Matt Bishop MP: written questions
91 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Curriculum and Assessment Review: Audiobooks and Audio EquipmentDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to utilise (a) audiobooks and (b) audio resources in the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Answer: The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review will support the innovation and professionalism of teachers, enabling them to adapt how they teach the curriculum to their students’ lives.The Review Group will publish an interim report in early spring set...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate coverage of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in (a) rural areas and (b) the Forest of Dean.
Answer: The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of February 2025, the Government and industry have ...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Services: Forest of DeanDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) youth centres and (b) youth services in the Forest of Dean.
Answer: This government recognises the value of youth centres and youth services, and has committed to co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. This is an opportunity to move away from one-size-fits all approaches from central government, bringing power back t...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPost Offices: Rural AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continued availability of post office services in (a) Forest of Dean constituency and (b) other rural communities.
Answer: Government protects the sustainability of the branch network – and the rural network in particular - by providing funding on the basis that Post Office meets its minimum access criteria to ensure that, across the country, 99% of the population live within...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCrime: Forest of DeanAttorney GeneralTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32701More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what recent steps she has taken to help ensure the effective prosecution of (a) environment, (b) heritage, and (c) wildlife crime in the Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: This Government is committed to working with the police and other partners to protect the environment, including our wildlife and our heritage sites across the country. This includes the constituency of the Forest of Dean which is covered by the Crown Pro...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: Forest of DeanDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people in the Forest of Dean constituency have accessed financial support through the (a) Property Flood Resilience grant and (b) Flood Recovery Framework.
Answer: Following the extensive flooding in 2020, the Forest of Dean District Council participated in and managed the Property Flood Resilience Grant scheme that was activated in response. 25 residential properties and 1 business property benefitted from the Gran...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDogs: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the importation of ethically-sourced puppies that are under six months old.
Answer: The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Danny Chambers MP. The Bill will close loopholes in the non-commercial pet travel rules that are abused b...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: EnergyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to update the UK Standard Industrial Classification codes to reflect the eligibility of the horticulture sector for energy support schemes.
Answer: Defra recognises certain horticultural growing methods are energy intensive and energy security is critical for these growers. We are working in collaboration across Government departments, including DESNZ, to ensure eligible horticultural businesses are ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Intensive Industries: HorticultureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of classifying horticulture as an Energy Intensive Industry.
Answer: Defra recognises certain horticultural growing methods are energy intensive and energy security is critical for these growers. We are working in collaboration across Government departments, including DESNZ, to ensure eligible horticultural businesses are ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment and Apprentices: Forest of DeanDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31338More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to improve (a) employment and (b) apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: As part of the Get Britain Working White Paper the government announced that we will launch a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they have access to further learning, help to get a job or an apprenticeship.The De...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPoverty: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of children in poverty in Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change. The Strategy will look at levers across ...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: Forest of DeanDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve educational opportunities for young people in the Forest of Dean.
Answer: All young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they’re from. Through our work to deliver the Opportunity Mission, the department will improve opportunities and life chances across the country, including for youn...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has plans to amend the Homelessness Code of Guidance to clarify the obligations of local authorities at the (a) presentation, (b) initial interview and (c) assessment
Answer: Our Homelessness Code of Guidance provides a summary of the homelessness legislation duties, powers and obligations on housing authorities and others towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.We keep the Homelessness Code of Guidance...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the efficiency of firearms licensing authorities.
Answer: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police.Since November 2021, however, the Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires forces to make certain checks on the suitability of ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her Department’s policy to create a unified national firearms licensing authority.
Answer: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police.Since November 2021, however, the Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires forces to make certain checks on the suitability of ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: GloucestershireDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29738More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition of roads in (a) Forest of Dean constituency and (b) Gloucestershire.
Answer: This Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and renewing their local highway networks. Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Gloucestershire County Council ...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: Forest of DeanDepartment for TransportTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the maintenance of roads in the Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: This Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local authorities in maintaining and renewing their local highway networks. Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, Gloucestershire County Council ...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBirds of Prey: Forest of DeanDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the protection of birds of prey in the Forest of Dean.
Answer: While Defra has not implemented any protections specific to the Forest of Dean, all birds of prey are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill or injure or take any wild bird; take, damage or destroy the nest of any ...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefibrillatorsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing a national strategy to place defibrillators in high need areas.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in in September 2023,...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEarned Income and State Retirement Pensions: TaxationTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29131More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) self-employed people and (b) employees are not subject to higher taxation on both their earnings and state pension.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024 we made no changes to the rates of income tax, which means employed and self-employed people will see no increase in the rate of income tax that apply to their earnings or state pension income.
Answered 14 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordShopliftingHome OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle retail crime.
Answer: In the last year of the previous government shoplifting soared to a twenty-year high, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this. Everybody has a right to feel safe on the job.This Government will...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if will make an assessment of the potential merits of a national firearms application process.
Answer: The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Since November 2021, however, the Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires forces to make certain checks on the suitability of...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEyesight: TestingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the NHS sight test fee; and if he will take steps to increase that fee.
Answer: The level of the National Health Service sight test fee is considered annually and takes into account discussions with the Optical Fee Negotiating Committee, consideration of patient access to sight testing services, which continue to be widely available,...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordShared Rural Network: Forest of DeanDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress has been made on the rollout of the shared rural network in the Forest of Dean constituency.
Answer: There have already been improvements via the Shared Rural Network in the Forest of Dean since the programme began in 2020. I have raised my concerns about the reporting of mobile connectivity with Ofcom, but according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations reports,...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool Libraries: Primary EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding mechanisms she is considering to support primary schools in (a) installing and (b) maintaining library facilities.
Answer: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Forest of Dean to the answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21170.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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