Max Wilkinson MP: written questions

Written questions

• Defibrillators: VATTreasuryTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9246More

  Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT from defibrillators in the forthcoming Budget.

  Answer: The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. This means that charities pay no VAT if they purchase a defibrillator and then donate it to an eligible body. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and exceptions to t...

  Answered 23 Oct 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Housing Benefit: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7923More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will (a) lower the Housing Benefit taper rate and (b) increase the applicable amount to help young homeless people into work.

  Answer: People in receipt of Housing Benefit are always better off in work than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved...

  Answered 16 Oct 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Sex Establishments: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3850More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to remove exceptions to licensing laws that allow sexual entertainment to take place i

  Answer: The 1982 Act gives local authorities who adopt the legislation the ability to regulate lap dancing clubs as sexual entertainment venues. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (legislation.gov.uk)

  Answered 10 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Cross Country LineDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3849More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the (a) punctuality and (b) performance of Cross Country rail services (i) to and (ii) from Cheltenham Spa.

  Answer: CrossCountry has recently been placed on a formal Remedial Plan to ensure it takes action to address performance issues across its network and increases essential driver training. This is expected to result in a more reliable service following the impleme...

  Answered 10 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Cycling: GloucestershireDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3848More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with Network Rail about its intentions to allow its land between Cheltenham Spa rail station and Lansdown Road, Cheltenham to be used to facilitate the development of

  Answer: The Department has not directly discussed land access with Network Rail for this route but is supporting and providing funding to Sustrans and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to deliver a route between Cheltenham Spa Station and Lansdown Road as part...

  Answered 10 Sept 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Cheltenham Hospital: Accident and Emergency DepartmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 1161More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the accident and emergency department in Cheltenham General Hospital will continue to be a Type 1 consultant-led A&E department between 8am and 8pm, in the context of proposed changes to th

  Answer: The Gloucestershire health system carried out public consultation in 2020, as well as further engagement between 2022 and 2023, on shaping the future of hospital services. As set out in the proposals, Cheltenham General Hospital will continue to provide a...

  Answered 26 Jul 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Planning: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 345More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that (a) conservation areas and (b) listed buildings are treated sensitively during planning reform.

  Answer: The Government will set out proposed changes to national planning policy in the forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) update. We remain committed to conserving and enhancing areas of special architectural or historic interest and buildings...

  Answered 26 Jul 2024

  Original Parliament record
• Business: InnovationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 206More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the £20 million funding provided to the National Cyber Innovation Centre in Cheltenham under the Levelling Up Fund Round 3, whether his Department plans to prov

  Answer: Local places will rightly be seeking clarity on existing funding commitments. The Government is giving full consideration to this matter, including the hard work undertaken on projects to date, and will continue dialogue with local leaders.

  Answered 26 Jul 2024

  Original Parliament record