Josh Newbury MP: written questions 2024
64 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) evaluation of (i) non-animal test methods and (ii) new approach methodologies to replace animal testing.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake, development and evaluation of alternative methods to the use of animals in science and new approach methodologies. It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological s...
Answered 8 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: IncomeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11619 on the Groceries Code Adjudicator: Finance, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the £1 billion turnover thre
Answer: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for monitoring effectiveness of the Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order 2009 in ensuring that businesses, including farmers, that supply groceries directly to designated ...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHeavy Goods Vehicles: HydrogenDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19096More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the use of hydrogen for decarbonising heavy goods vehicles.
Answer: The Government is aware that hydrogen has a potential role to play in decarbonising heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The £200 million zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme will demonstrate both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell veh...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBiomethaneDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the production of biomethane on farms using organic waste.
Answer: The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion (AD) and injected into the gas grid. It is expected to contribute 10.7MTCO2e of carbon savings over its lifetime. The GGSS requires that at least 5...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBiomethaneDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to use biomethane generated from mandatory food waste collections from 2026-27 for (a) injection into the gas grid and (b) combustion for electricity generation.
Answer: The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion (AD) and injected into the gas grid. It is expected to contribute 10.7MTCO2e of carbon savings over its lifetime. The GGSS requires that at least 5...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDomestic Waste: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support waste collection authorities to deliver mandatory household food waste collections from 2026-27.
Answer: To support waste collection authorities to deliver household food waste collections, we provided capital transitional funding in February 2024 to cover reasonable costs of purchasing trucks and bins needed to deliver weekly food waste collections from 31 ...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAnaerobic DigestionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19092More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity of anaerobic digestion facilities, in the context of the planned introduction of mandatory food waste collection
Answer: The Government’s preference is for unavoidable food waste to be collected for treatment by anaerobic digestion (AD): producing bio-gas and digestate. Defra has been working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Waste and Res...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren's Play: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15064More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of the indoor play sector on her planned review of business rates.
Answer: HM Treasury releases a quarterly record of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations. This can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel At the Autumn Budg...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordChildren's Play: VATTreasuryTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15063More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of zero-rating Value Added Tax on admission fees for indoor play facilities.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. One of the key considerat...
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversities: Care LeaversDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department provides to care leaver university students outside of term time.
Answer: This government is committed to providing support for care leavers to ensure they have the practical and emotional support they need as they move towards independence.Local authorities must provide assistance to care leavers near to the place they are rec...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBeverage Containers: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14740More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a mandatory charge for single-use coffee cups.
Answer: The Government recognises the urgent need to limit the environmental impact of single-use plastic, including fibre composite cups. The Government has committed to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy. The Secretary of State has convened a Small ...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMineworkers' Pension Scheme: Cannock ChaseDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many recipients of pensions under the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme in Cannock Chase constituency will be affected by the Government's return of money from the investment reserve fund to th
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 November to Question UIN 12551.
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBritish Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme: Cannock ChaseDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) pensioners and (b) dependents are recipients of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in Cannock Chase constituency.
Answer: We are unable to provide the breakdown requested. However, information from the trustees shows that, as at October 2024, the number of pensioner and dependant members in Cannock Chase was 530.
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGroceries Code Adjudicator: FinanceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of lowering the turnover threshold of £1 billion for businesses that are required to fund the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Answer: The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is currently funded by an annual levy on the 14 large retailers that are designated under the Code by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA assesses annually whether retailers which have a turnover excee...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce response times for applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Answer: The Sustainable Farming Incentive has been expanded to now include Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier actions, with around a further 80 new actions now available for customers to select. The scheme is in the late stages of the controlled rollout, something ...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: FraudDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was lost to fraud in the NHS in each of the last five years.
Answer: The following table shows fraud losses in the National Health Service in England, for each of the last five years:YearFraud loss2019/20£17,400,0002020/21£12,400,0002021/22£20,700,0002022/23£26,400,0002023/24£24,200,000Source: NHS Counter Fraud Authority C...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCooperativesTreasuryTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 900978More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the growth of co-operatives.
Answer: The Government recognises the important contribution of co-operatives to the economy, serving local communities around the UK and ensuring the UK has a diverse business sector with their model of shared ownership. There are currently 7,370 co-operatives o...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordJobcentresDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to make Jobcentres more effective at helping unemployed people into (a) work and (b) training.
Answer: Government has set an ambition to get to an 80% employment rate, alongside raising living standards and tackling insecurity at work. The Government plans to tackle economic inactivity, support people into good work and help them to progress.Proposed refor...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy Company Obligation: FraudDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to tackle fraud in the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Answer: The Department works with the scheme administrator, Ofgem, to investigate and address any suspected misconduct under the ECO scheme. Dedicated work is ongoing on external assurance to review processes and procedures, and strengthening of fraud controls in...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDegrees and Higher National DiplomasDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the provision of level (a) five and (b) six qualifications in areas that do not have a university.
Answer: The department continues to support access to higher level qualifications to break down barriers to opportunity and support economic growth.The department continues to support learners who wish to progress from Level 3 to a higher level, whether that is t...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLandfill: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the (a) powers and (b) resources of the Environment Agency to regulate landfill sites.
Answer: The regulatory framework in place is designed to serve operators and protect the local community. Where poor performance does occur the Environment Agency has a range of powers to bring sites back into compliance and, where necessary, to take enforcement ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGender RecognitionWomen and EqualitiesTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11078More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress her Department has made on bringing forward proposed reforms to the gender recognition certificate process.
Answer: In our manifesto, we committed to reforming gender recognition law. We will remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance whilst retaining the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.We will set out our next steps on this wor...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFarms: Biodiversity and FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) increase biodiversity on farms and (b) ensure that farms are financially sustainable.
Answer: This Government will champion British farming. Our new deal for farmers will build a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers. We have already delivered on our commitment to restore stability by continuing the...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSports: Video GamesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of the esports industry.
Answer: The Government recognises the potential of the UK esports industry and its impact on the economy, with major tournaments hosted across the UK this year, including in Manchester, Birmingham and London.Kickstarting economic growth, and breaking down barrier...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: PlasticsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of single-use items used by the National Health Service.
Answer: As set out in the Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report, published in October 2020, the NHS is committed to reducing its environmental impact, including by increasing the reuse and recycling of medical equipment. This report is available at...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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