Julian Smith MP: written questions
150 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visitor LevyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of an overnight visitor levy on a) the hospitality sector and b) levels of employment.
Answer: The impacts of introducing a visitor levy will depend on decisions made at the local level. Mayors and local leaders will have to decide whether a levy should be implemented, following a period of local consultation on specific proposals. The precise desi...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment Rights Act 2025Department for Business and TradeTabled 20 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on a) the hospitality sector and b) levels of employment.
Answer: The Government published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments].The majority of employees will benefit from new protections in the Act and our ...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Claims: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to ensure that parties who are referred to the Small Claims Automatic Referral to Mediation pilot actively engage in the process.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation in helping parties to resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. Since integrated mediation was introduced for county court small claims under £10,000 in 2024, parties have been required, as part of th...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCompetition Appeal Tribunal: MediationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answer: It is to the benefit of all parties involved in litigation that disputes are managed efficiently. The government, therefore, supports the use, where appropriate, of mediation as a means to resolve disputes without the expense of litigation.The government ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTribunals: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing mandatory mediation for tribunals on the tribunals system backlog.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation in helping parties to resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. Since integrated mediation was introduced for county court small claims under £10,000 in 2024, parties have been required, as part of th...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIndustrial Disputes: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act on the number of employment disputes before the employment tribunal; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of
Answer: The Employment Rights Act (ERA) is part of the Government’s commitment to Make Work Pay. The Act includes measures that strengthens worker’s rights, which we expect will increase demand in the Employment Tribunal. The impact on the Employment Tribunal has...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIndustrial Disputes: MediationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation in employment disputes.
Answer: We continue to work across government to make the dispute resolution system more resilient, so that that the measures in the Employment Rights Act can be effectively enforced. We recognise the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes swiftly.A joint DB...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTribunals: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending existing rules on mediation in the civil courts to the tribunals system, in the context of proposed changes to the Office of the Senior President
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation and other forms of dispute resolution in helping parties resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. We continue to explore and assess the potential merits of dispute resolution across different jurisdi...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTribunals: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to encourage greater use of mediation in the tribunals system.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation in helping parties to resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. Since integrated mediation was introduced for county court small claims under £10,000 in 2024, parties have been required, as part of th...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTribunals: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving judges in tribunals the power to order mandatory mediation.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation in helping parties to resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. Since integrated mediation was introduced for county court small claims under £10,000 in 2024, parties have been required, as part of th...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTribunals: MediationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory mediation within the tribunals system.
Answer: The Government recognises the value of mediation in helping parties to resolve disputes more swiftly and consensually. Since integrated mediation was introduced for county court small claims under £10,000 in 2024, parties have been required, as part of th...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to include palliative and end of life care as part of compulsory training for health and care professionals.
Answer: We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it, including at the end of life.The training of health and care professionals is the statutory responsibility of the Unite...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to embed palliative care in neighbourhood health services.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end-of-life care. To support ICB...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: Telephone ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing a 24/7 end of life care advice line on the number of hospital admissions for those with a palliative care need.
Answer: We recognise that 24/7 advice lines can support people nearing the end of life to remain at home where appropriate and to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.NHS England has published statutory guidance on palliative care and end of life care to support ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: Telephone ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a 24/7 end of life care advice line.
Answer: We recognise that 24/7 advice lines can support people nearing the end of life to remain at home where appropriate and to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.NHS England has published statutory guidance on palliative care and end of life care to support ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: LeadDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of excluding bullets from restrictions on the production of lead ammunition.
Answer: The UK REACH Restriction on lead in ammunition is based on extensive scientific evidence and analysis by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency. In developing their proposal, the HSE assessed the risks posed by lead ammunition – ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: LeadDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of restrictions on the production of lead ammunition on the supply of ammunition for a) UK defence, b) law enforcement agencies a
Answer: The UK REACH Restriction on lead in ammunition does not cover the use, including storage, of lead ammunition by the military, police, Government security services, private maritime security companies and for border force purposes.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPesticides: AgricultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support she provides to farmers when changes are made to pesticide regulations; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring the availability of approved
Answer: If changes are made to regulations including pesticides we aim to do so transparently, for example through consultation, with those impacted including the farming sector. When a decision is made about an active substance or plant protection product by the...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPesticides: Health HazardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive maintains up to date standards for pesticides.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) makes decisions on whether to approve pesticides based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks, with the aim of achieving a high level of protection for people and the environment in line with regulatory requi...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPesticides: Health HazardsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will make an assessment of the risks of the use of a) Benthiavalicarb, b) Clofentezine, c) Dimethomorph, d) Dimoxystrobin, e) Flufenacet, f) Ipconazole, g) Mepanipyrim, h) Metribuzin, i) S-me
Answer: Pesticides are subject to strict regulation in Great Britain (GB) and are only approved on the basis that they will not cause harm to human or animal health, and that there are no unacceptable effects to the GB environment.If new information comes to ligh...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPesticides: Health HazardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that approved pesticides do not pose a risk to public health.
Answer: A pesticide may only be placed on the market in Great Britain (GB) if the product has been authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), GB’s pesticide regulator. This only happens following a thorough scientific risk assessment that concludes all ...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving under Influence: Rural AreasDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2026 to Question 110371 on Driving under Influence: Rural Areas, whether the impact assessment will consider rural (a) hospitality businesses and (b) pubs.
Answer: The Government is consulting on proposed changes to penalties for motoring offences, as part of the recently published Road Safety Strategy. As part of this, the Government is consulting on the general principle of lowering the drink drive limit in Englan...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: Fees and ChargesHome OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of reports of variations in police force implementation of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Abnormal Load Guidance an
Answer: Police Chiefs are responsible for decisions on escorting abnormal loads and for how guidance relating to movements and charging should be implemented in their areas. Local variation in the management of abnormal loads may be necessary to account for facto...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps under the Local Power Plan to accelerate grid connections for small business-led renewable energy projects.
Answer: The Department continues to work closely with Ofgem, NESO and DNOs to ensure wider grid connections reforms benefit community and local energy projects, including: Ofgem starting to implement proposals in the End‑to‑End Review, a systematic review of Tran...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Local Power Plan will support small businesses in market towns and rural communities to access affordable, locally generated clean power.
Answer: Great British Energy will provide dedicated capacity and capability, and financial support to help local government and community energy groups deliver local clean energy projects. Clean energy projects owned by local government and community energy group...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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