Julian Smith MP: written questions 2025

111 published records · newest first.

Written questions

  • Suicide: MenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100349More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help reduce male suicide rates through access to timely mental health care, follow-up after (a) self-harm and (b) crisis presentations and support for men at high-risk du

    Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country. This includes transforming mental health services into neighbourhood mental health centres which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, improving asse...

    Answered 27 Jan 2026

    Original Parliament record
  • Mental Health Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100348More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms are in place for NHS mental health trusts to be held accountable when written recommendations for improving carer involvement and crisis support following formal apologies are not i

    Answer: Anyone receiving treatment for their mental health deserves safe, high-quality care, and to be treated with dignity and respect.Families, staff, and the public deserve answers when things go wrong in mental health settings and it is vitally important that...

    Answered 7 Jan 2026

    Original Parliament record
  • Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100347More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that NHS mental health trusts do not discharge patients with high PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores without robust safety planning and fol

    Answer: In 2024, statutory guidance was issued on discharge from all mental health, and learning disability and autism inpatient settings, under the NHS Act 2006. The guidance also sets out that prior to discharge, robust planning and safety management should be ...

    Answered 7 Jan 2026

    Original Parliament record
  • Stalking: Criminal ProceedingsHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100346More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the six-month limit for bringing charges on stalking.

    Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government and the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December sets out clear action to tackle stalking as a part of this.We have appointed Richard Wright KC to lead a review of the st...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Stalking: Criminal ProceedingsHome OfficeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100344More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of considering the charge of stalking together with that of stalking with intent to ensure that cases can be brought within the six-month tim

    Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government and the VAWG Strategy published on 18 December sets out clear action to tackle stalking as a part of this.We have appointed Richard Wright KC to lead a review of the st...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Prisoners' ReleaseMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100343More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact of early releases on (a) victims and (b) victims' families.

    Answer: We must ensure that there are always sufficient prison places for dangerous offenders and those who pose a risk to the public. We are building 14,000 prison places and will have more prisoners by the time of the next election than the last. We take every ...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Prisoners' ReleaseMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100342More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of early releases with the principles of justice.

    Answer: We must ensure that there are always sufficient prison places for dangerous offenders and those who pose a risk to the public. We are building 14,000 prison places and will have more prisoners by the time of the next election than the last. We take every ...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Business Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100324More

    Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the revaluation of business rates on levels of employment in North Yorkshire.

    Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Mediation: BusinessMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100323More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of court mandated mediation for larger businesses.

    Answer: The Government recognises the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes swiftly and consensually. We are piloting mandatory mediation for small money claims (under £10,000) as part of the county court process. This pilot runs until May 2026 and will be ...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Knives: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99782More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of placing a ban on a) machetes and b) large hunting knives.

    Answer: Knife crime has a devasting impact on families and communities across the country, and the Government is aiming to halve knife crime in the next decade. We keep the law in this area under constant review, and this includes the continuing availability of m...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Knives: SalesHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99781More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of phasing out the general sale of sharp-tipped culinary knives.

    Answer: We recognise that the issue of knife crime and the harm caused by any knife has a very real impact on individuals, families and communities and we aim to halve knife crime in the next decade. The Government keeps the law in this area under constant review...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Knives: Crime PreventionHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99780More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce knife crime.

    Answer: Tackling knife crime is a priority for Government. Since this Government has been in office, knife homicides have fallen by almost 20% while knife crime overall has fallen for the first time in 4 years, dropping by 5% in our first year from 54,215 to 51,5...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Knives: Crime PreventionHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99779More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the police on reducing knife crime.

    Answer: Home Office Ministers meet regularly with Chief Constables and other senior policing leaders to discuss knife crime. For example, the Home Secretary discussed knife crime at the National Policing Board in July 2025 and the Policing Minister chaired the Kn...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Lead: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99778More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 13210, what update she can provide on the progress of the Environment Agency's State of Contaminated Land Report, specifically wi

    Answer: The Environment Agency sent the State of Contaminated Land survey to all local authorities with Part 2A duties in England on 14th November 2025. The survey includes specific questions relating to a number of sites prioritised for inspection or determined ...

    Answered 18 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Eurostar: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99777More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May to Question 50489, what recent discussions she has had with Eurostar and SNCF1 Gare Connexions on a) the expansion of the number of border control points and e-gates, and b) lon

    Answer: Departmental officials engage regularly with French counterparts and industry partners to discuss plans to support the growth of international rail services and to enable competition in the coming years. Officials from my Department, Home Office and Borde...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Eurostar: Immigration ControlsHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99776More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April to Question 46921, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of changes to e-gates on improving the speed of passenger flow.

    Answer: eGates provide a safe, secure and efficient method of crossing the UK border for millions of passengers each year. All technology deployed at the border is rigorously tested to ensure it is resilient and effective.We are moving into the next phase of our ...

    Answered 18 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Eurostar: Immigration ControlsHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99775More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with (a) UK Border Force, and (b) her counterparts in the French Government on reducing the waiting times for UK-bound passengers at passport control at Paris Gare du N

    Answer: Border Force work closely with partners to minimise passenger wait times and deploy officers flexibly and when required to meet demand and support passengers.We have introduced ePassport Gates to Paris Gare Du Nord station in two waves, the last being tim...

    Answered 18 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel InquiryHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99774More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

    Answer: In April, the Government published the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress Update setting out the action we are taking on the IICSA recommendations, and we are delivering on those commitments.For example, we have this month published a consultation on pr...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel InquiryHome OfficeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99773More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing the 20 recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

    Answer: In April, the Government published the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress Update setting out the action we are taking on the IICSA recommendations, and we are delivering on those commitments.For example, we have this month published a consultation on pr...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Sexual Offences: Victim Support SchemesMinistry of JusticeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99772More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing long-term funding for specialist sexual violence and abuse services.

    Answer: My Department is committed to the Government’s pledge to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in a decade. We have committed £550 million to victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to ...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Employers' contributions: North YorkshireTreasuryTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99771More

    Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions on the viability of businesses in North Yorkshire.

    Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions announced at Autumn Budget 2024. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out in their ...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Employers' contributions: North YorkshireTreasuryTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99770More

    Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions on the number of people employed by SMEs in North Yorkshire.

    Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions announced at Autumn Budget 2024. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out in their ...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Energy: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99769More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of an increase in energy costs on businesses in North Yorkshire.

    Answer: The Government has not made such an assessment specific to North Yorkshire. While the Government is tackling energy costs at every avenue, to drive growth, we also understand that some UK industries are struggling with the cost of energy. The Government h...

    Answered 23 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Hospitality Industry and Retail Trade: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99768More

    Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates revaluation on (a) hospitality and (b) retail businesses in North Yorkshire.

    Answer: The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years...

    Answered 18 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record
  • Civil Proceedings: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99767More

    Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Civil Justice Council report entitled Review of Litigation Funding - Final Report.

    Answer: The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice and is committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. That is why we intend to introduce legislation to enact the two primary recommendations of the Civi...

    Answered 22 Dec 2025

    Original Parliament record

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