Julian Smith MP: written questions
332 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Driving 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 recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Local Power Plan on local jobs and supply chain opportunities for small businesses in the clean energy sector.
Answer: Local ownership keeps economic benefits local, supporting local labour markets directly and indirectly. Community-led projects tend to create more local jobs due to local ownership and reinvestment of revenue. More broadly, our Clean Energy Industries Sec...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether Great British Energy will offer finance and guidance to help small businesses install on-site renewable generation and battery storage as part of the Local Power Plan.
Answer: Backed by up to £1 billion, Great British Energy (GBE) aims to support at least 1,000 local and community energy projects by 2030. GBE will do this through funding, and support including awareness raising, project origination and project development suppo...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to bring forward reforms enabling local energy communities to sell clean power directly to nearby small businesses through local power purchase agreements.
Answer: The Local Power Plan is a joint DESNZ‑GBE publication setting out the UK’s largest ever public investment in community energy. The Department will deliver the policy and regulatory change working with Ofgem, NESO and others as appropriate. Great British E...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Local Power Plan will help reduce energy costs for small businesses, particularly in rural areas with limited grid infrastructure.
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 recordCommunity Energy: Small BusinessesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are directly impacted by the Local Power Plan, including hosting renewable energy installations and participating in shared ownership
Answer: This year Government will consult on detailed plans for a possible mandatory shared ownership scheme and Great British Energy (GBE) will develop a Local Energy Platform to provide an end-to-end business solution for onsite renewable generation. This will ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether regulations on trade union access under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will include safeguarding provisions for workplaces employing young people; and what guidance will be provided to ensure c
Answer: In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on the operational details of the new statutory access framework, including any further matters the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must have regard to when making determ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: FranchisesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on the ability of small and medium-sized businesses, including franchises, to re-invest and create jobs.
Answer: The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. As per our Better Regulation requirements, each Impact Assessment includes a small, medium and micro business assessment.The Small Business Plan also outlines how we will su...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: FranchisesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on hospitality franchise businesses; and whether he plans to provide support for employers to manage costs.
Answer: The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act, which includes analysis of the potential sectoral impacts.The Government recognises the vital contribution of the hospitality sector to the UK, supporting local employment, ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWorking HoursDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the guaranteed hours requirements in the Employment Rights Act 2025 on a) employees seeking flexibility, including those seeking to match schools
Answer: My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.The Emplo...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Promotion: MisconductForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will (a) release documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy and (b) share relevant documents with the police.
Answer: The Rt Hon Member would not expect me to comment on a live police investigation, but the Government will obviously assist the police in any way they require.
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Promotion: MisconductForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will have discussions with diplomats and officials on reports of alleged wrongdoing by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the fulfilment of his public duties as a UK Trade
Answer: The Rt Hon Member would not expect me to comment on a live police investigation, but the Government will obviously assist the police in any way they require.
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Promotion: MisconductDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to investigate reports of alleged wrongdoing by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the fulfilment of his public duties as a UK Trade Envoy.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTrade Promotion: MisconductDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to investigate reports of alleged wrongdoing by UK Trade Envoys.
Answer: Any reports of alleged wrongdoing in public office are taken seriously by the Government. The Government remains committed to meeting its statutory obligations on records management, disclosure, and cooperation with competent authorities, and any requests...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113546More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing an income tax rebate and relief for (a) people and (b) households who self-fund their social care costs; and if she will make an assessment of the poten
Answer: There are a wide range of factors to take into consideration when introducing a tax relief. These include how effective the relief would be at achieving the policy intent, how targeted support would be, whether it adds complexity to the tax system, and th...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordContinuing CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the levels of NHS Continuing Healthcare application success rates.
Answer: Operational delivery of National Health Service Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is the responsibility of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) with oversight from NHS England. Decisions on eligibility for CHC are taken by the relevant ICB, on a case-by-case basis bas...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordContinuing Care: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the effectiveness of the assessment process for NHS Continuing Healthcare in ensuring that decisions are based on sufficient clinical evidence; and if he will make an assessment o
Answer: Operational delivery of NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs), with oversight from NHS England. NHS England’s assurance regime promotes accurate assessment, equal access, and consistency within CHC delivery...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission into Adult Social CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Casey Commission plans to assess the potential merits of a (a) national lifetime cost cap and (b) weekly maximum charge for long-term care.
Answer: The adult social care charging system is means tested and provides funded support for those with the least financial means. While the Department sets the minimum thresholds for accessing local authority support, local authorities have the discretion to se...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission into Adult Social CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Casey Commission plans to address the upper capital limit of £23,250 for England in the context of the higher thresholds in Wales and Scotland; and what assessment he has made of the po
Answer: The adult social care charging system is means tested and provides funded support for those with the least financial means. While the Department sets the minimum thresholds for accessing local authority support, local authorities have the discretion to se...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSports: ClubsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support she is providing to small sports clubs.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting grassroots sport clubs, which play an important role within communities across the country.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which a...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: SportsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the potential merits of encouraging the inclusion of multiuse sports venues, such as lakes, as part of new housing developments.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises that access to a network of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and wellbeing of communities, as well as delivering wider benefits...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCoroners: ReformMinistry of JusticeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 116 of the Report published by the Justice Committee entitled The Coroner Service, HC 68, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delaying legislative steps to ensure th
Answer: The Government intends to bring forward the necessary amendments to section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988 as soon as Parliamentary time allows. Whilst we have not undertaken a formal impact assessment on timings, there remains a well-established process fo...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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