Matt Bishop MP: written questions 2025
79 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Pupil Premium: Universal CreditDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the eligibility criteria for pupil premium funding so that all children from families receiving Universal Credit are entitled to support.
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all our children have the freedom to achieve and thrive in education. We are providing over £3 billion of pupil premium funding in financial year 2025/26 to improve educational ...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology and Media: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that schools and teachers are well supported to deliver effective media and digital literacy education in the new curriculum.
Answer: Following the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report on 5 November, the department will update the national curriculum to prepare young people for life and work in a changing world, including media and digital literacy. Content will b...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSoft Drinks: TaxationTreasuryTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89965More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the lower threshold of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy on (a) business investment decisions in the food and drink manufacturing sector, (b) t
Answer: The proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy were subject to the ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation, which was open from 28 April to 21 July 2025. An assessment of economic and other impacts is included as part of this con...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including (a) clear and (b) deliverable objectives to combat child (i) sexual abuse and (ii) exploitation in the updated Violence Aga
Answer: This Government recognises the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and exploitation and is committed to tackling these crimes.The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving forward the Government’s bold ambition to halve VA...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGP Surgeries: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to GP practices operating from newly built premises that subsequently experience (a) building and (b) maintenance problems not identified at the (i) planning and (ii) cons
Answer: The provision and maintenance of premises are typically the responsibility of general practice (GP) partners, who are either owner-occupiers or tenants of their surgery buildings. This includes addressing any building or maintenance issues identified afte...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPupil PremiumDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 905871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that pupil premium funding effectively supports the children it is provided for.
Answer: The pupil premium is additional funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in state-funded schools in England.This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all children have the freedom to achieve and ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGP Surgeries: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department has provided to GP practices operating from newly built premises with (a) building and (b) maintenance issues; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of th
Answer: The provision and maintenance of premises is typically the responsibility of GP partners, who are either owner-occupiers or tenants of their surgery buildings. The National Health Service reimburses partners for the recurring costs of operating in the pro...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: StandardsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 70177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what regulatory oversight is in place to ensure (a) (i) accurate and (ii) secure delivery in rural locations and (b) other basic standards of service by delivery companies.
Answer: Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services.The ‘Mail Integrity Objectives’, set out in Ofcom’s Essential Condition 1, seek to minimise the potential for postal packets to be subj...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCoal: MiningDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994 to prohibit new coal extraction licences; and if he will ensure that those
Answer: On 14 November 2024 we announced that we will introduce new legislation as soon as possible to restrict the future licensing of new coal mines. Under our plans, the historic rights of Freeminers in the Forest of Dean will be exempted and can continue.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSevern River Crossing: Large Goods VehiclesDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the HGV weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge on (a) haulers, (b) congestion and (c) businesses in (i) Forest of Dean constituency and (ii) surround
Answer: The weight restriction on the M48 Severn Bridge was introduced by National Highways as a safety measure following the identification of deterioration in the bridge’s main suspension cables. To keep the bridge open to the majority of traffic, vehicles over...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEqual Pay: DisabilityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904714More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help tackle pay disparities for disabled people.
Answer: Tackling pay disparities for disabled people is a priority for this government.The King’s Speech announced our intention to legislate to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting for large employers and to make the right to equal pay effective for ...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones and Research: Young PeopleDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish research on the impact of (a) smartphones and (b) social media on young people.
Answer: The Government is continuing to explore how the evidence base on the impact of social media on children can be improved.This is why in December 2024, DSIT commissioned a feasibility study on methods and data to understand the impact of smartphones and soc...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPeripheral Arterial Disease: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce regional disparities in the (a) treatment and (b) outcomes of patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Answer: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), like other cardiovascular conditions, shares risk factors and is largely preventable. However, access to timely diagnosis and treatment can vary significantly across regions. NHS England is working to reduce these dispar...
Answered 18 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCPR: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the administration of CPR training in schools.
Answer: All state-funded schools in England are required to teach their pupils first aid training, which includes basic first aid and dealing with common injuries, within their statutory health education provision. In addition, pupils in secondary schools are tau...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice Community Support Officers: MedalsHome OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a 20 years’ service medal for Police Community Support Officers.
Answer: The Home Office will consider any proposal for national long service recognition for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).It is only right that we recognise the commitment shown by PCSOs across the country and whose roles are undeniably at the sharp ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Broadband: ReviewsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47133 on Mobile Broadbands, whether the implementation of part two of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructur
Answer: The Government is continually engaged with developments in the mobile sector. This involves considering sector-wide investment challenges and technological innovations and their impact on the market and rollout of high-quality infrastructure, as well as m...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSports: BroadcastingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48047More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with key stakeholders to meet (a) the requirements of commercial broadcasters and (b) secure public access to live sport.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring access to live sport so that it can be enjoyed by a wide audience. However, this must also be balanced with the ability of sports national governing bodies to generate revenue to invest in their sports ...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMobile Broadband: ReviewsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to undertake a review of the mobile telecommunications market.
Answer: The Government constantly reviews the mobile sector. As part of this, we are reviewing sector-wide investment challenges, technological innovations and their effect on the market and considering what Government can do to support the telecoms sector to inv...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBipolar Disorder: Mental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to establish specialist care pathways for people with bipolar to (a) improve treatment and (b) reduce misdiagnosis.
Answer: It is unacceptable that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long, including for people with bipolar disorder. We are determined to change that.As part of our mis...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOsteoporosis: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all NICE-approved medicines for osteoporosis are included in (a) ICS and (b) local formularies.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits.The NHS in Englan...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHare CoursingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to strengthen legislation on tackling hare coursing.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England and Wales only. This government recognises the importance of tackling rural crimes such as Hare Coursing. The previous Government made changes to address illegal hare cou...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Forest of DeanMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase available social housing in the Forest of Dean.
Answer: At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 mi...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the University of Manchester's blog entitled Addressing the UK’s heritage skills crisis: why we must act now, published on 23 January 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the
Answer: The national curriculum focuses on the key knowledge that must be taught to children aged 5 to 16 years-old in maintained schools. The national curriculum provides a broad framework which ensures schools have flexibility to organise the content and delive...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: BuildingsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the University of Manchester's blog entitled Addressing the UK’s heritage skills crisis: why we must act now, published on 23 January 2025, what steps she is taking to preserve
Answer: My response to PQ 30997 sets out how we are considering heritage skills in relation to the University of Manchester's blog and associated report.On preserving heritage buildings, there is funding and a protection regime in place. In particular, the Secret...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to increase recruitment in SEND services.
Answer: The department knows that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) frequently require access to additional support from a broad specialist workforce across education, health and care, including speech and language t...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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