Patrick Spencer MP: written questions
75 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Firearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his timetable is for the consultation on Section 1 and Section 2 licensing of shotguns and firearms.
Answer: The Government has committed to having a new public consultation on changes to the licensing controls on shotguns.We will publish the consultation in due course.
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the agreed definition of being housebound that is used by the NHS; and under what circumstances is a person's status from being classed as housebound.
Answer: It is the responsibility of the commissioner to ensure patients registered with a general practice (GP) have access to urgent care when they are at home and unable to attend the practice they are registered with.Under the GP Contract, GPs are required to ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFarms: InsolvencyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on the number of farms that have become (a) insolvent and (b) ceased trading in the last three years.
Answer: The numbers of companies with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 code 011, 012, 013, 014, 015 and 016 that entered insolvency in the UK in the last three years (2023 to 2025) are presented in the table below. This information has been provided ...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ImportsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of imported agricultural produce on farm-gate prices for British farmers.
Answer: As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, Defra will uphold high food and animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, disease...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: SuffolkHome OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Suffolk County Council on the (a) social and (b) economic impact of housing (i) refugees and (ii) asylum seekers on the local area.
Answer: The Home Office continues to work closely with local authorities to manage all the pressures arising from the provision of asylum accommodation including the impact on wider local authority obligations and plans.The Home Office has delivered various grant...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Trade CompetitivenessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect British agricultural produce from foreign competition.
Answer: Strengthening food security by supporting our farmers and food producers is a priority for this Government. Defra is backing British farmers to create a productive, profitable and sustainable future for farming. As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, Defr...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: IpswichHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of housing (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers in Ipswich on social cohesion.
Answer: We have a set of Asylum Accommodation Plans which take an evidence-based approach to the procurement and occupancy of Dispersal Accommodation; ensuring we are finding suitable accommodation to fulfil our statutory duty, while considering the impacts on lo...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBypasses: IpswichDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of funding the construction of a Northern Bypass around Ipswich.
Answer: The Ipswich Northern Bypass was a scheme developed by Suffolk County Council, who are the Local Transport Authority for this region. A decision was taken locally by Suffolk County Council to withdraw the scheme back in 2020. Suffolk County Council did not...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ProfitabilityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the long-term financial viability of farming.
Answer: The Farming Roadmap and the full Government response to the Farming Profitability Review will be published later this year, setting out the wider plan to boost profitability and long-term viability. The Government is already taking forward a series of mea...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the (a) farming, (b) rural and (c) game sports industries on changes to shotgun licensing.
Answer: The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: IpswichHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate has been made of the economic impact of housing (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers in Ipswich.
Answer: The Home Office works closely with local authorities and takes into account the pressures associated with providing asylum accommodation. We continue to engage with local authorities to manage these impacts, including on their wider statutory responsibili...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBypasses: IpswichDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Suffolk County Council regarding the construction of a Northern Bypass around Ipswich.
Answer: The Ipswich Northern Bypass was a scheme developed by Suffolk County Council, who are the Local Transport Authority for this region. A decision was taken locally by Suffolk County Council to withdraw the scheme back in 2020. Suffolk County Council did not...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ProfitabilityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help improve the profitability of farming in England.
Answer: The Farming Roadmap and the full Government response to the Farming Profitability Review will be published later this year, setting out the wider plan to boost profitability and long-term viability. The Government is already taking forward a series of mea...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to publish the consultation into licensing controls for shotguns.
Answer: The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPrimary Care: AccessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish proposals on access to primary care for patients without the means of digital communication.
Answer: We recognise that not all patients are able or wish to use online services. That is why the GP Contract is clear that that patients must always have the option to contact their practice by telephone or attend in person. Online tools should always be offer...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: InternetDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support patients without access to the internet to get appointments with GPs.
Answer: We understand that not all patients have access to or want to use online services. The GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in ad...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has a target for the proportion of domestic energy produced by land based solar farms.
Answer: Our pathway to clean power was set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, published in December 2024. It made clear that solar power, across rooftop and ground-mounted solar farms, will be crucial to achieving our mission. The plan calls for the rapid accele...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of existing planning regulations for considering the views of local residents.
Answer: Planning regulations require local planning authorities to publish all planning applications for a minimum of 21 days to allow communities to provide their comments. Where relevant planning considerations are raised by local residents within this period t...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how long the average wait time is in England for a patient to have a GP appointment GP a) by telephone and b) face to face.
Answer: NHS England publishes monthly data on general practice appointments. In November 2025, 33.5% of appointments delivered on the same day were conducted face to face, while 52.5% took place by telephone. In terms of the proportion of appointments delivered w...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to amend planning regulations for solar farm applications to require greater consideration of local residents’ views.
Answer: Planning regulations require local planning authorities to publish all planning applications for a minimum of 21 days to allow communities to provide their comments. Where relevant planning considerations are raised by local residents within this period t...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: Environmental Impact AssessmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to require Environmental Impact Assessments to be carried out for all rural solar farm developments with a generating capacity below 50 megawatts.
Answer: Projects with a generating capacity of 100MW and less are considered under the provision of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, an Environmental Impact Assessment ...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average wait time is for a patient to see a GP in (a) England and (b) by integrated care board.
Answer: NHS England publishes monthly data on general practice appointments, including the approximate length of time between appointments being booked and taking place, at a national and integrated care board level, although this is not a proxy for “waiting time...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGlioblastoma: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve treatment options for glioblastoma.
Answer: Brain tumours, including glioblastoma, remain one of the hardest to treat cancers. The Government is taking action to improve treatment options and outcomes.Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.6 billion per ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChildren: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the adequacy of financial support for parents of critically and terminally ill children.
Answer: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets with colleagues across Government to discuss a range of issues. Many parents caring for children and young people with serious illnesses are likely to need additional support through social secur...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordConditions of Employment: ParentsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will launch a consultation into giving employment protection and financial assistance to the parents of critically or terminally ill children.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade recognises the heartbreaking situation faced by parents of seriously ill children. We will consult on a leave and pay entitlement for parents in this situation in 2026. Further detail is included in the terms of refer...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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