
Answer: The Government wants the UK research sector to engage with all international partners, in a way that takes account of specific national security concerns, is compliant with the UK’s security policies and regulations, and protects the integrity of global r...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGenomics: ChinaDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) Genomics England, (c) UK Biobank and (d) NIHR BioResource on (i) BGI Group, (ii) MGI Tech and (iii) other state-linked genomics compa
Answer: Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed to ensuring the United Kingdom is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this strategy, the Governme...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGenomics: ChinaDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will exclude (a) BGI Group, (b) MGI Tech and (c) other state-linked genomics companies blacklisted by the United States from public sector health bodies.
Answer: The Government continues to review the evolving national security risks in the life sciences sector, including engaging with partners and allies, while ensuring that the United Kingdom is at the forefront of innovation.The Procurement Act will come into f...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAudiology: PaediatricsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 10931 on Audiology: Paediatrics, what recent assessment his Department has made of whether all providers of audiology services for children wil
Answer: NHS England issued a letter to all integrated care boards (ICBs) in August 2023 which included the recommendation that all trusts should be working towards the United Kingdom Accreditation Service’s (UKAS) Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIP...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAudiology: PaediatricsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2024 to Question 10930 on Audiology: Paediatrics, how many children have been (a) recalled for reassessment and (b) needed onward referral to clinical services
Answer: The Department does not hold this information.
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a 25 pence per week increase for state pension claimants.
Answer: No such assessment has been made. We are absolutely committed, through the Triple Lock, to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. This means that from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary approval, the b...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBourne Wood: ParkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to encourage Forestry England to introducing disabled parking spaces in the Bourne Woods car park, Surrey.
Answer: Parking in the nation’s forests is an operational matter for Forestry England. Forestry England values accessibility for all visitors. It is not currently able to mark out designated spaces for disabled parking in some forests due to the location of these...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: PakistanHome OfficeTabled 1 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department taking steps to prevent (a) members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and (b) others involved in violent incidents against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan from entering the UK.
Answer: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases. The Immigration Rules provide for the refusal of entry clearance, permission to enter and permission to stay on general grounds, regardless of the category in which an individual makes an application. ...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: StudentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential (a) merits of removing students from council tax and (b) impact of removing students from council tax on routine (i) serv
Answer: Full-time students are generally disregarded for council tax purposes. Where all residents of a dwelling are disregarded, due to being full-time students, the dwelling will be exempt from council tax. Additionally, where a hall of residence is provided pr...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAudiology: PaediatricsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many paediatric audiology departments there are in England; and how many of those meet the UK Accreditation Services Improving Quality in Physiological Services Accreditation standards.
Answer: There are 140 providers of audiology services for children in England. Currently, 30 providers meet the UK Accreditation Services Improving Quality in Physiological Services Accreditation standards. Two providers are pending re-instatement of accreditatio...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAudiology: PaediatricsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress has been made by the NHS England National Paediatric Hearing Improvement Programme; and what the findings were of its review of data for new-born babies.
Answer: The NHS England Paediatric Hearing Services Improvement Programme, led by the National Health Services’ National Medical Director and Chief Scientific Officer, undertook a comprehensive review of all 140 paediatric audiology services across England to ide...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDevelopment AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy not to provide Official Development Assistance to countries that have a higher (a) gross domestic product and (b) purchasing parity power than t
Answer: In line with international rules, the UK provides Official Development Assistance (ODA) only to countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita below $13,846. All recipients of our ODA have a lower GNI per capita than the UK, including when adjust...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordIndia: Diplomatic RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for the UK's diplomatic relationship with India of reports of India holding talks on a strategic partnership with Russia.
Answer: HMG recognises India's longstanding relationship with Russia. We regularly raise Russia's illegal war in Ukraine with the Government of India. The Foreign Secretary did so most recently with India's External Affairs Minister in September. More broadly, th...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require drivers to report cat killings under Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Answer: There are no plans to amend section 170 of the Road Traffic Act to make it mandatory for drivers to report road collisions involving cats. Although there is no obligation to report all collisions with animals on roads, Rule 286 of The Highway Code advises...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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