Josh Newbury MP: written questions 2024
64 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of creating a single service to advise households on (a) energy efficiency in the home and (b) financial support available for
Answer: Improving energy efficiency and decarbonising buildings is a crucial element in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This will also lower energy bills and support the reduction of Fuel Poverty. This is why the Government is going further...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBoiler Upgrade Scheme: Heat PumpsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for increasing the number of heat pump installations.
Answer: Up to the end of August 2024, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has paid out 32,572 vouchers towards low carbon heating systems. The Government is carrying out an independent evaluation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with its first set of interim findings due to b...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat PumpsTreasuryTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11072More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, of the potential merits of removing VAT from refrigerants used in heat pumps.
Answer: No assessment has been made. The installation of certain energy-saving materials, including ground- and air- source heat pumps, in residential accommodation and charity buildings benefits from a temporary zero rate of VAT until 31 March 2027 (after which ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes Plan: LoansDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) low- and (b) no-cost finance for domestic energy efficiency measures in its Warm Homes Plan.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role private finance can play in helping us achieve our decarbonisation ambitions.As part of the Warm Homes Plan, officials are exploring the role of incentives and private finance to support homeowners with the upf...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNatural GasDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11070More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of decommissioning the gas grid.
Answer: The Government is committed to transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower, including providing the country with clean power by 2030, reducing bills, and transitioning homes to low carbon heating through the Warm Homes Plan. Gas will continue to p...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHeating: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11069More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using the gas grid to support the decarbonisation of (a) domestic and (b) industrial space heating.
Answer: The Government is committed to transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower, including providing the country with clean power by 2030, reducing bills, and transitioning homes to low carbon heating through the Warm Homes Plan. Gas will continue to p...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNatural Gas: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help decarbonise the gas grid.
Answer: The Government is committed to transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower, including providing the country with clean power by 2030, reducing bills, and transitioning homes to low carbon heating through the Warm Homes Plan. Gas will continue to p...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMineworkers' Pension Scheme: InvestmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) returning the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme investment reserve to scheme members and (b) commissioning a review into future investme
Answer: The Government has ended the injustice of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) and agreed the transfer the Investment Reserve Fund to members, so that the mineworkers who powered our country receive a fairer pension. The resulting bonus will increase pen...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCrime: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rural crime on (a) agricultural businesses and (b) Staffordshire Police.
Answer: This Government is committed to reducing crime and disorder in rural areas, given the devastating impact rural crime can have on communities and businesses. Under our reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on a...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11065More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the recycling rates of plastic film.
Answer: Yes, Defra is supporting the multi-million-pound FlexCollect project, launched in May 2022, funding local authorities to roll out kerbside plastic film collection trials. This will help gather insights to support effective collections more widely ahead of...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11064More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with businesses on steps to reduce the (a) manufacture and (b) distribution of single-use plastic products other than wet wipes.
Answer: The Secretary of State has not held discussions on reducing the manufacture and distribution of single-use plastic products with businesses. However, officials have met with industry stakeholders through the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN), this ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce pre-consumer plastic waste in supply chains.
Answer: The Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy and asked his Department to work with experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: PackagingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to promote the (a) development and (b) use of bioplastics for single-use packaging.
Answer: No, Defra has not taken steps to promote the development or use of bio-based plastics for single-use packaging. More research is needed to ensure bio-based plastics lead to better environmental outcomes overall. During the production of these materials, t...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme has been spent on mental health practitioners since 2019.
Answer: Funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for mental health practitioners accounts for 50% of the costs of these roles, with the other 50% provided by mental health trusts. Mental health practitioners were not introduced i...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Local GovernmentDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to issue guidance to local authorities on the establishment of publicly-owned bus companies.
Answer: Improving local transport services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.As announced in the King’s Spee...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support bus services in rural areas.
Answer: Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this parliamentary session, which will put decision-making into th...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBus Services: Public ConsultationDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has provided to local authorities on consulting communities on (a) proposals for new and (b) the adequacy of existing bus routes.
Answer: Improving local transport services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. The government have been clea...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: StaffordshireDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health services in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire.
Answer: People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health.As part of our mission to build a National Health...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSchool Libraries: LGBT+ PeopleDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of trends in the number of requests to schools to remove LGBT+ literature from school libraries.
Answer: The current national curriculum requires teachers to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. It also emphasises the importance of children listening to, discussing and reading for themselves a ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLeisure Centres: Government AssistanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support local authorities to keep council-owned leisure centres open.
Answer: The Government recognises the challenges local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Resetting the relationship between national and local government and improving how local government is funded in this Parliament, are crucial ...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: Operating CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the value for money of the central costs of operating academy trusts.
Answer: The primary responsibility for the financial oversight of academy trusts rests with the trustees themselves, who are supported by the financial management and governance requirements set by the department in academy trusts’ funding agreements, the academy...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAcademies: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the central costs of academy trusts on the budgets of academy schools.
Answer: The primary responsibility for the financial oversight of academy trusts rests with the trustees themselves, who are supported by the financial management and governance requirements set by the department in academy trusts’ funding agreements, the academy...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice Community Support Officers and Special ConstablesHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has issued guidance to (a) police forces and (b) Police and Crime Commissioners on the powers granted to (i) Police Community Support Officers and (ii) special constables.
Answer: Under Section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, chief officers can designate certain powers to any person who is employed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and is under the direction and contr...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial ConstablesHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the number of special constables in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.
Answer: The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities saf...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2024 to Question 4283 on Schools: Admissions, what steps her Department is taking to issue guidance to Local Planning Authorities on appropriate levels of section 106 cont
Answer: In August 2023, the department published two non-statutory guidance documents for local authorities planning for education, local planning authorities (LPAs) and other stakeholders involved in the delivery of schools.The guidance on 'Estimating pupil yiel...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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