Lisa Smart MP: written questions 2025
413 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Planning Permission: BusinessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of Class E to the Use Classes Order on the variety of businesses on high streets.
Answer: Class E of the Use Classes Order enables flexibility to change between uses commonly found on the High Street. No recent assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of Class E on the variety of businesses on the high street.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordJobcentres: VacanciesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the processes for businesses to advertise vacancies through Jobcentre Plus.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions has recently reviewed and continues to enhance the processes through which businesses advertise vacancies via Jobcentre Plus. Employers currently benefit from a range of flexible engagement routes: Direct Contact: Empl...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordJobcentres: VacanciesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing businesses to contact their local Jobcentre Plus directly to advertise vacancies.
Answer: The Department can confirm that such an assessment has been made and that direct engagement is not only permitted but actively encouraged. Employers are already able to contact their local Jobcentre Plus directly through several well-established routes. T...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57756 on Asylum: Housing, what her planned timetable is for evaluating the impact of interim measures.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60140More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57756 on Asylum: Housing, whether she has a target date for making a decision on the extension of the move on period beyond June 2025.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: HousingHome OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60139More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the temporary policy of extending the move on period for newly recognized refugees to 56 days will end.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 13 June to Question 57756.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConsumers: ComplaintsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has plans to extend consumer rights to cash refunds following a customer complaint.
Answer: The Consumer Rights Act 2015 has provisions for consumers to be able to obtain refunds where a product is not as described or fit for the declared purpose. In addition, consumers can seek redress where a trader has breached obligations under the Digital M...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: RepaymentsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59898More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandatory minimum expiry dates on refund vouchers issued by airlines.
Answer: Regulation 261/2004 sets out passengers' rights in the event of certain flight disruptions, including rights to refunds and compensation. The Regulation states that refunds or compensation must be offered as payment in cash, by bank transfer, or by cheque...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMedicine: StudentsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to support medical students with the cost of living.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54621.
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMedicine: StudentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to support medical students with the cost of living.
Answer: For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government will increase the NHS Bursary tuition fee contributions, maintenance grants, and all allowances by 3.1%. This is the second consecutive year the Government has increased support for medical students throu...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMedicine: StudentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review funding available to medical students under the NHS Bursary.
Answer: For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government will increase the NHS Bursary tuition fee contributions, maintenance grants, and all allowances by 3.1%. This is the second consecutive year the Government has increased support for medical students throu...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HousingHome OfficeTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to extend the move on period for newly recognised refugees to 56 days beyond June 2025.
Answer: In December, the Home Office operationalised a pilot to extend the grace period to 56 days to support local authorities during a period of increased asylum decision making and with the transition to eVisas. It is important that we take the necessary time ...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: 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 record
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