Laura Kyrke-Smith MP: written questions
146 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Dementia: AylesburyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve dementia care in Aylesbury constituency.
Answer: Buckinghamshire Council have stood up a new Dementia Strategic Oversight Board to deliver on local priorities that span across the Well Pathway for Dementia. These priorities include raising awareness of dementia, building up the support available in the ...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGuide DogsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help ensure that guide dog owners are not refused access to (a) businesses and (b) other services.
Answer: The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvanta...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTenants: PetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to prevent discrimination against prospective tenants with pets.
Answer: The Renters' Rights Bill requires landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision. The government will issue detailed guidance in due course to help landlords ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTenants: PetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the clarity of guidance on what justifies a landlord refusing a pet request.
Answer: The Renters' Rights Bill requires landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent when a tenant requests to have a pet in their home, with the tenant able to challenge a decision. The government will issue detailed guidance in due course to help landlords ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock: 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 record
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