Helen Whately MP: written questions
465 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Security Benefits: FraudDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 29 April 2025, Official Report, col 236, how many sickfluencers have been prosecuted under
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 50195 on 12 May 2025.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Undocumented MigrantsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with ineligible immigration status applied for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other welfare payments in the last 12 months.
Answer: To access public funds benefits, individuals are required to be either a British or Irish citizen or hold an immigration status which does not prevent them from accessing public funds. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cannot pay public funds bene...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: MigrantsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with no recourse to public funds applied for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other welfare payments in the last 12 months.
Answer: To access public funds benefits, individuals are required to be either a British or Irish citizen or hold an immigration status which does not prevent them from accessing public funds. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cannot pay public funds bene...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Foreign NationalsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK and Irish nationals have applied for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other welfare payments in the last 12 months.
Answer: To access public funds benefits, individuals are required to be either a British or Irish citizen or hold an immigration status which does not prevent them from accessing public funds. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cannot pay public funds bene...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households on Universal Credit had (a) five, (b) six, (c) seven, (d), eight, (e) nine and (f) 10 or more children since November 2018.
Answer: The latest statistics for the number of children in households on Universal Credit are available on Stat-Xplore for November 2024. As statistics for the number of children are only available from April 2019, the table shows the data for November 2019 to N...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Tax Credit: Universal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Tax Credit claimants were moved onto Universal Credit in each year since 2020.
Answer: The number and proportion of Child Tax Credit claimants who have made a claim to Universal Credit following a migration notice can be obtained from Stat-Xplore within People invited to Move to Universal Credit dataset. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplo...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Tax Credit: Universal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Child Tax Credit claimants have been moved onto Universal Credit.
Answer: The number and proportion of Child Tax Credit claimants who have made a claim to Universal Credit following a migration notice can be obtained from Stat-Xplore within People invited to Move to Universal Credit dataset. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplo...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 1 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report commissioned by the Office of Rail and Road entitled Temple Mills Depot – Independent Capacity Assessment 2025, published on 31 March 2025, what steps her Department is taking to in
Answer: The Department welcomes the continuing work by the independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to assess the various access applications for Temple Mills Depot, including the Independent Capacity Assessment. We expect the ORR to publish its final determinat...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit but not claiming it.
Answer: The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics cover the financial year 2022 to 2023 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK. In the financial year ending 2023, it is estimated that ...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ProsecutionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the debate on the Report stage of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill o
Answer: The Department does not use the term ‘sickfluencer’ as a defined term and, as such, does not collect data under this description. Furthermore, the Department is not a prosecuting body; DWP’s role is to refer cases for consideration of prosecution to the a...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUnemploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that will not fall into long term economic inactivity due to funding announced in the Spring Statement 2025.
Answer: We will be developing more detailed assessments of the potential impacts of the employment measures proposed in the Green Paper as these are developed in detail. The Office for Budget Responsibility has also stated that it intends to assess the labour sup...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment SchemesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that will receive additional (a) employment, (b) health and (c) skills support through funding announced in the Spring Statement 2025.
Answer: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that we would establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work, backed up by £1 billio...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFruit: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) consult and (b) inform businesses importing fruit from non-EU countries of changes to (i) inspection regimes and (ii) risk categorisation; and what discu
Answer: Changes to plant health import controls are communicated in-line with relevant international obligations, including those under the WTO-SPS agreement and International Plant Protection Convention. This includes submitting a notification to the World Trade...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFruit: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the overnight holding of perishable fruit consignments at borders on affected businesses; and what steps his Departme
Answer: For Plants and Plant Products, APHA will aim to inspect consignments within four hours of them being presented for a physical inspection. However, a small minority of fruit and vegetables are subject to 100% inspection due to the level of pest and disease...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFruit: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that importers of fresh fruit from outside the UK receive timely advance notification of border inspections.
Answer: Businesses must notify the competent authorities in advance of a consignment arriving in GB when it contains High risk or Medium A risk plants and plant products as they are subject to phytosanitary controls. Upon completion of the notification an initial...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordProceeds of CrimeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times her Department has used the Proceeds Of Crime Act 2002 to recover assets following criminal prosecutions in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions uses the Proceeds of Crime Act to apply to the courts to recover assets following criminal prosecutions. In Great Britian in total there have been 174 cases in the last 5 years which resulted in a confiscation order fr...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will instruct the Environment Agency to provide information on their planned inspections of battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park before they are switched on.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) does not directly regulate the batteries associated with solar power schemes; this is the remit of the Local Authority. The EA, under the planning processes, advises on various aspects associated with the building and operation...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Agency: Disclosure of InformationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the responsiveness of the Environment Agency to enquiries from hon. Members.
Answer: The Environment Agency works closely with the department at every level to ensure that the Environment Agency maintains high standards of delivery for stakeholders and the public, including when handling correspondence.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has recent discussions with the Environment Agency on their inspection plans for the battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) does not directly regulate the batteries associated with solar power schemes; this is the remit of the Local Authority. The EA, under the planning processes, advises on various aspects associated with the building and operation...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the Environment Agency responds to requests from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent on battery safety at Cleve Hill Solar Park.
Answer: The Environment Agency works closely with the department at every level to ensure that the Environment Agency maintains high standards of delivery for stakeholders and the public, including when handling correspondence. Members of Parliament are encourage...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to provide information on their planned inspections of battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park before they are switched on.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE t...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth and Safety Executive: CorrespondenceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the responsiveness of the Health and Safety Executive to inquiries from hon. Members.
Answer: The Department attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence and keeps this under constant review. The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Departmental performance which can be found on the gov.uk website and can be v...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has held recent discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on their inspection plans for the battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE t...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive responds to requests from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent on battery safety at Cleve Hill Solar Park.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE t...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) revised Battery Safety Management Plan’s adoption of the National Fire Protection Agency 855 (2023) exclusion zone standards and (b) BS
Answer: Under Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 the matters raised are matters for Swale Borough Council after consulting with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Following an appeal by the developer, on 5 July 20...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →