Lewis Cocking MP: written questions 2024
35 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Local PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 December 2024, Official Report, HCWS308, whether local authorities with existing Local Plans produced under the previous stand
Answer: Having an effective up-to-date plan in place is essential to planning for, and meeting, development needs. Whether a local authority is required to update their Local Plan as a consequence of the new housing need requirement will depend on the stage a dra...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal PlansMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s Planning Newsletter issued to local authorities on 13 December 2024, what steps local planning authorities will need to take as part of the req
Answer: Local Planning Authorities have a statutory obligation to produce a Local Development Scheme and to keep it up-to-date and publicly available. As the Secretary of State set out in her letter of 12 December 2024, we are asking all Local Planning Authoritie...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Q53 of the evidence given by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on 20 November 202
Answer: Detail about the government’s proposed approach to strategic planning can be found in the English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024.
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad WorksDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of the Street Manager service.
Answer: The Street Manager service is closely managed by the Department, with officials also overseeing ongoing development and improvement of the service in line with Government Digital Services best practice. There is a governance group made up of elected repre...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: Fees and ChargesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to apply for lane rental schemes.
Answer: The Department is in the process of updating its lane rental guidance and has recently announced a new assessment process for lane rental applications to improve and streamline the application process for authorities. We have been speaking to authorities ...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many train collisions with people have been reported in each train operating company's network area in the last 12 months; and how many people were involved in such collisions in each area.
Answer: The number of people struck by trains in the last 12 months within each of Network Rail’s regions and routes is set out below. This data shows whether the incident led to a fatality or injury, and if it was classified as a suspected suicide or as non-suic...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: East HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with East Herts Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There have been no specific discussions on local government reorganisation between the Department and Hertfordshire County Council, Broxbourne Council, or East Herts Council. The Department is always open to hearing from councils about government in their...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: BroxbourneMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Broxbourne Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There have been no specific discussions on local government reorganisation between the Department and Hertfordshire County Council, Broxbourne Council, or East Herts Council. The Department is always open to hearing from councils about government in their...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were hit by a train across the railway network in the last 12 months; and what steps she taking to prevent such incidents.
Answer: According to British Transport Police (BTP) data, from November 2023 to October 2024, 358 people have been struck by a train on the railway; of these, sadly 304 people lost their lives. Of the 304 who died, 297 of those are suspected to have taken their o...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: CompensationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure customers are compensated when water companies fail to meet Ofwat targets.
Answer: Under new proposals set out by this Government, households and businesses will be entitled to higher payments from water companies when basic services are hit in a wider range of circumstances – with payments water company customers are legally entitled t...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with Hertfordshire County Council on local government reorganisation.
Answer: There have been no specific discussions on local government reorganisation between the Department and Hertfordshire County Council, Broxbourne Council, or East Herts Council. The Department is always open to hearing from councils about government in their...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCrossrail 2 LineDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is her Department's policy to support the Crossrail 2 project.
Answer: Crossrail 2 has not received government funding since 2020 when the scheme was paused. The Department for Transport will be considering its future investment priorities as part of the current Spending Review.
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: RecruitmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support small businesses to recruit new employees.
Answer: Our forthcoming Small Business Strategy will reaffirm our long-term support for small businesses and outline our vision for boosting scale-ups and helping all types of business to thrive and grow. This strategy will empower business owners and entrepreneu...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: BroxbourneDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to make it easier for patients in Broxbourne constituency to contact their GP practice to book appointments.
Answer: We know patients are struggling to contact their general practices (GP), including in the Broxbourne constituency. That is why we have committed to eliminating the 8:00am scramble for appointments by implementing a modern appointment booking system.The mo...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDementia: Care WorkersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce mandatory dementia training for adult social care workers.
Answer: Providers must provide sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled, and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service. Staff must receive the support, training, professional development, supervision, and appraisals t...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBanking HubsTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13514More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department plans to take to support the establishment of Banking Hubs in town centres that no longer have any bank branches.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the U...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGP SurgeriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9245More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving the responsibility for the allocation of GP surgeries to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Answer: There are currently no plans for assessing whether the responsibility of the allocation of general practice surgeries should fall to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Upper-tier local authorities currently have a role in improving...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad TrafficDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to help tackle congestion on roads.
Answer: This Government is committed to maintaining and renewing our road network so it can serve all road users, is safe, and tackles congestion. Traffic management on local roads is the responsibility of local traffic authorities who are best placed to understa...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce a referendum cap for council tax increases for the next financial year.
Answer: The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible. Decisions on future local authority funding will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged.
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: HertfordshireDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to allocate new (a) funding and (b) resources to support children with special educational needs and disabilities in schools in Hertfordshire.
Answer: The department is providing schools with extra funding of almost £1.1 billion in the 2024/25 financial year through the new Core Schools Budget Grant (CSBG), to support them with overall costs, including the costs of supporting their pupils with special e...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling the financial contributions of independent schools to state academies to be offset against VAT liability.
Answer: The department understands that, in line with schools’ charitable objectives, private schools do not typically charge for partnership work, meaning it is outside the scope of VAT. Whilst the government keeps all tax policy under review, there are currentl...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of charging VAT on independent school fees on sponsorship partnerships with state academies.
Answer: The department understands that, in line with schools’ charitable objectives, private schools do not typically charge for partnership work, meaning it is outside the scope of VAT. Whilst the government keeps all tax policy under review, there are currentl...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payment: BroxbourneDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7919More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that will be affected by the decision to means-test winter fuel payments in Broxbourne constituency.
Answer: It is estimated that around 16,600 pensioners in Broxbourne Constituency (2024 boundaries) will be affected by the decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment. This is based on February 2024 Pension Credit statistics which are a...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7918More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many potholes her Department expects to be fixed in (a) 2024, (b) 2025, (c) 2026 and (d) 2027.
Answer: The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, the Government will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTax BurdenTreasuryTabled 4 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4288More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to reduce the tax burden on working people.
Answer: The Government wants to keep taxes as low as possible on working people and will do so by delivering sustainable growth through economic stability and sound public finances. The upcoming Budget on 30 October will set out reforms to fix the foundations, so...
Answered 12 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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