Laura Kyrke-Smith MP: written questions 2024
67 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Livestock: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to end the use of cages in farming.
Answer: We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages for farmed animals is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed Two: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure HS2 Ltd delivers value for money.
Answer: We are carefully reviewing the position the government has inherited on rail infrastructure, including how to best support economic growth as well as addressing delivery and capacity challenges. We are looking at ways to improve HS2 Ltd's delivery and HMG...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that local authorities provide timely education, health and care plan assessments.
Answer: The department knows that parents have struggled to get the right support for their children, particularly through long and difficult education, health and care plan processes. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach to support the...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: BuckinghamshireDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with Buckinghamshire Council on the adequacy of SEND provision in Buckinghamshire.
Answer: The department is continuing to support and challenge Buckinghamshire to improve its delivery of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.The last local area SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for Buckinghams...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the current set of questions on the Disability Living Allowance for children claim form.
Answer: There are currently no plans to review the Disability Living Allowance claim form (DLA1). The questions on the claim form are intended to gather sufficient information from parents/guardians to accurately award children and young people the appropriate Di...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDisability Living Allowance: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a digital version of the Disability Living Allowance for Children claim form that can be submitted online.
Answer: DLA Child is currently undergoing transformation as part of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme. Work is underway to explore options including how to apply, with the aim of providing a sustainable, simplified and accessible service and the ability for c...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLGBT+ People: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the school curriculum is LGBTQIA+ inclusive.
Answer: Within a broad framework, set out in subject specific programmes of study, schools have flexibility to organise the content and delivery of the curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils.To prepare children for life in modern Britain, pupils need to und...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGender Dysphoria: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for appointments at NHS gender identity clinics.
Answer: NHS England has published a two-year action plan, which sets out how it will continue to transform and improve children and young people’s gender services. Investment in children and young people’s gender services in 2024/25 has more than doubled compared...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordConversion TherapyWomen and EqualitiesTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7363More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether it is her policy to ban conversion therapy for (a) asexual, (b) bisexual, (c) intersex and (d) nonbinary people.
Answer: This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. Through the development of the Conversion Practices Bill, this Government will deliver on our manifesto commitment to bring for...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTransgender People: Hate CrimeHome OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle hate crime against transgender people.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling hate crime and is determined to root out hatred in all its forms.We have committed to protect LGBT+ and disabled people by making all existing strands of hate crime an aggravated offence. We will set out next steps ...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSexuality: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7361More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including asexuality as a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010.
Answer: We have no plans for including asexuality as a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act 2010 covers discrimination in employment, the provision of goods, services, and public functions, housing, premises, education, transport, o...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNon-teaching Staff: BuckinghamshireDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide additional funding for pay increases for administrative staff in schools in Buckinghamshire.
Answer: This government recognises the vital role that support staff play in children’s education and we are committed to reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body. This reform will ensure that schools can recruit and retain the staff needed to delive...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCare Homes: AylesburyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to provide funding to cover basic costs for low-income care home users in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: Charging, under the Care Act 2014, is based on several principles including that people should not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay. Local authorities have discretion to implement charging policies which best meet the need...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMuhammed BharForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on the death of Muhammed Bhar.
Answer: Whilst we have not raised this case specifically, the government does raise International Humanitarian Law compliance regularly with Israel. The Foreign Secretary last spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Katz on 02 October. This Government is clear that I...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Conflict: PolioForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure access to (a) safe and (b) effective polio vaccines in conflict-affected areas.
Answer: The UK is proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), having contributed £1.4 billion since 1995. The UK continues to be a supportive partner to the GPEI and will take every opportunity to ensure every child eve...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPolio: Disease ControlForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with (a) the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and (b) other multilateral organisations to help eradicate polio.
Answer: The UK is proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), having contributed £1.4 billion since 1995. The UK continues to be a supportive partner to the GPEI and will take every opportunity to ensure every child eve...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPalestinians: PolioForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that all children in (a) Palestine and (b) Gaza have access to polio vaccination.
Answer: The UK convened the August 2024 emergency session of the UN Security Council to drive urgent action to address the risk of a polio outbreak in Gaza. We are supporting delivery through our funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), alongsid...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHousing: DisabilityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of disability-accessible housing in Aylesbury constituency; and what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of s
Answer: The data requested is not held centrally although the English Housing Survey does collect data on accessibility and adaptations within the home. Housing is one of this Government’s top priorities, everyone deserves to live in a decent home, in which they ...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordChiltern Railways: Rolling StockDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Chiltern Railways' proposals to bring in (a) replacement and (b) additional carriages to improve capacity on their existing routes.
Answer: The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways to support the delivery of its long-term fleet strategy and has recently approved Chiltern Railways’ Mk3 fleet replacement Outline Business Case (OBC). Chiltern now needs to produce the Final...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSexual Offences: Victim Support SchemesMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund will be extended beyond March 2025.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse have the information and support they need. On 1 October 2024, I wrote to recipients of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund to confirm that HM Treasury hav...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHorse Riding: SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of commissioning a review of horse rider safety standards; and whether he plans to legislate to strengthen those standards for solo
Answer: Anyone in the business of hiring out horses is required to have a licence under the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals (LAIA) Regulations 2018. It is a condition, under schedule 5 of the 2018 regulations, that all equipment provided to riders is in...
Answered 9 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWaiting Lists: AylesburyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to reduce NHS waiting lists in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission and a top priority for the Government, as we get the National Health Service back on its feet. Equality of both access to care and outcomes will be at the heart of building an NHS that is fit for ...
Answered 8 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: TransportDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of recent trends in the amount of time taken for transport to be arranged for SEND pupils; and what steps she is taking to ensure that
Answer: The department’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department’s home to school travel policy ...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: AylesburyDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking help improve technical skill development in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: High quality technical education is a priority for this government in order to boost opportunity for individuals and tackle skills gaps which are essential for driving economic growth. The department has established Skills England is central to the govern...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDisabled Facilities GrantsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Disabled Facilities Grant scheme, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of updating the Test of Resources in order to ensure working people with disabiliti
Answer: We recognise how important the right housing arrangements are in enabling people to live independently, and the need to support people to live in their own home wherever possible. In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilitie...
Answered 7 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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