Michael Payne MP: written questions

Written questions

• Adoption: CounsellingDepartment for EducationTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2543More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing transitional or exceptional arrangements to allow adoptive families to continue working with appropriately qualified, non-Ofsted registere

  Answer: Under the Care Standards Act 2000, organisations that undertake work to support adopted children, or children who are being prepared for adoption, need to register with Ofsted as an adoption support agency. This is to ensure that providers are suitable an...

  Answered 2 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Armed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908300More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve military housing.

  Answer: The last government had 14 years to fix Defence family housing and failed, delivering instead record low levels of satisfaction. We reversed the disastrous privatisation of military housing. And our landmark £9 billion housing strategy will renew or repai...

  Answered 16 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• AddictionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117991More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to include addiction or substance use disorder within the statutory definition of a mental disorder for the purposes of the Mental Health Act.

  Answer: The Mental Health Act 1983, specifically Section 1, subsection 3, states that “Dependence on alcohol or drugs is not considered to be a disorder or disability of the mind” for the purposes of the act, and we did not amend this in the Mental Health Act 202...

  Answered 19 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Addictions: DeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117990More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what processes are in place to ensure that findings from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) involving addiction related deaths are embedded consistently in national guidance, NHS workforce training,

  Answer: The Government takes the findings from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), including those where substance dependence was a feature in deaths very seriously, and expects them to inform practice, guidance, and commissioning at both a local and national leve...

  Answered 12 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Retail Trade: Urban AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 906879More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken to support local high streets.

  Answer: This government is putting high streets at the heart of economic renewal through our Small and Medium Sized Business Plan and MHCLG's £5 billion Pride in Place programme which will support areas in both of my Honourable Friends' constituencies.At Budget, ...

  Answered 12 Dec 2025

  Original Parliament record