Lisa Smart MP: written questions
242 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sexual Offences: TrialsMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help (a) protect the rights and (b) support the wellbeing of victims of sexual violence when trials are (i) delayed and (ii) rescheduled.
Answer: The Government recognises the impact delays to court processes may have on victims of sexual violence. We are committed to tackling the outstanding caseload to improve timeliness - we have already doubled magistrates’ sentencing powers, so that Crown Cour...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSexual Offences: TrialsMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal trials involving charges of sexual violence have been adjourned due to insufficient courtroom time in each of the last three years.
Answer: Data on trials that have been adjourned due to insufficient court time is not held by the Ministry of Justice. Related data regarding trial effectiveness can be found here: trials_tool.xlsx.We recognise the impact on victims when trials do not proceed as ...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against Children: TrialsMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in bringing historical child sexual violence cases to trial.
Answer: This Government is focused on delivering meaningful change for victims of child sexual violence. In April, we published our plan for responding to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s (IICSA) recommendations.In line with recommendations from ...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to (a) improve and (b) expand the financial education resources available through Oak National Academy to help support schools to provide financial literacy teaching.
Answer: In April last year, Oak National Academy (Oak) launched over 80 new financial education resources to support teachers in delivering high quality lessons and preparing children for life and employment in the modern world. The resources, which cover both pr...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers receive adequate (a) training and (b) other resources to provide financial education.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21190.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: Personal, Social, Health and Economic EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to enhance the teaching of financial education within the Personal, Social, Health and Economic curriculum.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen the provision of financial education in schools beyond the mathematics curriculum.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Hazel Grove to the answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43513.
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice and Crime Commissioners: Public ExpenditureHome OfficeTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 73957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on (a) salaries and (b) other related costs for (i) offices and (ii) staff for Police and Crime Commissioners in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Home Office does not provide specific funding for the offices of Police and Crime Commissioners. Core funding for policing is determined annually through the Police Funding Settlement. Total direct funding in 2025-26 is up to £17.6 billion.It is for P...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Digital TechnologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS digital services related to (a) medicine ordering, (b) appointment notifications and (c) other requirements are accessible via standard web br
Answer: NHS Digital services are accessible via standard, modern web browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. We are working to improve access to digital services, outcomes, and experiences for the widest range of people, based on their preferences. Pat...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered the potential merits of re-introducing the imposition of dog licences.
Answer: We have no plans at this time to reintroduce an annual registration scheme or dog licenses. The old dog licence was repealed by the Local Government Act 1988 because it cost more to administer than the revenue it generated and was in effect an ownership r...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordOsteoporosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to (a) develop and (b) implement a national roll-out strategy for fracture liaison services to support the (i) prevention, (ii) early identification and (iii) management o
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local needs.Our 10 Year Health Plan is committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of issuing further reminders to parents who claim free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details after the deadline has passe
Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We are delivering more support to working families than ev...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reminding parents who are claiming free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details by (a) telephone call and (b) letter.
Answer: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The department is delivering more support to ...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on ensuring the availability of support for parents of children with severe SEND needs who require two-to-one support during the school holidays.
Answer: Local authorities have a legal duty to complete an annual childcare sufficiency assessment. In this assessment, they must have regard to the needs of parents in their area for the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children. Where adequ...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 47877 on NHS dental professionals, what criteria his Department uses to identify which areas are in greatest need of increased numbers of NHS dental
Answer: The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of local populations is delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive ...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 47877 on NHS dental professionals, which (a) regions and (b) localities his Department has identified as being in greatest need of more NHS dental p
Answer: The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of local populations is delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive ...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNurses: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS hospital trusts are fully funded to recruit all locally trained nursing graduates.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting nursing graduates. On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNurses: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of newly qualified nurses in England are offered employment within the NHS within six months of graduation.
Answer: The Department for Health and Social Care does not hold the data requested.Nurses upon graduation may take up registered nursing roles in a range of organisations such as local authorities, social care providers, charities or private sector providers as w...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Charges: Hazel GroveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent excessive annual increases in household water bills in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answer: Ofwat assesses affordability for each water company through a five-yearly Price Review process, in which water companies must detail in their business plans how they will address affordability. Ofwat’s price controls for Price Review 2024 set out that the...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Disability and Mental IllnessDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72223More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that claimants with (a) severe mental health conditions or (b) physical disabilities are not penalised for non-attendance at in-person Universal Credit iden
Answer: DWP has committed to identifying and supporting claimants with complex user needs, including those with mental health conditions or disabilities.Where a claimant has received a migration notice they discuss what support they need with appropriately traine...
Answered 7 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has issued guidance to Jobcentres on making reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010 for claimants with complex disabilities which may prevent them from attending
Answer: Where customers need assistance to access our services and information, we will make reasonable adjustments to meet their individual needs, in line with our obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Guidance on reasonable adjustments is available for all s...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Hazel GroveDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of driving tests in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Se...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of illegally modified e-bikes confiscated from minors were initially bought by adults.
Answer: The Home Office does not centrally hold data on the number of illegally modified e-bikes that have been confiscated by police in England and Wales.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people (a) living in terrace housing and (b) who do not have access to off-street parking are able to access EV chargepoints.
Answer: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 August 2025, the Government and...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordObesity: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure continuity of weight-loss medication for people who have already demonstrated clinically significant (a) weight reduction and (b) health improvements from pri
Answer: As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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