Julian Smith MP: written questions 2025
111 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small 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 recordDogs: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure all dog rescue organisations adhere to a standardised national framework for the safe rehoming of dogs.
Answer: Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, any person responsible for an animal, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, has a duty to ensure the welfare of the animals in their care. Companion animal rescue and rehoming organisations in England and Wales must...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordResearch: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Government backs UK R&D with record £20.4 billion investment at Autumn Budget, published on 31 October 2024, when he plans to p
Answer: The Autumn Budget set out the government’s funding plans and departmental allocations for R&D in 2025/26, with an overall R&D budget of £20.4 billion. Of this, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was allocated £13.9 billion for 2...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Health ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of numbers of medical appointments on the medical readiness of serving personnel; and what steps he is taking to ensure timely access to primary hea
Answer: The Defence Medical Services (DMS) provide primary healthcare for Armed Forces personnel and entitled families. Patients registered with DMS have good access to primary care. Urgent primary care appointments are available within one working day in 99% of ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOffenders: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are currently in custody who have exhausted all rights of appeal and have signed deportation orders but have not yet been deported; and what steps her Department is taking to expedite
Answer: The number of individuals who simultaneously fall into all these categories cannot be readily obtained from available data, and such a snapshot exercise could only be conducted for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugs: InternetDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with internet service providers and with national and international partners on steps taken to prevent unlicensed medicines from entering the UK.
Answer: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), acting on behalf of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the regulation of all medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom, by ensu...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 13215 on Lead: Contamination, when the review of lead in food (a) commenced and (b) plans to report.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reviewing dietary lead as part of its ongoing risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food, including in areas with higher exposure. Scoping work has begun to identify the additional evidence needed, including pla...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27857More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2024 to Question 6209 on Lead: Contamination, whether he has had recent discussions with the Environment Agency on the Water and Abandoned Metal Mi
Answer: Defra works closely with the Environment Agency to ensure it is equipped to carry out its functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment; this includes its work to reduce pollution from abandoned metal mines.
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLead: Health HazardsTreasuryTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27856More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of lead exposure on trends in the level of gross domestic product.
Answer: The Treasury works closely with other government departments to manage risks to the UK economy and support economic stability, an essential foundation for long-run economic growth. This includes collaboration with colleagues from the Cabinet Office Civil ...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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