Helen Whately MP: written questions
222 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Solar 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 recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) exclusion zones, (b) fire suppression systems, and (c) environmental risk mitigation measures outlined in the revised Battery Safe
Answer: The issues raised are matters for Swale Borough Council acting in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service as set out in Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020. Following an appeal by the developer,...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of measures implemented by (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) Kent Fire and Rescue Service, (c) Swale Borough Council, and (d) the Environmen
Answer: Battery safety was considered during the Examination of the development consent application and in the Secretary of State’s decision letter (in particular paragraphs 4.139 and 4.148 to 4.176). Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 made Swa...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what accountability mechanisms are in place for (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) Kent Fire and Rescue Service, (c) Swale Borough Council and (d) the Environment Agency to ensure the a
Answer: Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 made Swale Borough Council responsible for the regulation of the Battery Safety Management Plan. The plan was informed following consultation with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Resc...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Lithium-ion BatteriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the responsibilities of the (a) Health and Safety Executive, (b) Environment Agency, (c) Kent Fire and Rescue Service and (d) Swale Borough Council are in certifying the safety of Cleve
Answer: Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hil Solar Park Order 2020 made Swale Borough Council responsible for approving the Battery Safety Management Plan after consulting with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. There is no requirement fo...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordService Charges: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing a comprehensive rights of redress to homeowners on (i) pri
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing freeholders with equivalent rights to leaseholders on esta
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to implement the secondary legislation enabling the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to fully come into force.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: FraudDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department’s investigators can apply to police to have individuals suspected of committing fraud against the Department arrested.
Answer: Where appropriate, DWP can apply to the Police to undertake an arrest as part of a criminal investigation into suspected fraud.
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: FraudCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44008More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Public Sector Fraud Authority has applied to the county court for a recovery order for the assets of people found to have committed fraud in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) works with government departments and public bodies to understand and reduce the impact of fraud and error against the public sector. The PSFA is expected to surpass its 2024-25 target of recovering and preventing ...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: FraudDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times her Department has used (a) section 71 and (b) section 71ZE of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to recover assets from people found to have committed fraud in each of the last
Answer: The Department has not recovered assets from the debtor, such as through a writ of possession or charging order, under either section 71 or section 71ZE of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 in the last five years. Debts under section 71 are curr...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOffensive WeaponsHome OfficeTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to respond to e-petition 701064.
Answer: A response was sent to the Petitions Committee (Commons Select Committee) on 3 April 2025 for consideration for publication.
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, with which organisations she has held discussions on the proposed c
Answer: We urgently need reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and promote the interests of disabled people. Therefore, there are some measures announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on the 18 March 20...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, with which organisations she has held discussions on her proposed r
Answer: We have set out proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system in the Pathways to Work Green Paper published on 18 March 2025. A full 12-week consultation will begin from the point all accessible versions are published on GOV.UK. We are con...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, which organisations will be responsible for spending the additional
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 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of th
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information already published alongside the Spring Statement. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Pa...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what measures her Department will use to assess the effectiveness o
Answer: We anticipate that we will assess effectiveness of Pathways to Work measures in the usual way, including through evaluation of their implementation and the impacts that they have on employment, incomes, benefit receipt and other indicators. We will publis...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, how much and what proportion of the additional funding for employme
Answer: As the Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out, we are keen to engage widely on the design of our proposals for new employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions. We will be seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders including...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Poverty TaskforceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which organisations have presented to the Child Poverty Taskforce ministerial advisory sessions; and on what topics.
Answer: The Taskforce has consulted external experts seven times on the four pillars of the strategy: increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience, and better local support, especially in the early years. Experts have come from a ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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