Helen Whately MP: written questions 2025
258 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15504 on Agriculture: Subsidies, what issues were discussed with growers.
Answer: We recognise the specific needs of the horticulture sector. Defra ministers and officials meet regularly with a variety of growers (including a number of Producer Organisation members) from across the sector to discuss a wide range of issues. This allows ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings (a) he and (b) Minsters from his Department have had with (i) growers and (ii) fruit growers in the last 12 months; and when did those meetings take place.
Answer: We recognise the specific needs of the horticulture sector. Defra ministers and officials meet regularly with a variety of growers (including a number of Producer Organisation members) from across the sector to discuss a wide range of issues. This allows ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15461 on Agriculture: Subsidies, when officials from his Department met with growers in the last 12 months; and what type of grow
Answer: We recognise the specific needs of the horticulture sector. Defra ministers and officials meet regularly with a variety of growers (including a number of Producer Organisation members) from across the sector to discuss a wide range of issues. This allows ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the (a) capacity and (b) efficiency of the medical examiner system in the new death certification process.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by one day, from seven days to eight days. T...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the new death certification process does not cause further distress for grieving families.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by one day, from seven days to eight days. T...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath Certificates: South EastDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce backlogs in the death certification process in the South East.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by one day, from seven days to eight days. T...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) average and (b) longest recorded wait time is for the issuance of death certificates since September 2024.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024. Early data indicates the median time taken to register a death appears to have risen by one day, from seven days to eight days. T...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is on the use of articificial intelligence.
Answer: DWP is collaborating with other Government Departments to maximise AI’s potential to drive growth and deliver real benefits to people across the UK, as set out in the recent AI Opportunities Action Plan. DWP has a clear vision to safely leverage AI to sup...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 2435 on Roads: Kent, what the outcome was of her Department’s capital roads portfolio review.
Answer: In July 2024, the Chancellor announced that the Transport Secretary would be undertaking an internal review of Department for Transport’s capital portfolio, informed by external experts. The review is ongoing and it will help inform the Secretary of State...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordA229: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when work will begin on the capital roads project Blue Bell Hill.
Answer: The A229 Blue Bell Hill Improvements scheme is being promoted and managed by Kent County Council. The Council plans to submit an Outline Business Case to the Department in summer 2026. If this is approved, under current arrangements the Department’s maxim...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordA229: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department plans to provide for road improvements at the capital roads project Blue Bell Hill.
Answer: The A229 Blue Bell Hill Improvements scheme is being promoted and managed by Kent County Council. The Council plans to submit an Outline Business Case to the Department in summer 2026. If this is approved, under current arrangements the Department’s maxim...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical Certificates: Public ConsultationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 50 Question 22715 on Medical Certificates: Public Consultation, whether she plans to launch the fit note trailblazers.
Answer: In 2024, the previous government announced that fit note trailblazers would be included in some of the 15 WorkWell pilot areas across Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England. Due to the timings of the General Election, they were not launched. As part of ...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Older PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to respond to the independent report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 20
Answer: The government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations in the final report of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce.We are committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider th...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what artificial intelligence technologies are used by her Department; and for what purpose each technology is used.
Answer: DWP is working with a range of artificial intelligence technologies, such as Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI (gen AI) which will help DWP improve its ability to respond to customers’ needs in a more personalised and seamless way. Some of th...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the white mail artificial intelligence programme used by her Department.
Answer: Whitemail scanning complements existing systems. The AI tool flags correspondence for review by operational agents to determine customer vulnerability and appropriate actions. During solution development, digital teams collaborated closely with operationa...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: HousingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the recommendations of the independent report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing
Answer: DWP works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government to ensure housing needs of those on low incomes, including pensioners, are considered as part of the Government’s Strategy. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has not...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: HousingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the recommendations of the independent report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that
Answer: DWP works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government to ensure housing needs of those on low incomes, including pensioners, are considered as part of the Government’s Strategy. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has not...
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she is taking steps to increase the number of Personal Independence Payments assessments that are conducted face-to-face.
Answer: Since July 2024, there has been no change in policy regarding assessing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims remotely. With effect from September 2024 assessment suppliers deliver the ‘Health Assessment Advisory Service’ on behalf of the department ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department’s policy on assessing Personal Independence Payments claims remotely has changed since 7 July 2024.
Answer: Since July 2024, there has been no change in policy regarding assessing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims remotely. With effect from September 2024 assessment suppliers deliver the ‘Health Assessment Advisory Service’ on behalf of the department ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of pilot schemes for third party data sharing powers as set out in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
Answer: The Third Party Data sharing powers were a proposal under the previous government, separate to the measures proposed in this Bill.The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) is significantly different to the previously proposed Third Party Data power. EVM ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) BillDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with financial services sector stakeholders on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
Answer: DWP continues to seek feedback on the bill through regular engagement with key stakeholders, including the financial services sector, at both official and ministerial level.Where there are particular areas of interest and expertise, detailed working group...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals and Social Services: WeatherDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to increase (a) hospital and (b) social care capacity for winter 2024-25.
Answer: December 2024 saw record numbers of people attending accident and emergency, a 7.5% increase on December 2023. Despite this, there were 5% fewer delayed discharges than in December 2023.The Government will tackle delayed discharges by developing local par...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: DischargesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23394More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings the Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) has had with the National health and social care discharge taskforce.
Answer: Ministers meet regularly with NHS England to discuss discharge and winter performance.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: DischargesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of recent trends in the level the social care capacity available to support discharges from hospitals in the last 12 months.
Answer: Comparing December 2024 to December 2023, there was a 5% decrease in the average number of patients in hospital with delayed discharge at the end of each day. In December 2024, for patients with a length of stay of at least 14 days, an average of 33% of t...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: DischargesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings the Minister for Health (Secondary Care) has attended to review NHS performance on discharging patients from hospital.
Answer: Ministers meet regularly with NHS England to discuss discharge and winter performance.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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