Mike Martin MP: written questions 2025
138 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Streaming: Television LicencesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on introducing a TV License for people who only use streaming services.
Answer: The Government is keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, and firmly believes that the unique obligations placed on the BBC demand continued, sustainable public funding to support its vital work.There are a range of alternatives and we a...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the switch-off of the Radio Teleswitch Service on households reliant on Economy 10 electricity tariffs.
Answer: Energy suppliers are best placed to advise on suitable tariffs for households affected by the switch-off of RTS, including those with Economy 10 electricity tariffs. Ofgem is consulting on plans to introduce new RTS licence conditions for energy suppliers...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordM25: Road WorksDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the National Highways A3/M25 junction upgrade on RHS Garden Wisley; and whether her Department plans to provide financial compensation to mitig
Answer: The impact of the M25 Junction 10 scheme on the RHS Garden Wisley was discussed and considered during the early stages of the development of the project starting in 2016. Based on the outcome of these engagements, National Highways incorporated mitigation...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Pension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting military compensation as income to ensure that veterans can still qualify for Pension Credit.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 18 November 2024 to question UIN 14156. The first £10 of any War Pension payment or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award made due to injury or disablement is disregarded in Pension Credit. Inco...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOrchestras: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32703More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief on orchestras that rely on touring.
Answer: The UK provides world-leading support for orchestras: at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government confirmed that from 1 April 2025, the rate of OTR will be set at the generous rate of 45%. From April 2024, qualifying expenditure for the orchestra tax relief (OT...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Travel Authorisations: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will make an assessment on the potential merits of exempting British National (Overseas) passport holders from Electronic Travel Authorisation.
Answer: The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme was introduced on 25 October 2023 to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK.ETAs were expanded to British National (Overseas) BN(O) p...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAdult Education: KentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value was of the Education and Skills Funding Agency Adult Education Budget allocated to Kent County Council in the (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25 financial year; and what the allocation will be in the 20
Answer: The Education and Skills Funding Agency awards adult education budget allocations on an annual basis. Allocations are based on an academic year rather than a financial year. Allocations that span the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years have been published...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Insurance CreditsTreasuryTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29798More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support parents and carers who are survivors of domestic abuse that caused them to be unable to claim Child Benefit and National Insurance credits; and if she will take steps t
Answer: Where HMRC is made aware that a person is a victim of domestic abuse, consideration of a claim for Child Benefit will be prioritised before other, standard claims. A Child Benefit claim can be backdated for a maximum of three months. However, only one per...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Insurance CreditsTreasuryTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29797More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to amend the definition of relevant carer in Section 23A of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to include individuals unable to apply for Child Benefit due to (a)
Answer: Parents and carers who claim Child Benefit automatically receive National Insurance credits until their child turns twelve. These credits count towards future State Pension entitlement. Where HMRC is made aware that a person is a victim of domestic abuse,...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying VAT to private school fees on children attending extracurricular activities at private schools, despite not attending them.
Answer: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has made no assessment of the impact of applying VAT to school fees on children who do not attend private schools but may utilise their facilities. The 20% standard rate of VAT applies to all edu...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Students: UkraineDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2024 to Question 16106 on Overseas Students: Ukraine, whether Ukrainian students who gain an 18-month extension on their visa through the Ukraine Permission Extension schem
Answer: The department has amended the Student Support regulations so that those who have been granted leave under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme may qualify for higher education student support in England and home fee status without the requirement to m...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHip Replacements: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are compensation schemes available for people made ill by defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.
Answer: NHS Resolution (NHSR) manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England. NHSR has confirmed that there is no specific NHS compensation scheme for claims relating to defective hip replacements supplied by DePuy.Whi...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates and Employers' Contributions: Hospitality IndustryTreasuryTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27942More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) increasing employers' National Insurance contributions, (b) increasing minimum wage and (c) cutting the business rates relief for retail, hospitality, and
Answer: An assessment of the changes to Employers’ National Insurance has been published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact Note, including impacts on the exchequer, the economy, individuals, households and families, equalities, and businesses including ...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVaricose Veins: SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the criteria for removing varicose veins to include the level of pain experienced.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance identifies several treatment options for those with symptoms or complications associated with varicose veins, including surgery to remove the veins.Pain that is more severe can often be asso...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Humanitarian Aid and Military AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost of (a) military and (b) humanitarian aid for Ukraine in 2025 for each taxpayer.
Answer: Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to UK prosperity and security. We are proud to provide vital support to Ukraine. The UK will deliver £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine this year - our largest ever package - and every year un...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAlaa Abd El-FattahForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Answer: The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister most recently during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime M...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what grants are available for (a) district and (b) borough councils to support mental health initiatives.
Answer: There are no grants available specifically to support mental health initiatives at this time; however, local authorities may decide to fund such initiatives from their Public Health Grant allocations.
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFractures: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made with NHS England on rolling out the Fracture Liaison Service.
Answer: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model, and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.The Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragili...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNatural History: GCSEDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to publish a timetable for the introduction of a Natural History GCSE.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells to the answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18517.
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSoutheastern: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with Southeastern Rail on the (a) flexibility and (b) affordability of its fares.
Answer: With the expansion of Pay as You Go with contactless, we will give passengers simpler, easier and more flexible ways to travel, and deliver a Transport for London-style “best price guarantee” for most passengers on the day of travel. Whilst it is our ambi...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus and Influenza: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the uptake is of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in Tunbridge Wells constituency .
Answer: The information is not held in the format requested. Monthly data includes the numbers of those vaccinated, but the data is not extrapolated and is based on the response rate of those organisations responding to the monthly survey. NHS England and local a...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPost Boxes: Cultural HeritageDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the sale of Royal Mail on the protection of historic post boxes.
Answer: Royal Mail is an iconic part of the UK’s infrastructure, and the government has ensured that the takeover has been properly scrutinised. The government has secured a commitment from EP Group, the potential buyers, to ensure that Royal Mail retains control...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: UniformsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 23 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on schools' ability to participate in team sports.
Answer: School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items which creates a significant cost burden for families. This ...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: UniformsTreasuryTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24579More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT on school uniforms.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital publ...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: UniformsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of section 23 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on small businesses that provide school uniforms.
Answer: School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items which creates cost pressures for too many families. This is...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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