Lee Dillon MP: written questions 2026
424 published records · newest first.
Written questions
PatentsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the case for introducing a grace period for patent applications to protect inventors who disclose their inventions before filing.
Answer: The UK already has a 6-month grace period exception, available for a pre-filing-disclosure resulting from a breach of confidence or one made at an officially recognised international exhibition. However, the government believes that there are strong argum...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPatentsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his department has considered the potential merits of introducing greater flexibility in the duration of patent protection according to the rate of technological change wit
Answer: A term of patent protection of 20 years, regardless of field of technology, has long been the accepted standard. This term sets an appropriate balance between incentivising innovation and investment in R&D, while ensuring that society benefits from co...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what redress is available to homeowners whose spray foam insulation was incorrectly installed by TrustMark-approved companies that have since ceased trading.
Answer: If the installer is no longer trading, consumers should contact the guarantee provider associated with the installation. TrustMark registered installers are required to provide financial protection through approved guarantee arrangements, subject to the p...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help protect homeowners from exploitative firms offering spray foam insulation removal services.
Answer: I convened a roundtable in Spring with lenders, consumer bodies and the insulation industry on spray foam, and agreed for attendees to continue working with officials on public communications. Tools are available online to find independent surveyors exper...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to homeowners with incorrectly installed spray foam insulation through TrustMark-approved schemes outside the ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting homeowners that have had poor quality installations obtain redress. Where products, including spray foam, have not been installed correctly installers are required to remedy the work. Where installed by a TrustMar...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help improve public awareness of the risks associated with spray foam insulation, including the circumstances in which it may affect mortgage lending or insurance.
Answer: I convened a roundtable in Spring with lenders, consumer bodies and the insulation industry and I agreed with attendees to continue working with my officials on public awareness around spray foam. While most lenders now consider applications, it is import...
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: WaterDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what requirements her Department places on companies operating data centres to assess and mitigate the impact of their water use on local water resources and environmentally sensitive
Answer: The Government expects all developments, including data centres, to comply with the relevant planning and environmental regulatory regimes. Government strongly encourages developers and operators to consider water efficiency to through measures such as wa...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordData Centres: Inland WaterwaysDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of data centres on (a) local water availability, (b) chalk streams and (c) other sensitive waterways.
Answer: Most data centres source their water from public water supply. Water companies are not required to provide businesses with water if this risks supply to households or would impact their environmental protection obligations. Data centres should embed water...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPatentsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken a review of the affordability of the patent system for individual inventors.
Answer: The Intellectual Property Office keeps the operation of the patent system under regular review, including the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining patents. The UK system is among the lowest cost internationally. The Intellectual Property Office...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPatentsDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps the Intellectual Property Office is taking to simplify guidance for first-time patent applicants.
Answer: The Intellectual Property Office are committed to providing guidance that is findable, accessible and easy to understand for all customers, including first time patent applicants, who are regular consumers of this information.The Intellectual Property Off...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDogs: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidance to local authorities on publishing the costs of mid term inspections for licensed dog home boarding businesses.
Answer: The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (LAIA) (England) Regulations 2018 are accompanied by statutory guidance for local authorities which they must have regard to. This guidance sets out that inspections of premises must be carrie...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDogs: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on determining the appropriate frequency of inspections for licensed dog home boarding businesses.
Answer: The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (LAIA) (England) Regulations 2018 are accompanied by statutory guidance for local authorities which they must have regard to. This guidance sets out that inspections of premises must be carrie...
Answered 3 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial and advisory support will be available to assist pig producers to transition directly to free farrowing systems.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 July 2026 to the hon. Member for North West Norfolk, PQ UIN 17025.
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a respiratory Modern Service Framework as a mechanism for reducing health inequalities, supporting economic participation and stre
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 July by the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Sharon Hodgson MP) in response to Question 17694.
Answered 19 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the volume of preventable deaths in the UK due to respiratory diseases; and what steps he plans to take to address this.
Answer: Data held for England shows that in 2024 there were 9,609 deaths in people aged under 75 years old where the death was due to respiratory disease and considered preventable. This data is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profil...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what statutory guidance her Department issues to local authorities on maintaining written records of communications and decisions during the Education, Health and Care assessment process.
Answer: The department has consulted on proposals to make the education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment process clearer, simpler and more reflective of the voice of parents or carers and the child or young person. The department is carefully reviewing and...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what accountability mechanisms are in place in cases where a local authority is found to have delayed or cancelled access to statutory SEND provision.
Answer: The department publishes annual special educational needs data (SEN2) on education, health and care (EHC) plans and assessments, including timeliness. This informs performance monitoring and targeted support. Furthermore, joint Ofsted and Care Quality Com...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of local authorities met the statutory 20-week deadline for issuing Education, Health and Care Plans in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer: The department publishes 20-week compliance rates in the education, health and care plans publication at a local authority level, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/20...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on public safety of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency not routinely carrying out physical verification of completed vehicle safety recalls.
Answer: Ensuring the safety of their products is the responsibility of vehicle manufacturers, with DVSA providing regulatory oversight of manufacturers’ systems and performance.Given the volume of vehicles affected by recall campaigns (in excess of 4 million vehi...
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: AppealsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his department is taking to ensure deductions from earnings cease promptly after a Universal Credit overpayment decision has been overturned.
Answer: Where a tribunal decision overturns a Universal Credit overpayment, the decision is implemented through established DWP appeals and decision-making processes. Any resulting change to the claimant’s liability is recorded on the relevant systems and shared ...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Debt CollectionDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's target timescale is for updating Debt Management records following a (a) first-tier tribunal decision and (b) revised Universal Credit overpayment decision.
Answer: Where a Universal Credit award is revised, established processes ensure that any resulting debt impact is communicated to Debt Management so that recovery action can be updated promptly. Such decisions are processed through established appeals and decisio...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: AppealsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what processes are in place to ensure refunds are made promptly where deductions have been taken in error following a tribunal decision.
Answer: When a tribunal decision changes a claimant’s benefit entitlement, the decision is implemented through established DWP processes. Where this results in an award overpayment or underpayment, the revised liability is calculated and where appropriate, the re...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DebtsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17201More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are in place to ensure debt management teams are informed promptly when tribunal decisions change a claimant's benefit liability.
Answer: When a tribunal decision changes a claimant’s benefit entitlement, the decision is implemented through established DWP processes. Where this results in an award overpayment or underpayment, the revised liability is calculated and where appropriate, the re...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMedical EquipmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out current policies to encourage the reuse of medical equipment such as (a) orthopaedic boots, (b) wheelchairs and (c) crutches within the NHS.
Answer: The National Health Service is committed to reducing waste, whilst also delivering cost savings and minimising environmental impact, as set out in the Delivering a Net Zero NHS report. Since the publication of the report in 2020, there have been substanti...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitals: TemperatureDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support smaller hospitals to (a) mitigate the impact of extreme heat and (b) maintain safe conditions for staff and patients.
Answer: Our 10 Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care set out a clear commitment to renew our focus on climate resilience.The Plan is backed by record investment, including £6.75 billion to address the most serious infrastructure risks across the National H...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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