Lisa Smart MP: written questions
242 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Child Maintenance Service: Telephone ServicesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve training for Child Maintenance Service call handlers on (a) vulnerable people and (b) victims of domestic abuse.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions and the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) take the support of vulnerable customers, including victims and survivors of domestic abuse, extremely seriously.All CMS Caseworkers receive comprehensive technical training, inc...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to reduce the processing time of up to 18 weeks to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Answer: UKVI are constantly seeking to improve efficiency and reduce processing times however, we need to clarify that the 18 weeks is a service level agreement (SLA) not the processing time and the majority of applications are processed well within this SLA.
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of regulatory requirements for barbering businesses in ensuring that practitioners hold relevant qualifications and liability insurance.
Answer: Businesses in the hair and beauty sector including barber shops, hairdressers and beauty salons are required to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations, which place duties on businesses to assess the risk of infe...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned timeline is for publishing a national implementation plan for the rollout of Fracture Liaison Services; and what milestones have been set for achieving nationwide coverage by 2030.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.Offic...
Answered 7 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122873More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to answer Question 112319, tabled on 10 February 2026.
Answer: A response has been issued here.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: CompensationDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to align compensation available to people affected by roadworks with other forms of transport.
Answer: We are focused on tackling the cause of delays. We have raised fines for overruns to up to £10,000 a day. We have recently approved 7 lane rental schemes to charge those who dig up the busiest roads at the busiest times.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDental Services: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Golden Hello scheme places were filled at the end of 2024-25; whether he has extended the recruitment period for dentists under that scheme; and when recruitment for dentists under that sc
Answer: Integrated care boards are continuing to recruit dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. The scheme offers a £20,000 recruitment incentive payment to dentists to work in those areas that need them most for three years. The recruitment of dentists in und...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDeath CertificatesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29847 on Death Certificates, if he will publish the findings of his Department's monitoring of the impact of the death certification reforms o
Answer: We believe the answer of 17 February 2025 refers to the answer given to Question 29570. The Department’s monitoring of the impact of death certification reforms, including the time to register a death, includes consideration of:the annual report of the Na...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Workers: Medical ExaminationsDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121546More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of Social Work England's proposals for adjudicator consensual disposal as a means of expediting fitness to practise cases.
Answer: The department is the sponsor department for Social Work England (SWE), the independent regulator, and monitors their performance on an ongoing basis. Funding is provided to SWE annually and is based on the need to deliver against its business plan. SWE r...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Workers: Medical ExaminationsDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for Social Work England to clear the fitness to practise backlog; and what her Department's target is for reducing the average time from referral to heari
Answer: The department is the sponsor department for Social Work England (SWE), the independent regulator, and monitors their performance on an ongoing basis. Funding is provided to SWE annually and is based on the need to deliver against its business plan. SWE r...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the expected timeline is for the publication of the first tranche of documents relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for Internationa
Answer: We have set up a dedicated team to coordinate work across Government to search historic paper and electronic files and identify documents on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role and appointment as Special Representative for Trade and Investment in 2001. This...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any of the staff working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Tra
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify re...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121245More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the staff working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify re...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff are working in the team responsible for reviewing records relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment. A small, Director-led team is co-ordinating work to identify re...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle misinformation online.
Answer: This issue is, rightly, of huge concern. The Online Safety Act is already protecting users from illegal dis- and misinformation online, including foreign interference. We are already taking further action, including launching a campaign to support childre...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAndrew Mountbatten-WindsorDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many civil servants are currently working to locate and identify files relating to the period in which Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade a
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government’s response to the Humble Address on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as Special Representative on Trade and Investment and has set up a small, Director-led team to co-ordinate work to...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118967More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the settlement opportunity arising from the McCann Review does not include those whose use of disguised remuneration schemes occurred before 9 December 2010 or after 5 April 2019.
Answer: At Budget 2024, the Government announced a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The settlement opportunity will only...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordTax AvoidanceTreasuryTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118966More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals with outstanding Loan Charge liabilities are estimated to have debts exceeding £140,000; and of those, how many she expects will be able to settle under the terms announced following the McCann
Answer: This Government recognised that concerns were raised about the Loan Charge under the previous government and that some felt strongly that it had not been handled appropriately. The Government therefore commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMiddle East: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to secure repatriation routes for British nationals currently subject to shelter-in-place advice.
Answer: The safety of British nationals remains the Government's top priority. I refer the Hon Member to the statement I gave to the House on 5 March, and the answers provided to questions raised in response. Assisted departures have now taken place from both Oma...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Tax AllowancesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered (a) introducing statutory Council Tax relief for properties made uninhabitable by severe weather, natural disasters and climate-related events and (b) c
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency is the organisation responsible for determining whether a property is liable for council tax. Council tax is due on all domestic properties, whether they are occupied or not. However, a property may be removed from the council ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInfant Mortality: Bereavement CounsellingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to address the postcode lottery in NHS mental health support for bereaved parents following pregnancy or baby loss; and whether she will commit to issuing nation
Answer: The Government recognises that the experience of losing a baby or pregnancy loss can be very difficult for parents and families.Maternal Mental Health Services are available in all integrated care board areas in England and provide care for women with mod...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNuisance CallsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her department is taking to ensure telecommunications providers take responsibility for preventing scam calling.
Answer: Tackling fraud is a priority for this Government. We are working closely with industry, and on 5 November 2025 published the second Telecommunications Fraud Sector Charter. This includes actions to help strengthen trust in voice communications particularl...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase opportunities for skilled volunteers with repair and re-use expertise to help to reduce (a) waste and (b) public spending on repairs.
Answer: The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy which will present an opportunity to create a more inclusive economy, building shared social and economic value for citizens, businesses and communities. The Government recognises that rep...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of public liability insurance requirements on volunteering opportunities for volunteers with repair and re-use expertise.
Answer: The government is committed to supporting volunteers, who play a vital role in supporting charities, strengthening communities, delivering services and driving positive change in local areas.Organisations have a dual responsibility to protect volunteers f...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Digital TechnologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is his Department taking to help ensure that patients who cannot access digital services are still able to obtain timely updates on referrals and care pathways.
Answer: National Health Service organisations must ensure all patients have equitable access to care, and that decisions or policies do not unfairly disadvantage people or lead to an increase in inequalities. All NHS organisations are legally obliged to not discr...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →