Gregory Stafford MP: written questions 2025
416 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Minimum Wage and State Retirement PensionsTreasuryTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30332More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to reduce the difference between the minimum wage and the State Pension.
Answer: The National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) are the legal wage floors that employers must follow. The NLW rate is the minimum hourly wage for eligible workers aged 21 and over and the NMW is minimum hourly wage for eligible workers ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadbandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with the broadband industry to support the take-up of full fibre networks.
Answer: The government continues to work with the broadband industry and regulatory bodies to support take-up of gigabit-capable broadband. The government welcomes the introduction by Ofcom of new guidance to ensure consumers are told in clear terms, at point of ...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: AdvertisingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to his Answer of 21 November to Question UIN 14700 on Broadband: advertising, whether he plans to include guidance in his forthcoming Statement of Strategic Priorities.
Answer: The government sees the use of consistent terminology between providers as a means to support take-up of gigabit capable broadband services and we continue to engage with Ofcom on this topic. The government is planning to consult on the draft updated Stat...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Broadband: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Vodafone on the inclusion of mobile connectivity and 5G technologies within the definition of digital infrastructure in the Na
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Broadband: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the socio-economic benefits of mobile infrastructure.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Broadband: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the National Planning Policy Framework in relation to provisions for new 5G and 4G infrastructure.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the treatment of digital and mobile infrastructure within the National Planning Policy Framework.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: InfrastructureMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure major housing developments include mobile network infrastructure.
Answer: Developers of major housing schemes must ensure their proposals are in conformity with the local development plan and national planning policy.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 sets out how planning policies and ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCounter-terrorismHome OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to monitor individuals on the Prevent programme.
Answer: All Prevent referrals are triaged and assessed by specialist Prevent officers from Counter Terrorism Police. The launch of the new Prevent Assessment Framework across all CT Police regions gives Prevent officers more robust tools and training to triage an...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: UpratingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29339More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the State Pension reflects increases in the cost of living.
Answer: The Government is committed to the Triple Lock, which means that in April 2025, the basic and new State Pension will increase by the higher of the growth in average earnings, price increases or 2.5%. As a result, the basic and new State Pension will incre...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding her Department has provided to the Lobular Moonshot Project.
Answer: The Department invests £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.We...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTax Avoidance: SuicideTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29244More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to provide the independent review of the loan charge with data on recent trends in the level of suicides from people subject to the loan charge.
Answer: The Government takes issues relating to loss of life or serious injury extremely seriously. It is for the independent reviewer to decide how to conduct the review. As the terms of reference set out, the reviewer is expected to draw upon information and an...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRay McCannTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29236More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason Ray McCann was appointed Chair of the Independent Review of the Loan Charge.
Answer: As I set out in my letter to the reviewer, which was published alongside the terms of reference, I asked Ray McCann to lead the review on the basis of his experience, understanding of the issue, and respect across the tax industry.
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children who have moved from independent to state schools as a result of applying VAT to independent schools in Hampshire.
Answer: The department has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who have left the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.The government predicts that, in the long-term steady state, there will...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children who have moved from independent to state schools as a result of applying VAT to independent schools in Surrey.
Answer: The department has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who have left the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.The government predicts that, in the long-term steady state, there will...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAdlar: Warm Homes PlanDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of involving Adlar Ltd in the rollout of the Government's Warm Homes Plan.
Answer: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. Heat pumps will play a vital role in delivering the Government's Warm Hom...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBoiler Upgrade SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking with OFGEM to coordinate grant funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Answer: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a demand led scheme, which provides grants up to £7,500, to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low carbon heating systems. Installers apply for and redeem the voucher on beha...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAdlar: GrantsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28868More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason grant funding for Adlar Limited was paused.
Answer: The Government is responsible for setting the policy which underpins the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Ofgem as the scheme administrator make decisions on scheme eligibility in line with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2022 Regulations.
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBedbugs: Environmental HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inclusion of bed bugs within the remit of Environmental Health England.
Answer: There have been no discussions between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inclusion of bedbugs within the remit of Environmental Health England.The Department of Health and Social Car...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of adding more brackets on the Council Tax band system for the highest value homes.
Answer: The government currently has no plans to reform council tax. The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Tiered Energy Proposal for consumer energy bills.
Answer: A tiered energy pricing system is known as a block tariff. Traditionally, block tariffs are either a rising block tariff where the cost of energy increases in increments the more energy used or, a falling block tariff which acts in reverse. Low energy use...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28787More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with transport companies providing services for children with SEND on changes to employer National Insurance contributions.
Answer: Home-to-school travel is an integral part of the school system and provides a valuable service on which many families rely. Officials across departments engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face and will continue to mo...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHome EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28786More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with home educator parents on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Answer: As part of the Children Not in School measures, the department will publish statutory guidance outlining the steps that local authorities and parents need to take to comply with the new provisions. This guidance will be consulted on, ensuring families hav...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Nature ConservationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that National Planning Policy reforms protect (a) nature and (b) wildlife.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published on 12 December 2024 included several changes designed to enhance and protect the environment. For example, it expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorpo...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordKnives: CrimeMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing sentences for knife crime perpetrators.
Answer: Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of individuals, families, and communities. It is important that those who commit violent crimes receive a...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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