Lisa Smart MP: written questions
321 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Immigration: Public ConsultationHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the forthcoming consultation on the implementation of the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, will include consultation on the potenti
Answer: The Home Office regularly engages with a wide range of experts and stakeholders when developing policy or consulting on proposals.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Public ConsultationHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to consult people with prior experience of applying for refugee family reunion in the forthcoming consultation on the implementation of the White Paper entitled Res
Answer: The Home Office regularly engages with a wide range of experts and stakeholders when developing policy or consulting on proposals.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: CharitiesHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to consult charities on the implementation of the policies in the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published 12 May, set out a wide range of reforms, including to student visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Public ConsultationHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to set out a timeline for the consultation to inform the delivery of the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published 12 May, set out a wide range of reforms, including to student visas, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: SchoolsCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57435More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many local companies who joined the Crown Commercial Services for Solar for Schools Tenders in November have been offered contracts.
Answer: Solar for Schools is a Department for Education initiative. Schools have a variety of available routes to market to procure their solar energy solution requirements. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is not aware of any contracts awarded through its fram...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ContractsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prevent local authorities from moving agency contractors onto fixed term contracts.
Answer: Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management of their own workforces, including the terms and conditions offered to contractors. Ministers have little remit to intervene in employment issues within local authorities, except w...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish a response to Early Day Motion 1000, published on 24 March 2025, on ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK.
Answer: We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes.This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine Visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, ti...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStepping Hill Hospital: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide a response to Early Day Motion 1076 on Stepping Hill Hospital, tabled on 8 April 2025.
Answer: The Government inherited a crumbling National Health Service estate after years of historic underinvestment and neglect. We recognise that hospitals across the country, including Stepping Hill, have challenging and poor-quality infrastructure, and that is...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSpeed Limits: CamerasDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide a response to Early Day Motion 1222 on Speed camera guidance, tabled on 8 May 2025.
Answer: The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Responsibility for making decisions about the roads under its care rests with the traffic authority, based on its knowledge of t...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Disability Assessors who conduct assessments on the telephone are trained to appropriately interact with people who find phone calls difficult or stres
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) understands that attending an assessment can be a stressful experience for some claimants. That is why we prioritise using existing paper-based evidence to determine benefit entitlement wherever possible. As part...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to increase the time for which affordable housing associations are required to help with repair costs.
Answer: The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of social housing.The level of service charge that leaseholders and tenants pay depends on many factors and what those service ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Fees and ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on the number of times that maintenance payments have resulted in people moving out of affordable housing.
Answer: The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of social housing.The level of service charge that leaseholders and tenants pay depends on many factors and what those service ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Fees and ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of maintenance payments can on the ability of residents to continue living in homes in affordable housing schemes.
Answer: The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of social housing.The level of service charge that leaseholders and tenants pay depends on many factors and what those service ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAffordable Housing: Fees and ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that the maintenance charges charged by affordable housing associations do not limit people’s ability to engage with the affordable housing sch
Answer: The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of social housing.The level of service charge that leaseholders and tenants pay depends on many factors and what those service ...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the proportion of work that broadband providers have been able to carry out by laying (a) ducting and (b) overhead cables.
Answer: The Government does not undertake formal assessments of the delivery methods employed by broadband operators. Where and how operators deploy their networks is a commercial matter.Existing regulations require operators to use underground lines where reason...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: ComplaintsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of complaints received about different broadband providers alleged to have breached the voluntary code of conduct within the Re
Answer: It is for the independent regulator, Ofcom, to investigate any complaints about telegraph poles sited in a way which is not consistent with the requirements and guidelines in place. Local Planning Authorities are best placed to refer any complaints to Ofc...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDyspraxia: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) Greater Manchester ICB and (b) other ICBs to offer dyspraxia assessments to adults (i) under the right to choose framework and (ii) through othe
Answer: It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population. The National Health Service website advises that individuals should see a general practitioner (...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDrinking Water: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he will take steps to reduce limits for acceptable levels of (a) forever chemicals and (b) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
Answer: The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007. In 2021 a guideline value of 0.1 micrograms per litre (µg/L) was adopted for drinking water which, since August 2024 when DWI’s guidance was updated. Compan...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinamata Convention on MercuryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which (a) scientific experts, (b) NGOs, (c) industry representatives and (d) other stakeholders he has consulted as part of the development of the negotiating mandate for the Conferenc
Answer: The next Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention will be taking place on the 3 - 7 November 2025. Working documents and proposals for negotiation at this meeting have not yet been published but will be in due course. Officials in Defra will r...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMercury: Dental ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the the use of mercury in dental amalgam on (a) the environment and (b) public health.
Answer: The UK has national country plans to phase down dental amalgam use, which align with domestic mercury regulations to reduce pollution and protect the environment. Regarding public Health, Dental amalgam is a well-established, safe, and effective dental fi...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinamata Convention on MercuryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the proposed amendments on dental amalgam use to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Answer: The next Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention will be taking place on the 3 - 7 November 2025. Working documents and proposals for negotiation at this meeting have not yet been published but will be in due course. Officials in Defra will r...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBanks: InnovationTreasuryTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55452More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that banks support innovation in relation to (a) digital assets and (b) other areas.
Answer: The government recognises the transformative potential of new technologies in the financial services sector and has made innovation and technology one of the key pillars of its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy. The government is comm...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity EnergyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to conduct Environment Agency (a) compliance inspections and (b) consent renewals on community-owned renewab
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) considers the impact of its decisions on regulated businesses and individuals in line with the Regulators-code.
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Energy: ReviewsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the (a) proportionality and (b) cost-effectiveness of the Environment Agency’s (i) licensing and (ii) inspection processes for small-scale commun
Answer: The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England. Defra and the Environment Agency have contributed to HMT’s Regulatory Action Plan and other recent reviews into regulatory effectiveness, in...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHydroelectric Power: Community EnergyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to simplify regulatory requirements for community hydroelectric schemes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on his (a) net zero and
Answer: The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England. Defra and the Environment Agency have contributed to HMT’s Regulatory Action Plan and other recent reviews into regulatory effectiveness, in...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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