Neil Hudson MP: written questions 2024
76 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Vegetarian SocietyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the speech made by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs at the Vegetarian Society event on 13 November 2024.
Answer: Minister Zeichner spoke briefly at this reception. This is something he often does at similar events. Defra does not routinely publish transcripts of such remarks and there are no plans to deviate from convention.
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployers' Contributions: Small BusinessesTreasuryTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13851More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on small businesses in Epping Forest constituency.
Answer: Estimates of the impact on businesses in Epping Forest from changes to Employer NICs announced at Autumn Budget 2024 are not available.
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Scooters: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of e-scooter use on the number of road related incidents in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Department collects road traffic casualty data for e-scooters using data reported by the police to the Department for Transport. In 2023 there were 1,292 collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 1,411 in 2022. There were 1,387 casualties in collis...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: Yorkshire and the HumberDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on tackling cases of avian influenza in Yorkshire.
Answer: One case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 has been confirmed in the Yorkshire area this season. This case follows recent detections of the HPAI H5N5 in wild birds in the region and is the first case confirmed since declaration of Great Bri...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBluetongue Disease: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on tackling cases of bluetongue virus.
Answer: Defra acted quickly to contain bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) when the first case this season was detected on 26 August 2024, implementing zones with movement controls on susceptible livestock to prevent spread. These disease control restrictions have been...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: FarmersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of Universal Credit for farmers.
Answer: We have engaged with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and farmers to raise awareness on how they can access services through various channels including partnering with NFU at county shows, providing NFU an informative toolkit and continuation of inviting...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture and Floods: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12794More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) farming and (b) flood funding for the remainder of this Parliament.
Answer: Defra’s farming budget will be £2.4 billion in 2025/26. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes. This funding ...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal and Plant Health Agency: WeybridgeCabinet OfficeTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12781More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the potential risks associated with not fully rebuilding the Animal Plant and Health Agency Headquarters in Weybridge in the National Risk Regis
Answer: All risks in the National Risk Register, including those related to animal and plant health, are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity and to reflect the risk land...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: Port of DoverDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November to Question 11902 on Import Controls: Port of Dover, when checks on animals at Border Control Posts will begin.
Answer: We are reviewing the date for implementing specific post-Brexit border checks set out in the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and will publish more information on these soon. We continue to maintain essential border controls to protect our national bi...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: Blood TestsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 12577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage GPs to proactively discuss (a) prostate cancer risk and (b) the option to have a prostate-specific antigen test with (i) Black men aged 45 and over and (ii) men
Answer: The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) provides general practitioners (GPs) with information and guidance to counsel men who have no symptoms, but who wish to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. It highlights the potential benefits...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordImport Controls: Port of DoverDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capability to do random physical (a) animal and (b) plant checks on site in the Port of Dover.
Answer: Defra will continue to monitor and review the impact of the new controls. We will work closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise disruption and costs to trade, while continuing to protect our biosecurity. The Port of Dover...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordInland Border Facilities: AshfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure vehicles sent to the Border Control Post at Sevington (a) go there directly and (b) do not unload their contents en route.
Answer: The risk of legitimate commercial loads not attending Sevington is mitigated by robust, data-backed enforcement options. Consignments called to Sevington for an inspection will have completed the necessary customs declarations and pre-notifications. These...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordInland Border Facilities: AshfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the compliance of (a) people and (b) vehicles told to go to the Border Control Post at Sevington for checks.
Answer: Due to the intelligence led and dynamic nature of our biosecurity controls and to ensure operations are not impacted, we are unable to share data on Sanitary and phytosanitary checks. Consignments called to Sevington for an inspection will have completed ...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMulti-Sport Grassroots Facilities ProgrammeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to maintain the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme.
Answer: The Government is investing £123 million UK-wide in grassroots facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25. At the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, the Government confirmed our continued support for elite and grassroots spor...
Answered 4 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordRetail Trade: Epping ForestDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help support high street businesses in Epping Forest.
Answer: At Budget the Chancellor announced a number of measures to support high street businesses, ideally in Epping Forest’s regeneration including permanently lowering tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties from 2026/27, extending RHL relief a...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSudan: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11386More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to provide humanitarian assistance in Sudan.
Answer: The Sudan conflict has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world with 24.8 million people in need of assistance. The UK continues to provide humanitarian assistance to support people in Sudan and those who've fled the country. The UK's ODA this y...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordShipping: Red SeaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure access to shipping routes in the Red Sea.
Answer: The UK and our partners have collectively sent an unambiguous message: the Houthis' attacks on shipping are illegal, dangerous, and destabilising, and we are determined to put a stop to them.The Foreign Secretary and I continue to work closely with region...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFood InsecurityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11384More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve global food security.
Answer: Improving global food and nutrition security is a priority for this government. Our diplomatic and humanitarian engagement is addressing acute need and famine risks in places like Sudan and Gaza. We support long-term solutions, working with partners to tr...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Waiting ListsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11383More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support councils to reduce social housing waiting lists.
Answer: The government has committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.On 30 July we announced a number of changes in planning policy designed to support the delivery of affordable homes. We also confirmed a...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrimary Care: Epping ForestDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to primary care in Epping Forest constituency.
Answer: We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP) and access other primary care services, and we are committed to fixing the crisis in GPs.Our plan to increase the number of GP appointments delivered will require bot...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Epping ForestDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of GP surgeries in Epping Forest constituency.
Answer: The Government wants everyone to be able to access a primary care professional when they need to. NHS England has overall responsibility for ensuring that there are sufficient primary medical services to meet the reasonable requirements of patients throug...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMeat: SmugglingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much illegal meat coming into the UK was seized in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.
Answer: Illegal meat seizures data captured as part of Defra’s African Swine Fever programme: 2023, 552 seizures, totalling 44,482 kg2024 (Jan- 11 Oct 2024), 576 seizures, totalling 42,470 kg
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAfrican Swine FeverDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of incursion of African swine fever to the UK.
Answer: Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the UK, the overall risk of an incursion of ASF is currently assessed to be MEDIUM (the event occurs regularly) and we continue to prepare for a possible outbreak. The risk of ASF enteri...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordInland Border Facilities: DoverDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has plans to use Dover Bastion Point as part of the Border Target Operating Model.
Answer: The site at Bastion Point is currently retained in a non-operational state. The Government will explore further options for the site in the future. Defra continues to monitor and review the impact of the Border Target Operating Model. We work closely with...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordImport ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with stakeholders about the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.
Answer: Defra continues to monitor and review the impact of the new controls. We are working closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise disruption and costs to trade, while continuing to protect our biosecurity. Defra also gathers ...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →