Lisa Smart MP: written questions
321 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Internet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on which external stakeholders have been consulted by Ofcom's online safety small but risky taskforce.
Answer: The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these service...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: SafetyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many staff are currently deployed as part of Ofcom's online safety small but risky taskforce.
Answer: The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these service...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Dysphoria: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list the dates on which patients who were invited to a first appointment for NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services in April 2025 were first referred, broken down by each servic
Answer: Data is not collected in this format. The most recent figures show that the number of children and young people on the waiting list for gender services is 6,225.
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the employment of qualified counsellors in paid roles within mental health services.
Answer: The Department welcomes the appointment of qualified counsellors to roles within National Health Service mental health services. However, employment decisions are for individual employers, and we would expect any such appointments to be based on the succe...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPostal Services: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to hold Royal Mail accountable when local delivery services fall below the standard expected under its regulatory obligations.
Answer: It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards, and to decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action.In December 2024, following its investigation of Royal Mail...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPostal Services: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of Royal Mail’s compliance with its Universal Service Obligation in areas experiencing delivery delays of 7 to 10 days between mail deliveries.
Answer: It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards, and to decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action.In December 2024, following its investigation of Royal Mail...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of local authority funded early years places for children with SEND under the age of 9 months.
Answer: The department does not fund places for children under the age of nine months. This is because the earliest a child can take up their government-funded place is the term after a child turns nine months old.
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Communication SkillsDepartment for EducationTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the long-term development of (a) speech, (b) language and (c) social skills for early years children.
Answer: Substantial work has been conducted on the impact of the pandemic on child development and the department recognises the impact of the pandemic on critical speech, language and social skills.That is why, as part of the early years education recovery progr...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding her Department is providing to early years providers to help meet increases in staffing costs.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 42009.
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPre-school Education: Business Rates and Employers' ContributionsDepartment for EducationTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in (a) business rates and (b) employer National Insurance contributions on the early years sector.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 42009.
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLeisure: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of public funding for local leisure facilities.
Answer: The Department works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. This involves looking at a range of cost and demand data, as well as regular ...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent reductions in NHSP overtime pay rates on the NHS's ability to meet (a) existing and (b) projected patient demand.
Answer: The Department has not made this specific assessment.NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) is a company, wholly owned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, providing temporary staffing services to National Health Service trust cl...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNurses: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent reductions in NHSP overtime pay rates for Band 5 nurses on NHS staff (a) retention and (b) morale.
Answer: NHS Professionals, a limited company wholly owned by the Department, contracts on an arm’s length basis with National Health Service trusts to provide flexible workforce solutions, including managed bank services and its National Bank offering.Shifts made...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to include digital financial literacy in the national curriculum.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support teachers in teaching financial education in schools.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps their Department is taking to help ensure that schools are held accountable for the provision of financial education in accordance with the national secondary curriculum.
Answer: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to incorporate financial literacy as a mandatory component of GCSE qualifications.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence from Jilly Julian of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council of 4 February 2025 on the administration of the Flood Recovery Fr
Answer: The department has no record of having received this correspondence.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46010 on Speed limits, what her planned (a) timetable and (b) scope is for the forthcoming road safety strategy.
Answer: I would like to make clear that improving road safety is one of my key priorities. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. That is why w...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: BiometricsHome OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with refugee charities on the potential merits of creating greater flexibility for the collection of biometric information for people seeking refugee family reunion.
Answer: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: BiometricsHome OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing greater flexibility for the collection of biometric information for people seeking refugee family reunion.
Answer: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48604More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of investing in mental health services to help tackle substance abuse.
Answer: The Government recognises the need for evidenced-based, high-quality drug and alcohol services, and will ensure that anyone with a substance use problem can access the help and support they need. To achieve this, we also recognise the vital need for high-...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSlavery: VictimsHome OfficeTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to set a target for decision waiting times in the National Referral Mechanism.
Answer: We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSlavery: VictimsHome OfficeTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to clear the backlog in the National Referral Mechanism.
Answer: We have committed to clearing the backlog of Conclusive Grounds decisions by December 2026, improving decision timeliness for all potential victims of slavery and trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).We have recruited new staff to...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSlavery: VictimsHome OfficeTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of lifting the ban on people in the National Referral Mechanism working if they have been waiting for a decision for over three mo
Answer: An individual’s right to work depends on their immigration status in the UK. Many victims of modern slavery already have the legal right to work owing to being British or due to having pre-existing leave to remain for another reason.Victims with a right t...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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