Mike Martin MP: written questions 2025
138 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Music: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring music streaming platforms to obtain a broadcasting licence to help ensure that artists are fairly remunerated for their work.
Answer: In February 2024, the Intellectual Property Office published independent research examining the potential economic impact of equitable remuneration on performers and the music market in the UK. The research found that applying the ‘broadcast model’ of equ...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIVF: LGBT+ PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has a planned timetable for removing self-funded artificial insemination for same sex couples before they can access NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation.
Answer: In the light of broader pressures on the National Health Service and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples. Ministers will be c...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOrchestras: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44808More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief on (a) the ability of orchestras to operate within the UK and (b) the ability of British orchestras to bring money from abroad
Answer: Orchestra tax relief is available for costs incurred on goods or services that are used or consumed in the UK. This replaces the previous rule that qualifying costs were those incurred on goods or services provided from the UK or the European Economic Are...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordShingles: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility for the shingles vaccination to people aged 65 or over.
Answer: In 2019, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that the shingles vaccination programme should switch to using a two-dose vaccine called Shingrix, to better protect individuals from the effects of shingles, provide better clini...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSecurity: CompaniesHome OfficeTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory business licensing for the private security sector.
Answer: The Government is committed to reviewing the recommendations of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, including Monitored Recommendation 8, with a view to delivering better uniformity of standards in the private security industry, enhanced provision of security s...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy Foundation College: InspectionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 43009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason AFC Harrogate is exempt from Ofsted inspections; and which independent body is responsible for inspections of AFC Harrogate.
Answer: Ofsted does inspect Army Foundation College (Harrogate). Up to date reports are published online and can be found here, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-and-duty-of-care-in-armed-forces-initial-training
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRadiology: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of radiologists working in the NHS in (a) England and (b) Tunbridge Wells Hospital; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of radiologists workin
Answer: Data published by NHS England shows that as of December 2024, there are 3,998 full-time equivalent (FTE) consultants in the speciality of clinical radiology employed in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England. Of these, ther...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Industrial Estates and Retail TradeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating businesses occupying spaces in (a) retail and (b) industrial estates to install solar panels on their roofs.
Answer: The Government provides fiscal incentives to encourage businesses to install rooftop solar, such as through tax relief and business rate exemptions. Through permitted development rights, there is no limit to the capacity of a commercial solar installation...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSoftware: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with (a) Google and (b) Apple on in-app purchase fees; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposal
Answer: The Competition and Markets Authority launched a Strategic Market Status designation investigation in January on both Apple and Google’s position in mobile ecosystems. This investigation is independent to Government and will also include the consideration...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: EU CountriesHome OfficeTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of agreeing with (a) the European Union and (b) individual Schengen Area countries to allow British citizens to stay up to 180 days without a vis
Answer: The European Union is responsible for visa policy in relation to short stays in the territory of Schengen states, including visa requirements. Short stays are stays of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period, as set out in EU legislation. The UK an...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBlue Badge SchemeL ApplicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) extending and (b) removing the 30-day time limit for completing a blue badge application.
Answer: While there is no time limit for completion of a Blue Badge application in legislation, in order to comply with UK data handling regulations personal data relating to an application on the Blue Badge online application system is deleted after thirty days....
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: Disclosure of InformationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39316More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) strengthen protections for NHS whistleblowers and (b) prevent repercussions for those who raise patient safety concerns.
Answer: The Government has been clear that the silencing of whistleblowers will not be tolerated, and that National Health Service staff should have the confidence to speak out and come forward if they have concerns.There is a network of more than 1,200 local Fre...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceTreasuryTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37871More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Chief Secretary to the Treasury plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on seizing frozen Russian assets, dated 16 January 2025.
Answer: The correspondence from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells is receiving urgent attention and a response will be issued by HM Treasury in due course.
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local councils to review applications by utility firms for emergency roadworks in order to determine when the roadworks should take place.
Answer: Emergency works are defined in legislation as works needed to deal with dangers to life and property and so must be carried out urgently. For these, and other urgent works needed to restore customer connections or deal with leaks, permits must be submitte...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVoice over Internet ProtocolDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with BT on the speed of the Digital Voice rollout; and what steps he is taking to ensure (a) elderly people, (b) vulnerable people and (c) people reliant
Answer: This is an issue the Government takes very seriously. The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVideo GamesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37451More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) protecting consumers from planned obsolescence in (i) video games and (ii) other digital software and (b) requiring publishers to mak
Answer: The Government is aware of issues relating to the life-span of digital content, including video games, and we appreciate the concerns of players of some games that have been discontinued. We have no plans to amend existing consumer law on digital obsolesc...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: Service ChargesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to prevent freeholders holding leaseholders liable for outstanding service charges incurred by the previous leaseholder.
Answer: The seller of a leasehold property is legally responsible for service charges owed up until the completion of the sale to the next leaseholder. A freeholder cannot require a leaseholder to pay charges owed by the previous leaseholder if the new leaseholde...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCycleways: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which body has responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the cycle path between Pembury Hospital and Tonbridge.
Answer: Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area, including cycle paths. Kent County Council is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the non-motorised user route that r...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordA21: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were killed in road traffic collisions on the A21 in Tunbridge Wells constituency in each year since 2019.
Answer: The number of people killed in reported road collisions on the A21 in the Tunbridge Wells constituency in each year since 2019 are shown in the table. The latest year for which data is available is 2023.YearNumber of fatalities2019220202202112022020231
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordA21: LitterDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which body is responsible for clearing litter alongside the A21 in Tunbridge Wells constituency.
Answer: The responsibility for litter clearing on the A21 near Tunbridge Wells, falls to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Water SupplyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will introduce legislative measures to require sellers to (a) disclose to prospective homebuyers whether a property is supplied by a private water network and (b) outline
Answer: Providing essential information upfront is important in supporting potential buyers to make important decisions about whether a property is suitable for them early in the process. There is already a requirement under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Tr...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Water SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that households on private water networks have access to the same (a) provision for leak allowances and (b) other protections as househ
Answer: Local authorities are the regulators for private water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has information about private water supplies on their website, some of which covers private supply networks.
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBuses and Cars: EnginesDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating new cars and buses to have engines which automatically switch off when in traffic.
Answer: Vehicle manufacturers are under legislative and market pressure to deliver fuel-efficient vehicles that produce less carbon dioxide. This encourages the fitment of technologies such as automatic engine start-stop systems. Government sees its role as the s...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMaidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of including Tunbridge Wells in the High Cost Area Allowance and (b) impact of these proposals on staff (i) recruitment and (ii) retention
Answer: It is part of the Pay Review Bodies’ remit to look at and, if necessary, make recommendations on the future geographic coverage of high-cost area supplements, and on the value of such supplements. As these provisions are reflected in staff terms and condi...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIndependent Review of the Loan ChargeTreasuryTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35083More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Terms of Reference for the Independent Review of the Loan Charge to include (a) the effectiveness of the terms of the Loan Charge, (b) lessons
Answer: The Government has commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government does not think it is right for people affected by the Loan Charge to...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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