Katie Lam MP: written questions
53 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Railways: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Minister for Rail's letter to the hon. Member for Weald of Kent on rail, dated 14 April 2025, which hon. Members were invited to meet with the Minister for Rail to discuss the Kent and Med
Answer: A number of Kent MPs have made representations to the Department over the last twelve months regarding international rail services serving Kent stations. As a result of the representations received prior to March this year, the Rail Minister agreed to mee...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Minister for Rail's letter to the hon. Member for Weald of Kent on rail, dated 14 April 2025, on what basis the Minister for Rail selected attendees for the recent meeting between hon. Mem
Answer: A number of Kent MPs have made representations to the Department over the last twelve months regarding international rail services serving Kent stations. As a result of the representations received prior to March this year, the Rail Minister agreed to mee...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Minister for Rail's letter to the hon. Member for Weald of Kent on rail, dated 14 April 2025, whether (a) the Minister for Rail and (b) officials in her Department had met with the Kent an
Answer: DfT officials met with Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) representatives on 10 October to discuss the issue of international rail services serving Kent stations. Following this, DfT officials have maintained a dialogue with KMEP, including provi...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of (a) households that entered fuel poverty and (b) excess winter deaths in 2024/25 following changes to the eligibility criteria for the W
Answer: In the latest annual fuel poverty statistics published in March 2025, it is estimated that changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility did not affect the rate of fuel poverty in England in 2024, as measured by the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) m...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNHSDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the 10 Year Plan for the NHS.
Answer: Our 10 Year Health Plan will make the NHS fit for the future with three key shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and treatment to prevention.It will deliver the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and will be published shortly.
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChurch of England: SlaveryChurch CommissionersTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57907More
Question: To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 47116 on Church of England: Slavery, when the Church Commissioners plan to submit an application to authorise an ex-gratia paymen
Answer: The timing and discussion of when to apply to the Charity Commission to make an ex gratia payment application, under section 106 of the Charities Act 2011, are matters for the Board of Governors of the Church Commissioners. The Board has not yet decided o...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordReligious Buildings: Repairs and MaintenanceTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57514More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on levels of VAT for (a) repairs and (b) maintenance payments for places of worship.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180.4 billion in 2025/26. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital p...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Overseas Territories: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the impact of international court rulings on the UK's sovereignty over (a) Gibraltar, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) RAF Akrotiri and Dhekel
Answer: There have not been any rulings from international courts on the UK's sovereignty over Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia or any other Overseas Territories. The circumstances around the Diego Garcia Military...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Taskforce: Civil ServantsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many civil servants in the Solar Taskforce will be responsible for ensuring ethical relationships with Chinese companies.
Answer: The Solar Taskforce, which has now concluded its work, brought together government and industry stakeholders to identify the actions needed to accelerate the deployment of solar energy by 2030, which will be outlined in the forthcoming Solar Roadmap. Foll...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNatural Gas: PricesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of what the median increase in gas bills will be in (a) England and (b) Kent between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years.
Answer: Ofgem publishes price cap levels on its website. The information is available here:Energy price cap (default tariff) levels | Ofgem.
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions and Minimum Wage: KentTreasuryTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57030More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on hospitality businesses in (a) Kent and (b) Weald of K
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy, including the impact on businesses and ca...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions and Minimum Wage: KentTreasuryTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57029More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on small and medium businesses in (a) Kent and (b) Weald
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy, including the impact on businesses and ca...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: KentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with which businesses in Kent his Department held discussions on the Employment Rights Bill prior to its introduction.
Answer: Since August 2024, the Department for Business and Trade has held discussions on the Employment Rights Bill with over 180 stakeholders from across Great Britain. This covers a range of businesses that have a presence in Kent, including Greene King, McDona...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAntisemitism: UniversitiesHome OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56063More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided guidance to police forces on tackling antisemitic (a) chants and (b) slogans at universities.
Answer: i refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 15 May 2025 to Question UIN 51023.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: AsylumForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of the Official Development Assistance budget has been reallocated to meet asylum-related costs since July 2024.
Answer: The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted. The Government has taken measures to reduce the asylum backlog and reform the asylum accommodation system to end the use of expensive accommodation in the next Spend...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of her Department’s proposed 1.5 million homes will be built in rural areas.
Answer: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the en...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Land UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 56041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much agricultural land has been converted for solar panel use in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Weald of Kent constituency in the last 10 years.
Answer: The government places great importance upon our agricultural land and food production. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise the benefits of the Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land (lan...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a line in his Departmental budget for costs arising from the planned transfer of sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.
Answer: Costs relating to the Chagos agreement will be incurred from financial year 2026-27. These are being considered as part of the wider Government engagement on the second phase of the Spending Review, which concludes on 11 June 2025. The deal secures the un...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has a line in his Departmental budget for costs arising from the planned transfer of sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.
Answer: The Agreement will be underpinned by a financial package which will consist of: an annual payment; a Development Framework underpinned by UK grant funding; and a Trust Fund to benefit Chagossians. Costs and other aspects of the Treaty can be found at the...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Employers' Contributions and Minimum WageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and the (b) National Minimum Wage on dental practices in (i) Kent and (ii) Wea
Answer: We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ ...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Employers' Contributions and Minimum WageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on pharmacies in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of
Answer: We took the necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement.The Department consid...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: Employers' Contributions and Minimum WageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on care homes in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of
Answer: The Government has considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process in 2024.To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social c...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: Employers' Contributions and Minimum WageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on hospices in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald of Ke
Answer: We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, enabling the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26.The employer ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Employers' Contributions and Minimum WageDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on GP practices in (i) Kent and (ii) Weald o
Answer: We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ ...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTourism: KentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing (a) employer National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on tourism businesses in (i) Kent and (ii) the W
Answer: The Government protected small businesses and charities from the impact of the increase to Employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, and 865,000 employers will pay no NICs in 2025-26. My Department publishe...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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