Lisa Smart MP: written questions 2025
413 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Care LeaversDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support provided to care leavers transitioning to independent living (a) in general and (b) housed outside their home local authority.
Answer: The move to independence is a critical milestone in any young person’s life. Care leavers should expect the same level of care and support that others would expect from a parent.The local authority responsible for their care should make sure they have the...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHydroelectric Power: North WestDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to support the development of new hydroelectric projects in the North West.
Answer: Officials continue to engage with the British Hydropower Association regarding the future role of the UK’s remaining small-scale hydropower resource, estimated to be a maximum technical potential of around 1.5GW, in supporting the UK energy system. This i...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Waiting ListsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to NHS dentists on monitoring patients on orthodontic waiting lists to ensure that their (a) oral health and (b) treatment priority status are kept under r
Answer: Data on the average waiting times for National Health Service orthodontic treatment is not held centrally.Integrated care board (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry and orthodontic services, to meet the n...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Integrated Care BoardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how her Department plans to support integrated care boards to meet demand for NHS orthodontic services within existing budgets before April 2026.
Answer: Data on the average waiting times for National Health Service orthodontic treatment is not held centrally.Integrated care board (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry and orthodontic services, to meet the n...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate she has made of average waiting times for NHS orthodontic treatment for children and young people; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times.
Answer: Data on the average waiting times for National Health Service orthodontic treatment is not held centrally.Integrated care board (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry and orthodontic services, to meet the n...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorway Service Areas: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that motorway and service station operators provide a sufficient number of accessible parking bays for disabled motorists.
Answer: The Department for Transport sets out minimum car parking requirements for disabled users at motorway service areas, motorway rest areas and all-purpose trunk road service areas in Department for Transport Circular 01/2022 Strategic road network and the d...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security and Child Support TribunalMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact of waiting times at the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Chamber) on claimants’ financial wellbeing.
Answer: Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security and Child Support TribunalMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for hearings at the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Chamber).
Answer: Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment ...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic AbuseHome OfficeTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of gender bias in policing responses to allegations of domestic abuse or related offences; and what steps she is taking to ensure parity of t
Answer: The government recognises the devastating impact that domestic abuse can have for all victims, of any gender.Domestic abuse is serious, and we expect police to take all allegations seriously from the point of disclosure. Every victim should be treated wit...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: Self-harm and SuicideDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 to protect internet users from (a) suicide and (b) self-harm content on artificial intelligence platforms
Answer: Every death by suicide is a tragedy, and the government is deeply concerned about the role that online content can play in facilitating suicide and self-harm. This government is committed to keeping people safe online. For the first time, platforms now ha...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) children and (b) adults who are accessing mental health support through artificial intelligence platforms after being unable to access sta
Answer: No such assessment has been made. We recognise that people are facing unacceptably long waiting times to access mental health support. This is why we are transforming the current mental health system so that people can access the right support at the righ...
Answered 14 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: Hazel GroveTreasuryTabled 29 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 906172More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help increase economic growth in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answer: There is excellence right across the country and this government is backing it: lifting living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets. Greater Manchester Combined Authority will receive £2.5bn through the Transport for City Regions Fund and...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTrading Standards: SentencingMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of sentences for people convicted of crimes involving breaches of trading standards.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice has made no assessment of sentencing for offending involving breaches of trading standards.Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts. Parliament has provided the courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to dea...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: Digital TechnologyHome OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the amount of time taken by police forces to complete digital advice examinations; and what steps her Department is taking to help reduce those ti
Answer: We are aware that the amount of time taken by forces to examine digital devices varies considerably, but that urgent requests are always prioritised.Chief Constables, and ultimately Police and Crime Commissioners, are currently responsible for forensics p...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate Change: Inland WaterwaysDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential long-term impact of climate change on the canal network before reducing the level of funding for the Canal and River Trust.
Answer: A comprehensive review of the current grant provision to the Canal and River Trust was conducted between 2021 and 2023. The review examined a number of forward-looking scenarios using data provided by the Trust that included consideration of potential cli...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Hazel GroveDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on reducing the number of (a) delays and (b) cancellations to NHS mental health appointments in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answer: No such specific discussions have taken place regarding delays and cancellations to National Health Service mental health appointments in the Hazel Grove constituency.On a national scale we are meeting the waiting time standards we have in place for NHS T...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTemperature: Public HealthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in providing (a) warm spaces and (b) cool spaces in local areas.
Answer: The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlemen...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTemperature: Public HealthMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to local government funding on the ability of local authorities to provide (a) warm spaces and (b
Answer: The Spending Review provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Local Government Finance Settlemen...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payment: Hazel GroveDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Winter Fuel Payment changes on residents of Hazel Grove constituency in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answer: Data on Winter Fuel Payments made in winter 2024/25 is available on Stat Xplore. In Winter 2024/25, 1,855 Winter Fuel Payments were made in Hazel Grove constituency to households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefi...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: CrimeHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to (a) Greater Manchester Police and (b) other police forces to seize illegal off-road bikes.
Answer: Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. That is why the Government is investing in restoring communities and providing the police with the resources they need...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Hazel GroveMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of homes for social rent in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPassportsHome OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent applications being delayed due to administrative errors by HM Passport Office.
Answer: His Majesty’s Passport Office is exceeding its performance indicator of 98.5% of standard UK passport applications where no further information is required being processed within three weeks. Performance data can be found in the most recent Transparency D...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Government AssistanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the VALOUR scheme will become available to all veterans.
Answer: VALOUR is a new programme that will give all veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support that is available to them, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the Ministry of Defence. It will improve the coordination of ser...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInfectious Diseases: Disease ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prepare for possible future pandemics.
Answer: Ensuring the United Kingdom is prepared for a future pandemic is a top priority for the Government, and we are embedding lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in our approach to pandemic preparedness. We aim to have flexible, adaptable and scalable capabilit...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDentistry: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 72309 on NHS dental professionals, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including areas with no NHS dentists in the Golden H
Answer: The Golden Hello scheme aims to support dental practices in areas that are experiencing significant dental pressures, including areas with no National Health Service dentists.The scheme is designed to encourage relocation to areas with workforce challenge...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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