Julian Smith MP: written questions
79 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Police: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Government's policing reforms do not undermine local authorities' relationships with police forces, in the context of safeguarding vulnerable adults and chi
Answer: In January 2026, the Home Office published the Police Reform White Paper, setting out the most significant reforms to policing in nearly 200 years. These reforms are designed to ensure policing can respond effectively to evolving crime threats and the cha...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure democratic oversight of policing under the Government's proposed reforms to merge police forces.
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: LeadershipHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to develop top-level police leadership.
Answer: It is essential that every member of the police workforce has the consistent support and skills they need to become leaders who can thrive and continue to deliver for the public.As part of our police reform programme, we will strengthen police leadership ...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16884More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether urban forces created as a result of the merging of police forces under proposed policing reforms will provide the same level of expertise on rural crime as current rural police forces.
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16883More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to what extent rural expertise will be retained as a result of the merging of police forces under proposed policing reforms.
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16882More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that policing resources are not diverted from rural to metropolitan areas as a result of the merging of police forces as part of the Government's proposed policing ref
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16881More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that local community partnerships are not lost as a result of the merging of police forces as part of the Government's proposed policing reforms.
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: ReorganisationHome OfficeTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16880More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the merging of police forces as part of the Government's proposed policing reforms on maintaining local community partnerships.
Answer: The Police Reform White Paper set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing that is fit for the modern world, with the right policing in the right places.Responsive local policing will be guaranteed through the creation of Loca...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: Care Quality CommissionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on the viability of medical professionals who are no
Answer: Following the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the new rules bring treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI) at sporting and cultural events, sports grounds, and gymnasiums under the regulation of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and are intended to ens...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordCare Quality Commission: Fees and ChargesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of either a) exempting people providing healthcare as individuals from the Care Quality Commission registration fee, or b) charging a reduced f
Answer: Following the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the new rules bring treatment of disease, disorder, or injury (TDDI) at sporting and cultural events, sports grounds, and gymnasiums under the regulation of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and are intended to ens...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordMoorland: FiresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will conduct a review of the Heather and Grass Management Code 2025 and assess the impact of a) grazing, b) mowing, and c) controlled winter burns on i) the prevalence and ii) t
Answer: This Government is committed to protecting moorlands. In September 2025, we amended the Heather and Grass Burning (England) Regulations 2021 to improve the resilience of our moorlands. The regulations are supported by the Heather and Grass Management Code...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFire PreventionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce wildfires.
Answer: Defra with its executive agencies, ALBs and through the Protected Landscapes, encourage landscape scale land management to help increase wildfire resilience, including through the adoption of good quality wildfire management plans. We are also working clo...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: LeadDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of derogations from proposals to restrict the use of ammunition containing lead for commercial purposes on levels of domestic deman
Answer: In developing its UK REACH restriction proposal for lead in ammunition, the HSE assessed the risks posed by lead ammunition to the environment and human health, as well as the socio-economic impacts of their proposal and the availability of alternatives. ...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: LeadDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposals to restrict the use of ammunition containing lead for commercial purposes on domestic demand for ammu
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 to...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: LeadDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with a) the Ministry of Defence, and b) the Home Office, on plans to restrict the use of ammunition containing lead for commercial purposes a
Answer: Defra officials have engaged with the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence on the restriction of lead in ammunition under UK REACH.
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: Manufacturing IndustriesMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many companies in Great Britain currently manufacture centrefire ammunition at a commercial scale.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) procures the majority of its centrefire small arms ammunition, by volume, through our long-term strategic partnership with BAE Systems, and through other suppliers for some specialist types. The MOD does not monitor all comme...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Codes of PracticeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on pub trade of introducing a Guest Beer Agreement in England and Wales.
Answer: The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the ev...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Codes of PracticeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Guest Beer Agreement in England and Wales, similar to the Guest Beer Agreement already in place in Scotland.
Answer: The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the ev...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Park HomesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to park home residents for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, in the context of eligibility challenges of pa
Answer: Park homes are eligible for support under the Warm Homes: Local Grant - provided they are: The permanent residence of the household;Assessed as equivalent to an EPC band D–G home; andAre expected to remain in place for the duration of the relevant measure...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIntestacy: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing time limits for making a claim on the estate of someone who has died intestate.
Answer: There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate pro...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIntestacy: StandardsMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help ensure the timely administration of estates when someone has died intestate.
Answer: There is no maximum time limit during which personal representatives must apply for a grant to administer an estate, or to distribute an estate after probate has been granted. The existing legal framework offers flexibility, accepting that the probate pro...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ElectricityDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support farmers with increased electricity standing charges.
Answer: Network charges are set by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, in line with the Connection and Use of System Code. As part of setting electricity transmission price controls under its RIIO‑T3 (ET3) Final Determinations, Ofgem carried out an impact as...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFertilisers and Red Diesel: PricesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage greater transparency for farmers on the price of fertiliser and red diesel.
Answer: Food security is a priority for the Government, and Defra are taking the impacts from the Middle East conflict seriously. The Government has increased the frequency of official fertiliser price reporting, now published by the AHDB on a weekly basis. This ...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure an integrated approach to agricultural payment scheme timelines and application windows.
Answer: In the recently published Farming Roadmap, this Government committed to transforming how farming services are designed and delivered, bringing them together into a single, coherent service that reflects how farmers manage their land and businesses, and pr...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the transition away from direct payment schemes for farmers on a) food production and b) business viability.
Answer: Delinked payments are not linked to any action taken by farmers and do not support the environment or food production. This government is backing farmers with the largest nature-friendly budget in history to support farmers and land managers to help resto...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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