Julian Smith MP: written questions 2024
34 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Lead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Food Standards Agency's planned review of dietary lead will consider the extent of contamination up to 100 kilometres downstream of historical lead mining sites.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher. Scoping work has st...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Food Standards Agency is taking to (a) assess and (b) mitigate the risk of lead contamination in (i) allotments and (ii) other food growing areas located on floodplains downstream of
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher. Scoping work has st...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate the Food Standards Agency has made of the risk of lead contamination in (a) silage and (b) animal feed produced on floodplains downstream of historical lead mining sites.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher. Scoping work has st...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWater: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to update its policy guidance on metal mine pollution to reflect the primary risk from sediment contamination in river channels and floodplains.
Answer: There is no specific policy guidance on metal mine pollution. The Environment Agency (EA) considers the primary risk from abandoned metal mines to be pollution of rivers and estuaries, with around 1,500km of rivers polluted by metals. The government has a...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his department has made of the potential changes to the level of risk of lead contamination from flooding events due to climate change in areas downstream of historical l
Answer: Environment Agency (EA) monitoring indicates that climate change could potentially increase the mass (kg/day) of metals washed into rivers from historic metal mines. Erosion of spoil heaps during storm events can increase the mobilisation of metals into r...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the extent of sediment-associated lead contamination in (a) river channels and (b) floodplains downstream of historical lead mines; and if he w
Answer: In 2008, the Environment Agency (EA) published the report: Assessment of metal mining contaminated river sediments in England and Wales - GOV.UK. The report brought together all available information on metal concentrations in river sediments, riverbanks ...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: StatisticsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to (a) ensure regular public data releases and (b) improve the timeliness of data available.
Answer: The Department is strongly committed to upholding the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, and its three constituent pillars of trustworthiness, quality, and value. As such, the Department is committed to releasing timely data at a frequency that mee...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services and Social Services: Public consultationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Health and social care statistical outputs which closed on 5 March 2024, when he plans to respond to that consultation; and if he will publi
Answer: The Department expects to publish a response to the consultation this year. Work is ongoing across the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, NHS England, and the Office for National Statistics to agree and align proposals following the feedback from ...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProject Gigabit: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11250More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress of Project Gigabit in rural areas.
Answer: As of February 2024, over 1 million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes. Between April 2022 and March 2023, 90% of premises benefiting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.To improv...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11249More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to improve rural ultrafast broadband connectivity.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering fast, reliable broadband through Project Gigabit with a goal of nationwide coverage by 2030. There are 36 contracts in place, set to connect over 1 million homes and businesses that would otherwise miss out, with ...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATTreasuryTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10716More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to apply VAT to small private schools offering Montessori education where pre-school age children are in the same classes as older children.
Answer: From 1 January 2025, the 20% standard rate of VAT will apply to all education services, vocational training, and boarding services provided by private schools for a charge. This will apply to any fees charged after 29 July 2024 for terms starting after 1 ...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the scope of the Food Standards Agency’s review of dietary lead as part of its risk analysis programme covers areas with high concentrations of ab
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Food Standards Agency plans to develop guidance for residents in areas with high environmental lead contamination on the safe consumption of locally produced food.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Food Standards Agency is taking to work with local authorities in areas with high numbers of abandoned lead mines to help ensure adequate (a) monitoring and (b) public awareness of p
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Food Standards Agency plans to conduct targeted testing of food products in areas with high concentrations of abandoned lead mines.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Food Standards Agency is taking to make an assessment of the potential health risks to people living near old lead mine sites who consume (a) locally grown vegetables and (b) locally
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLead: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Food Standards Agency plans to (a) complete and (b) publish its review of dietary lead as part of its risk analysis programme.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is planning to review dietary lead as part of its rolling programme of risk analysis of environmental contaminants in food. This will include consideration of areas where exposure is likely to be higher.Previous reviews of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) fairness of the funding allocation system for special educational needs and disabilities provision.
Answer: The department is taking time to consider the various funding formulae that the department and local authorities use to allocate funding for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It is important that there is a ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help tackle financial pressures on local authorities resulting from SEND expenditure.
Answer: The department recognises that many local authorities are facing challenges in managing their high needs budgets, which has impacted their ability to balance their Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding. This government’s ambition is that all children and ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make the teaching workforce more inclusive for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities.
Answer: The government is committed to making teaching a profession where all teachers, including those with disabilities, have equal opportunities to progress. This includes designing our world-class programmes such as the Early Career Framework and National Pro...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that Education, Health and Care Plan applications are processed promptly.
Answer: The department’s aim is to deliver better life chances for all, through a system which works for all.The department knows that some parents have struggled to get the right support for their children, particularly through a long and difficult education, he...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve (a) inclusivity and (b) expertise in mainstream schools for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Free SchoolsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to (a) replace and (b) extend funding announced by the previous Government for 15 new special free schools.
Answer: This government is committed to making sure that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve and thrive, which includes a place in a special school where needed.The window for trus...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to continue the reforms set out in the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan.
Answer: Too many families and schools are struggling to secure the provision and support they need to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and outcomes for children with SEND have suffered for far too long. This...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFood: LeadDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of food chain information sheets for allowing farmers rearing animals on land with high lead levels to (a) accurately declare this information and (b) di
Answer: Lead is a naturally occurring contaminant in the environment. Independent scientific expert groups advise that exposure to lead should be reduced as much as possible. Maximum levels are set on the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ basis. Levels focus on f...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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