Helen Whately MP: written questions
222 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Pension Credit: ExpenditureDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was for Pension Credit in the latest year for which information is available.
Answer: The total government expenditure in nominal terms for Pension Credit awards was £4.9 billion in 2022/23. This figure does not include other operational and administrative costs, such as the government’s campaign to increase take-up of Pension Credit, as w...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what work (a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned on the creation of a long-term strategy for rolling stock.
Answer: As part of our reforms to the railway, the Government will develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock promoting a longer-term, whole-system approach. This strategy will seek to provide a strong and steady pipeline of orders, supporting British manufac...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Codes of PracticeCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10456More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Ministerial Code to specifically include (a) commercially sensitive statements and (b) personal boycotts.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to PQ 9328 of 22 October 2024.
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Network Rail has made on the access charge discount scheme.
Answer: To date, under Network Rail’s Access Charges Discount Policy for Control Period 7, two applications have been approved. The first, which has commenced operations is a five day per week service between Tilbury and Manchester. The second is a twice a week s...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTransport: ScotlandDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had direct discussions with her Scottish counterpart since July 2024.
Answer: The Secretary of State has had direct discussions with her Scottish counterpart since July 2024.
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTransport: WalesDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had direct discussions with her Welsh counterpart since July 2024.
Answer: The Secretary of State has had direct discussions with her Welsh counterpart since July 2024.
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the motor insurance taskforce will review postcode insurance pricing.
Answer: This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s T...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTrain Operating Companies: ContractsDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6166 on East Anglia Rail Franchise, what are the contractual conditions for termination of rail operator contracts.
Answer: The events under which an operator would default on its National Rail Contract with the Secretary of State, and events under which termination of the contract would be applicable, are set out in the National Rail Contracts, in particular in Chapter 9.4.1....
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGo Ahead GroupDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has met with representatives from GoAhead Ltd.
Answer: The Secretary of State visited GoAhead in July, and plans to meet representatives again in the near future.
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate healthcare provision in areas with high (a) housing targets and (b) population growth.
Answer: The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and this means we require world class NHS infrastructure across the entire NHS estate. Beyond hospitals, we know we need the right infrastructure in the right ...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLiteracy and Numeracy: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help improve (a) (i) basic and (ii) general literacy and (b) (A) times tables and (B) general numeracy rates.
Answer: High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. The government knows that inc...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: Rural AreasDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that there are sufficient school places to meet demand in new housing developments in the countryside; and whether she is taking steps with the Secretary of State f
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for providing enough school places for children in their area. The department engages with local authorities on a regular basis to review their plans for creating additional primary and pre-16 secondary school places, and...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payment: KentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9514More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of households that will be affected by the proposed change to the eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments in (a) Faversham and Mid Kent constituency and
Answer: It is estimated that around 12,400 households in Faversham and Mid Kent Constituency (2024 boundaries) and around 218,500 households in Kent (comprised of the following constituencies, 2024 boundaries: Ashford, Canterbury, Chatham and Aylesford, Dartford,...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase transparency to the public accessing of data on palliative care commissioned by local ICBs.
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to end of life. Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this dut...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAmbulance Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure ambulances are not delayed outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients.
Answer: The Government has committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve performance and achieve the standards set out in the NHS Constitution, including ambulance response times.As a first step, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Heal...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVirtual WardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help extend access to virtual wards to (a) avoid admission to hospital and (b) speed up discharge.
Answer: We are continuing to expand services to treat patients outside of hospitals when they have urgent needs, helping to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and speed up discharges. This includes using virtual wards which have benefited more than 240,000 peo...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: QualificationsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase the financial support available to care workers who are seeking to gain new qualifications.
Answer: We are committed to supporting a professional, well-supported social care workforce. On 6 September 2024, the Department launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, which allows eligible employers to claim for funding for certa...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCare WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) recognise and (b) reward care workers who take on nursing responsibilities.
Answer: Care workers deserve to be recognised and supported for the vital work they do. We want social care to be regarded as a profession, and for the people who work in care to be respected as professionals. That is why, as part of our health mission, we will t...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: QualificationsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to develop new qualifications for care workers.
Answer: We are committed to supporting a professional, well-supported social care workforce. On 6 September 2024, the Department launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, which allows eligible employers to claim for funding for certa...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: Career DevelopmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help develop a career path for care workers.
Answer: We are committed to supporting a professional, well-supported social care workforce. On 6 September 2024, the Department launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, which allows eligible employers to claim for funding for certa...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSick LeaveDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on improving the support for people who are signed off sick to help them return to work.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Health and Social Care are committed to supporting disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and have a range of support available so individuals can stay in work and get back ...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMedical CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on improving the support available for people seeking a fit note.
Answer: As part of our Get Britain Working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the ...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPupils: Young CarersDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on improving the support to young carers in schools.
Answer: The government is committed to helping children and young people, including young carers, thrive and wants the best for every child and family. This department, the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England work closely together, along with ot...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPupils: Young CarersDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve support to young carers in schools.
Answer: The government is committed to helping children and young people, including young carers, thrive and wants the best for every child and family. This department, the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England work closely together, along with ot...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEuston Station: AdvertisingDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of Network Rail's potential loss of revenue from disabling the advertising board at London Euston station this financial year.
Answer: The use of the advertising screen at Euston Station is under review with various options being considered. The potential loss of revenue is commercially confidential.
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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