Neil Hudson MP: written questions
171 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Foot and Mouth DiseaseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of incursion of Foot and Mouth disease to the UK.
Answer: Following the confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Germany on the 10 January 2025, Government has taken decisive and rapid action to protect the UK by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals and untreated products of animal orig...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth Disease: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of tracing of movement of animals, animal products and vehicles to the UK, in the context of the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Germ
Answer: Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the UK, it remains a key priority in terms of exotic notifiable disease preparedness. The overall risk of an incursion is currently assessed to be medium, and we continue to prepare for ...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth Disease: GermanyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26093More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Germany.
Answer: Following confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Germany on the 10 January 2025, the Government took rapid action to protect the UK including suspending from Germany, the commercial import of susceptible animals, their untreated meat, dairy produ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: EssexDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support the maintenance of highways in Essex.
Answer: The Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. Essex County Council, as a local highway authority, is responsible for the condition and maintenance of its lo...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAir PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the funding allocated to local authorities to improve air quality.
Answer: The department works closely with local authorities to develop approaches to reducing air pollution. Under the NO2 Programme, the Government’s DfT-Defra Joint Air Quality Unit has provided significant funding to support local authorities to improve air qu...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Restoration FundDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to make Round 1 payments from the Water Restoration Fund.
Answer: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, including giving environmental regula...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: AdmissionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to winter fuel payments on hospital admissions of older people in (a) Epping Forest constituency and (b) nationally.
Answer: An impact assessment of the cut in winter fuel payments on hospital admissions of older people in Epping Forest and nationally this winter has not been produced. The Government has taken action to ensure low-income households are protected this winter.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOlder People: WeatherDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help protect older people from health impacts of cold weather.
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency publishes the Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England, which sets out a framework for action to protect the population, including the elderly, from harm to their health from adverse weather, including excess cold.With hos...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the labour supply for abattoirs in (a) England and (b) the UK to meet requirements for (i) processing, (ii) food hygiene and (iii) veteri
Answer: The UK benefits from having a resilient meat processing sector. However, the Government has recognised the challenges the sector continues to face with the recruitment of both skilled and seasonal labour. We support the industry in its recruitment and tra...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the ability of the abattoir network in (a) England and (b) the UK to meet the needs of food (i) production, (ii) processing and (iii) sec
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government is committed to maintaining a resilient food supply chain. Defra recognises the vital contribution a thriving abattoir network plays in achieving the...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for the Smaller Abattoir Fund.
Answer: The Smaller Abattoir Fund closed on 30 September 2024. For the future, Defra plans to simplify and rationalise grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. We are in the process of agreeing how we will use cap...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhousesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on how many abattoirs there were in (a) England and (b) the UK in (i) 2023 and (ii) 2024.
Answer: On 1 April 2023, there were 207 approved abattoirs in England, and a further 42 in Wales and Northern Ireland. On 1 April 2024, there were 200 approved abattoirs in England, and a further 41 in Wales and Northern Ireland. The Food Standards Agency does no...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: FinanceTreasuryTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23903More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the level of Government funding to (a) hospices and (b) the palliative care sector.
Answer: The Chancellor and I work closely with the Health Secretary on issues related to health and social care funding. The Government announced in December 2024 that we are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and ch...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInfluenzaDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure hospitals are able to meet increased demand as a result of increased hospital admissions for flu.
Answer: The national approach on priorities for winter planning was issued by NHS England on 16 September, setting out the key steps to be taken to support the delivery of high-quality care for patients this winter. The Minister of State for Health also made a st...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInfluenza: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of increases in cases of flu on NHS healthcare provision.
Answer: During winter there is an increase in hospital admissions from seasonal respiratory conditions such as flu. This can impact hospital occupancy and the flow of patients through hospitals, which in turn impacts on accident and emergency, and ambulance servi...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: Rural AreasDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure rural and semi-rural communities have access to pharmacies.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for understanding the health needs of their areas and for commissioning services to meet those needs. Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment every three years to assess w...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has plans to extend the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond the current deadline of 31 March 2025.
Answer: We will announce the outcomes of the Business Planning process, including the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme soon.
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordReligious Buildings: Epping ForestDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to protect Listed Places of Worship in Epping Forest.
Answer: There is a range of funding available via DCMS and the Department’s Arm’s-Length Bodies that supports places of worship. These include Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme; the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who have committed to investing around £100m ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Cigarettes: SmugglingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the import of illegal vapes.
Answer: The Government is taking concerted effort to tackle the import and sale of illicit vapes. This includes investing up to £3 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support National Trading Standards to deliver a range of enforcement interventions, including th...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Cigarettes: SmugglingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the sale of illegal vapes.
Answer: The Government is taking concerted effort to tackle the import and sale of illicit vapes. This includes investing up to £3 million over 2023/24 and 2024/25 to support National Trading Standards to deliver a range of enforcement interventions, including th...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of funding for mental health services and (b) the potential impact of the level of that funding on waiting lists for such services.
Answer: Adequate funding for mental health services is important. While funding for reforms and improvements to mental health services will be decided at the Spending Review, the Autumn Budget provided an extra £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment on the potential impact of the removal of the Funding Guarantee Scheme on the Fire and Rescue Service.
Answer: We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. That is why in the provisional Settlement for 2025-26 we have made available £69 billion for local government including a £5 referendum principle for ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProcessed Food and SlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of his Department collecting information on how many (a) abattoirs and (b) food processing plants in (i) England and (ii) the UK a
Answer: There are 232 approved Food Standards Agency (FSA) abattoirs across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and the FSA records which are sole traders, partnerships, and incorporated companies. The majority of food processing plants are overseen by local aut...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: EssexHome OfficeTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of police officers in (i) Epping Forest constituency and (ii) Essex.
Answer: The retention of police officers is an important element of managing the police workforce. Voluntary resignation rates in England and Wales, at 3.4%, are low compared to other sectors.It is important that police forces use effective strategies to manage t...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFurther Education and Universities: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the financial resilience of the (a) university and (b) colleges sectors.
Answer: The department recognises that the financial position of the higher education (HE) sector is under pressure and this government has acted quickly to address this.The department accepted, in full, the recommendations of the independent review of the Office...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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