John Whitby MP: written questions
35 published records · newest first.
Written questions
NHS: ManagersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of moving non-clinical service delivery decision-making from managers to (a) consultants and (b) specialist doctors.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are the strategic commissioners of health and care services in England. NHS England has asked the ICBs to reduce the duplication of functions, to achieve efficiencies and reduce their running costs, with the aim to direct the...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGrasslandsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a (a) grassland policy group and (b) person responsible for grassland policy.
Answer: There is no single group responsible for grassland policy, as policies affecting grasslands cut across several Defra policy areas. These include Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs), National Biodiversity, Protected Sites and Protected Landscapes....
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: LGBT+ PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that more same-sex couples can access NHS-funded IVF.
Answer: We expect integrated care boards to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations ...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: TransportDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of school transport provision in remote rural areas.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Derbyshire Dales to the answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54948.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Rural AreasDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support rural primary schools with declining pupil numbers.
Answer: The government recognises the challenges some schools are facing due to falling pupil rolls.Local authorities hold the statutory place planning function, ensuring there are sufficient schools in their area to meet the needs of pupils. It is for local auth...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: TenantsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that tenant farmers are protected from eviction when landowners choose not to renew existing tenancies.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring agricultural tenancies are fair and collaborative. Agricultural tenancy agreements grant tenant farmers statutory protections. In cases of a tenancy ending all parties are encouraged to employ the Agricultural Landl...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS dentist placements in rural areas.
Answer: We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural and coastal areas, and we are already taking action through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment initiative will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56667More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) farmers and (b) rural communities have access to improved (i) broadband and (ii) mobile signal.
Answer: Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. This includes farms and other types of premises in rural communities.We will also continue to ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFood Supply: Rural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to promote (a) shorter and (b) more sustainable food supply networks in rural areas.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities. The United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024 shows that people living ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure farmers receive payments from the Rural Payments Agency on time.
Answer: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) understands the importance of cashflow for farmers and rural businesses. It makes payments for schemes and grants against published performance indicators and continues to look at opportunities to issue payments as promptly...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: National ParksDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help speed up the roll out of digital infrastructure in national parks.
Answer: The rollout of broadband infrastructure in national parks is led by commercial suppliers, in discussion with the relevant National Park Authority.Reforms to the Electronic Communications Code in 2017, alongside the Product Security and Telecommunications ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the level of emission reductions that will be required in the transport sector to meet the targets set out in the sixth carbon budget.
Answer: As the UK’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonising transport will play an important role in meeting economy-wide carbon budgets. Transport emissions reduced by 10% between 2019 to 2023, but emissions must fall faster to achieve our lega...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSkin Cancer: Health EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56625More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is his Department taking to increase awareness about the risks of skin cancer.
Answer: The Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on reducing the risk of skin cancer. This advice is available publicly on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/NHS ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Parks: TourismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage more (a) domestic and (b) inbound tourists to visit National Parks.
Answer: National Parks are vital assets for tourism, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year and supporting local economies through recreation, hospitality, and cultural heritage. To encourage more visitors, the Government has led a o...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: MenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase grant funding for men’s mental health support charities.
Answer: The Government recently announced a Men's Health Strategy which will seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England and take a life-course approach. This includes finding the right ways to promote healthier behaviours, improving outcomes f...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordElectricity GenerationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44820 on Electricity Generation, what progress the industry working group has made on evaluating the P441 modification to the Balancing and
Answer: Ofgem next convenes a working group on 11 June where Elexon will present cost and benefit analysis of the proposed solution. Subsequent timelines depend on whether any Alternative Modifications (solutions) are raised by industry, before a Final Modificati...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: Water SupplyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring short-term holiday lets to inform customers about private water supplies.
Answer: My Department has not made an assessment of this matter.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people in rural areas retain access to functioning energy meters following the Radio Teleswitch Service switch-off.
Answer: Customers will not unexpectedly lose access to their heating and hot water after 30th June, and we will not allow widespread disconnection.Suppliers must fulfil all of their legal obligations to their customers, and that any future, localised phase-out of...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to issue death certificates.
Answer: The Government is monitoring the impact of the death certification reforms, which came into legal effect on 9 September 2024, through the Death Certification Strategic Board and a cross-Government data strategy group. Since the introduction of the reforms...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54566More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make Integrated Care Boards statutory consultees for planning applications for care homes.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22103 on 13 January 2025 and to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: SafetyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20869 on Consumer Goods: Safety, what steps his Department is taking to support sole traders selling (a) engineering and (b) other products in mee
Answer: I recognise that the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) may require changes for some businesses, including sole traders and those selling engineering products to the EU.We have published guidance for Northern Ireland, which we regularly review, a...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordExports: EU CountriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help make it easier for small businesses to export to the EU.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting small businesses to export and access the EU market. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk, including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the Inte...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHomes for Ukraine Scheme: ChildrenMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36119 on Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Children, whether those safeguards will be in place for the duration of the Homes for Ukrai
Answer: The safeguarding of arrivals, including children, under the Homes for Ukraine scheme is a priority and we will ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place for the duration of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNitrogen Dioxide: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times his Department has met with the Joint Air Quality Unit and the Department for Transport to discuss the implementation of the NO2 programme in the last eight months.
Answer: The Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) is a joint Defra/DfT division. Members of JAQU attend meetings with officials across both Departments regularly.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help protect the natural world.
Answer: This Government remains strongly committed to tackling the international climate and nature crises. The UK played a key role at the Biodiversity COP16 Conference in February, which agreed a strategy to mobilise more finance for nature. We are working clos...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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