Julian Smith MP: written questions 2025
111 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Electric Bicycles: PedestriansDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of injuries to pedestrians caused by rented electric bikes in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Department does not currently collect specific data on incidents involving rental e-bikes. The Standing Committee on Road Injury Collision Statistics, which oversees the collection of road collision and casualty statistics known as STATS19, is current...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: Hire ServicesDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating that electric bike rental firms ensure that all riders of rented electric bikes wear helmets.
Answer: The Government agrees that cyclists should wear helmets whenever possible to help reduce the risk of sustaining a head injury. We are implementing licensing for shared cycle schemes and will consult in depth on this. Consultation will include consideratio...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDairy Farming: Supply ChainsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reductions in the prices paid to British dairy farmers by suppliers; and whether she plans to review the
Answer: Prices in the dairy sector are influenced by a wide range of factors, including global market trends, input costs and consumer demand. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which came fully into force earlier this year, are designed to bri...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Dispute ResolutionDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of investing in early dispute resolution and mediation for the purposes of resolving disputes in the SEND system.
Answer: The department believes that more special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) disputes should be resolved earlier, with families, settings and local authorities working together to develop solutions to disagreements.We are aware that not all familie...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSmoking: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, published on 30 July 2025, whether the proposal to provide opt-out smoking cessation interventions i
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care. Within their 2025/26 allocations, integrated care boards have access to funding to support the rollout of tobacco depen...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSmoking: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64433 on Smoking: Health Services, if he will take steps to use (a) A&E, (b) lung screening and (c) other new NHS services to automatically enrol
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care. Within their 2025/26 allocations, integrated care boards have access to funding to support the rollout of tobacco depen...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for (a) Sustainable Farming Incentive and (b) productivity grant payments on (i) rural supply ch
Answer: Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) understand the importance of cashflow for farmers and rural businesses in their investment decisions and any impacts on the wider supply chain. The RPA has in recent years made more payments for the schemes they a...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help expedite grant clearance under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.
Answer: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) understands the importance of cashflow for farmers and rural businesses. The Agency used an Online Application system to streamline data collection and is using automation to simplify due diligence checks. Agreement Holders...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to publish a response to the Civil Justice Council's report entitled Review of Litigation Funding, published on 2 June 2025.
Answer: The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice. That is why we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all.The Civil Justice Council’s review will help inform the Government’s approach to any po...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: CostsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to support tenant stock-rearing farmers with the costs of (a) rising feed, (b) energy and (c) national insurance costs.
Answer: The Government’s New Deal for Farmers includes a raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers. We have allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. With regard to these specif...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of agricultural funding schemes and (b) how they can support food production.
Answer: Food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal fo...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBBC World Service: National SecurityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of funding reductions to the BBC World Service on the UK's ability to counter foreign threats.
Answer: Through high quality and investigative journalism, the BBC exposes and debunks the misinformation, disinformation and harmful narratives that malign actors, hostile states and others produce internationally. The World Service remains the world's most trus...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBBC World Service: Soft PowerForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the BBC World Service on the UK's soft power.
Answer: The Government highly values the BBC World Service, which makes a significant contribution to UK soft power. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressio...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBBC World Service: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating BBC World Service funding on a three year basis.
Answer: Grant-in-Aid funding for the BBC World Service will be decided through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process in the autumn.
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBBC World Service: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to develop a sustainable funding solution for the BBC World Service.
Answer: The Government highly values the BBC World Service, which makes a significant contribution to UK soft power. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressio...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 28 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 905439More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of representations received by his Department on its proposed reforms to inheritance tax on farms.
Answer: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advant...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCompetition Appeal Tribunal: MediationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 905249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answer: This government is committed to access to justice, and I share the interest of the Rt. Hon. member’s in reducing the burdens of litigation through Alternative Dispute Resolution. The CAT Rules afford the Tribunal significant powers to encourage and facili...
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of research funding models, in the context of the forthcoming national cancer plan; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of rese
Answer: The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and delivering better ...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase screening programmes to improve early diagnosis of cancers, in the context of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.
Answer: Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan, which will build on the three shifts in care set out in the 10-Year Health Plan to diagnose cancers earlier. Through the 10-Year Health Plan, we will make it easier for people to access cancer sc...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmoking: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of integrating smoking cessation services into (a) A&E, (b) mental health services and (c) lung screening.
Answer: We are fully committed to our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom. Quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for their health, and our assessment of the evidence is that targeting people with smoking cessation support in in-patient, ...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: North YorkshireDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support councils in improving the frequency and reliability of rural bus services in North Yorkshire.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of accessible, frequent and affordable bus services in keeping communities connected as well as in supporting economic growth, tourism and social inclusion. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of levels of availability of rural transport links on (a) economic growth, (b) tourism and (c) social inclusion; and what steps she is taking to i
Answer: The government recognises the importance of accessible, frequent and affordable bus services in keeping communities connected as well as in supporting economic growth, tourism and social inclusion. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: North YorkshireDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to allocate additional funding to support rural bus franchising pilots in North Yorkshire; and what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) the Yorkshire Dales and (b) other areas receive equit
Answer: The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in the Spending Review. On 11 June, the government confirmed continued funding of around £900 million per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including tak...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimals: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to recommendation 27 of the report by the National Audit Office entitled Resilience to animal diseases, published on 4 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to
Answer: Imports of animals and animal products are subject to strict biosecurity controls. These may include pre-notification, veterinary health certification and Border Control Post checks. We apply additional measures in response to specific biosecurity threats...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimals: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to recommendation 26(d) of the report by the National Audit Office entitled Resilience to animal diseases, published on 4 June 2025, whether his Department plans to publ
Answer: The UK Government takes animal diseases seriously and works closely with industry partners, international fora and other government departments and local authorities to constantly monitor and react to new disease threats. We have in place robust measures ...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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