Julian Smith MP: written questions
103 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Claims: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to encourage higher attendance rates at the Small Claims Mediation Service.
Answer: Since the introduction of integrated mediation for small claims under £10,000 in the county courts in 2024, attendance at mediation appointments has been mandatory. As part of the litigation journey, parties are required to attend a free, one-hour mediati...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Claims: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with the Small Claims Mediation Service on the introduction of mandatory mediation for small claims.
Answer: The HMCTS Small Claims Mediation Service has been closely involved in the implementation of mandatory mediation for small claims in the county courts, working together with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the service and its staff are fully prepare...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDispute Resolution: Small BusinessesMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has had recent discussions with Lawtech UK on the feasibility study for an SME online dispute resolution platform.
Answer: In 2021, LawtechUK delivered a feasibility study for the development of an online platform that could assist smaller businesses in recovering unpaid debts. The study demonstrated how the platform could be established and become financially self-sustaining...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Proceedings: Legal CostsMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of mandatory self-regulation on third party litigation funders.
Answer: The Government recognises the critical role litigation funding plays in ensuring access to justice.Following the PACCAR judgment, concerns have been raised about the need for greater regulation of the litigation funding market, which currently operates a ...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: NegligenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the use of the current mediation scheme for medical negligence disputes.
Answer: NHS Resolution manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHS Resolution is committed to the use of dispute resolution, including the use of mediation and is working with claimant lawyers and its own lawye...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: Dispute ResolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of increasing the use of mediation to resolve building disputes.
Answer: My Department has had no recent discussions with stakeholders about the increased use of mediation within the planning system.
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with (a) the Competition and Market Authority and (b) other sectoral regulators on the use of mediation to resolve regulatory disputes.
Answer: The Government supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve regulatory disputes without the expense of litigation.However, the decision on whether to use mediation, and whether it is appropriate in a particular case, is primaril...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness and Consumers: Class ActionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of class actions on (a) businesses and (b) consumers.
Answer: Supporting consumers (including businesses) in accessing redress is of the utmost importance to this Government, and how consumer protection could be improved is kept under regular review.So-called ‘class actions’ are just one avenue for consumers to seek...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: MediationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Small Business Commissioner on the (a) awareness and (b) use of mediation in the small business sector.
Answer: The department is working closely with The Small Business Commissioner (SBC) as we develop our proposals for the upcoming late payments consultation.The Small Business Commissioners office continues to engage closely with businesses and stakeholders acros...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53838More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the introduction into Government procurement contracts of mandatory mediation in case of dispute.
Answer: The Cabinet Office has published three standard contracts for use by government departments, and many other public sector organisations, as part of their commercial activity. Mediation clauses are included in these contract templates as part of dispute re...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: Health ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) vets and (b) other people who interact with farmers to be trained on signposting farmers to health and support services.
Answer: Defra funds the Farmer Welfare Grant. This funds charities to deliver projects which will support mental health and build resilience in local farming communities. One consortium of charities, led by The Farmer Network, is delivering mental health first ai...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: AccessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage GP practices to provide walk-in appointments for (a) farmers and (b) other occupations where attending at a set time can be a challenge.
Answer: General practices are independent businesses contracted to provide National Health Services, and have autonomy to manage appointments in the way that best suits their patient population, including determining what services are available on a walk-in basis...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide mobile health services to support rural agricultural communities where (a) committing and (b) travelling to appointments at set times can be a challenge.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning healthcare services that meet the needs of their local populations. When ICBs exercise their functions, they have a duty to reduce inequalities between persons with respect to their ability t...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: FranceHome OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken for passengers travelling to the UK to go through UK passport control at Gard du Nord Station.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 30 April to Question 46921.
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEurostar: Immigration ControlsDepartment for TransportTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Eurostar on the time taken for UK-bound passengers to board trains at Gare du Nord Station.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of smooth passenger flows at Paris Gare du Nord, given this is a key terminal for cross-Channel passenger services. Eurostar and SNCF1 Gare Connexions, the station operator, are delivering a project to expand the n...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons: ComplaintsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on complaints that fall below the RCVS definition of serious professional misconduct.
Answer: The disciplinary role of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is to investigate complaints thoroughly, determine whether or not serious professional misconduct has been committed, and then take appropriate action. Defra are currently working wi...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide sustainable funding for rural pharmacies.
Answer: We have increased the core funding for community pharmacy to £3.1billon pounds in 2025/26 and increased the commissioning of additional services like Pharmacy First. We have maintained the Pharmacy Access scheme that provides £19m to support pharmacies i...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBanking Hubs: Rural AreasTreasuryTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42444More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the criteria used by LINK to asses applications for banking hubs to help meet the needs of rural communities.
Answer: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups or face challenges using alternative payment methods. The Government is committed to maintaining the viability of...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBanking Hubs and Cash Dispensing: Rural AreasTreasuryTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42443More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with LINK on its criteria for assessing applications for (a) access to cash services and (b) banking hubs in rural areas.
Answer: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups or face challenges using alternative payment methods. The Government is committed to maintaining the viability of...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit: Skipton and RiponDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether any properties in Skipton and Ripon constituency have been identified as very hard to reach by Project Gigabit.
Answer: We expect most UK premises to be able to access a gigabit-capable connection through commercial rollout or Project Gigabit by 2030. Due to value for money constraints, very hard to reach premises are not within the scope of Project Gigabit.As Project Giga...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record4G: Skipton and RiponDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure 4G coverage across Skipton and Ripon constituency in the context of (a) the Shared Rural Network and (b) future smart meter network upgrades.
Answer: Skipton and Ripon has already benefited from the industry-funded part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) which has now been completed. 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators has increased to 67% up from 60% and up from 87% to 90% from at least ...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure households in (a) Skipton and Ripon constituency and (b) northern England can access reliable smart meter signal.
Answer: The Data Communications Company (DCC) is obligated under its licence conditions to provide Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain and 99.5% in the ‘North’ region, which includes the Skipton and Ripon constitue...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support families using the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund; and if she will make an announcement on the future of that fund.
Answer: The impact of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) on both adopted children and those with Special Guardianship Orders is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducti...
Answered 29 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) on the (a) well-being and (b) development of (i) adopted children and (ii) those with Special G
Answer: The impact of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) on both adopted children and those with Special Guardianship Orders is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducti...
Answered 29 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36392More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with the Lobular Moon Shot Project to discuss funding for lobular breast cancer research.
Answer: The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24 reflecting its high priority.We ...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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