Martin Wrigley MP: written questions 2025
1426 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Railways: FreightDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to increase the number of Direct Rail Services' freight operations.
Answer: The Government recognises the significant economic and environmental potential of rail freight and the critical role it plays in the UK’s resilience and is committed to supporting its growth. However, any freight operations run by Direct Rail Services (D...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Royal MailDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with Royal Mail on increasing its use of rail services.
Answer: We are fully committed to supporting rail freight growth, recognising its significant economic and environmental potential. My officials regularly speak with major users of rail freight in the UK as part of our efforts to grow the rail freight industry. W...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DevonDepartment for TransportTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the price of (a) rail and (b) road freight on rail freight operators in Devon.
Answer: Rail freight operations are typically long distance and cross-border in the UK. Under the Railways Bill, Government has proposed to place a duty on Great British Railways to promote the use of rail freight, meaning freight operators will benefit from a lo...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DevonDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99600More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to expand rail electrification to Devon.
Answer: The Department for Transport is developing a Rolling Stock and Infrastructure strategy which will inform future electrification decisions across the country. We are working closely with Network Rail colleagues to identify the right decarbonisation approac...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DevonDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of expanding rail freight in Devon on the economy.
Answer: The government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and that is why we are committed to supporting its growth. The Spending Review confirmed a number of infrastructure schemes across the country to help s...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DevonDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of expanding rail freight in Devon on the environment.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting rail freight growth, recognising its significant economic and environmental potential and critical role in the UK’s resilience.Work to develop options for investment and its potential impacts, including on the env...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DevonDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the expansion of Rail Freight in Devon.
Answer: The Government recognises that the economic and environmental potential of rail freight is significant and is committed to delivering growth and supporting modal shift to lower-carbon modes of freight transport. We have committed to the rail freight growt...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's document entitled A new electronic communications code, published in May 2015, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of chan
Answer: The document entitled ‘A New Electronic Communications Code’ was a report published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government. The report detailed Government proposals to overhaul the Code, follo...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordICT: WomenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to increase the number of women entering IT specialist fields.
Answer: The Government wants to unlock the full potential of the tech sector, and increasing women’s participation in IT is essential to achieving this. That’s why on Monday 15th December, we launched a Women in Tech Taskforce to identify and address the barriers...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to report entitled A New Electronic Communications Code, published in May 2016, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the objectives included in that report.
Answer: The document entitled ‘A New Electronic Communications Code’ was a report published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government. The report detailed Government proposals to overhaul the Code, follo...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUnited Arab Emirates: MalnutritionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking steps to support civilians struggling with starvation in the UAE.
Answer: We are not aware of reports of starvation in the UAE.
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceCabinet OfficeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98184More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to 88031 of 6 November 2025 and with reference to FOI2025/16291, on what date does his Department plan to respond to the Freedom of Information Act by the hon. Member for Newton Abbot regarding meetings
Answer: The Cabinet Office replies to requests in line with our obligations under the FOI Act. The Cabinet Office has responded to the Hon Member’s initial request and follow-up request within the statutory time limit.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil Tax: Single PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97606More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the single persons council tax discount to 50%.
Answer: The single person discount has been a feature of the council tax system since its introduction. Council tax contains both a property and a personal element. A full bill assumes that there are at least two adults living in a dwelling. Where there is only o...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: BiometricsHome OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of expanded police powers to use facial recognition on the privacy of residents in Devon.
Answer: The Home Office has not assessed the potential impact of expanded use of facial recognition on the privacy of residents in Devon, specifically, although the Government recognises that facial recognition will usually involve some degree of interference wit...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFishing CatchesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to increase the corresponding recreational bag limit when commercial bass catch limits are increased.
Answer: Annual negotiations between the UK and EU to decide fishing opportunities for 2026 have recently concluded. The outcome for both commercial and recreational seabass opportunities will be made public shortly.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will publish a consolidated timetable for forthcoming environmental, biodiversity, water-regulation, land-use and planning-related legislation and statutory instrumen
Answer: The Department will continue to bring forward legislation when parliamentary time allows. Any public commitments to legislate will follow the procedures set out by the Parliamentary Business and Legislation (PBL) Cabinet Committee.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity and Sustainable Farming Incentive: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will commission a National Audit Office evaluation of the implementation, effectiveness and value-for-money of (a) statutory Biodiversity Net Gain and (b) the re-designed Sustai
Answer: The National Audit Office (NAO) undertook a review of statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) in May 2024 and the Government is implementing many of the recommendations. The Government also recently consulted on options for improving BNG for small, medium a...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish further information on a re-designed scheme to replace the Sustainable Farming Incentive, including; a) eligibility, b) payment rates, c) environmental/biodiv
Answer: At the CLA Conference in November, the Secretary of State set out her ambition to open an improved Sustainable Farming Incentive in the first half of 2026. The Government will publish scheme details, including timings and eligibility criteria, before the ...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat Western Main Line: StandardsDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase the punctuality of GWR services from London to Devon.
Answer: The rail Minister recently met with Great Western Railway and Network Rail to emphasise the need for improved punctuality on services, including those between London and Devon. A key challenge currently affecting performance is a significant issue with de...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Biodiversity and Environment ProtectionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to table (a) new legislation and (b) amendments affecting (i) environmental-assessment requirements, (ii) biodiversity-related planning duties and (i
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 74339 on 20 October 2025 and 84469 on 30 October 2025.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish implementing regulations and updated statutory guidance for water-company regulation, governance changes and environmental monitoring under the Water (Special
Answer: Guidance is being developed by Defra and the regulators and will be published in due course, as will any enacting implementing regulations, as needed.
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to lay before Parliament final regulations and statutory guidance to implement mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Answer: Biodiversity net gain will apply to nationally significant infrastructure projects from May 2026. The Government consulted on the implementation detail over the summer and will publish a response and other relevant guidance in due course.
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: DevonDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support 18-25 year olds in Devon accessing apprenticeships.
Answer: This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer that will give greater flexibility to employers and support young people, including those in Devon, at the beginning of their careers. In August, we introduced ne...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: Risk AssessmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 82809 on Water Companies: Risk Assessment, what steps she is taking to help ensure compliance by local authorities with statutory
Answer: Reporting duties return rates by local authorities will be raised by officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through their regular liaison meetings with the Local Government Association.
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: Newton AbbotDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 82808 on Water Supply: Newton Abbot, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of Teignbridge District Council to me
Answer: Local authorities can recover costs incurred from their work on private water supplies from the relevant person for the supply. Defra expects all local authorities to undertake their statutory duties.
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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