Patrick Spencer MP: written questions 2026
71 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Vocational Education: CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 30230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the additional annual cost to schools of delivering the proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 30229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed technical education pathways on the revised Progress 8 and Attainment 8 performance measures.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of differing access to technical education pathways as a result of variations in local employer, school and further education capacity on pupils in different
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist facilities and equipment in secondary schools to deliver the proposed technical education pathways from September 2028.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, at what age and date in the academic year the Government expects pupils to select a technical education pathway from September 2028, and what assessment she has made of the impact of that choice on the subjects
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordCrime Prevention: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve cooperation between police forces in tackling offences in rural areas affecting farms and agricultural businesses.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government's proposed technical education pathways will require changes to the funding available for post-16 transport in rural areas such as Suffolk.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: StaffDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding she intends to make available for the recruitment and training of specialist staff required to deliver technical education pathways from September 2028.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29293More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increasing the minimum weighting for social value in public contracts worth £5 million or more from 10 per cent to 20 per cent on the ability of small and m
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises across the country, including in rural areas and its social value policy is designed to take into account the excellent contribution small businesses make to economic growth. The...
Answered 25 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Machinery: TheftMinistry of JusticeTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of whether sentences for theft of agricultural machinery and equipment adequately reflect the economic impact of such offences on farming businesses.
Answer: The Government recognises the significant impact that theft of agricultural machinery and equipment can have on farming businesses and rural communities. These offences can result in substantial financial loss, disruption to business operations and wider ...
Answered 18 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordOrganised Crime: Rural AreasHome OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which organised criminal groups are responsible for rural crime affecting farms and agricultural businesses.
Answer: Rural crime is not recorded as a distinct category within police recorded crime and it is therefore not possible to produce a single, centrally verified assessment of the extent to which organised criminal groups are responsible for rural crime affecting ...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of incentives for recruiting and retaining GPs and other healthcare professionals in rural areas such as Suffolk.
Answer: We recognise the particular challenges rural communities can face in accessing general practices (GPs), including longer travel times and workforce pressures. We are taking action to improve access across England, including in rural areas such as Suffolk....
Answered 18 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Abstraction: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the abstraction licensing regime in providing protection for water resources during periods of prolonged drought in water-stressed areas
Answer: The Environment Agency protects rivers and groundwater through abstraction licence conditions and restrictions. The Government is improving resilience.
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: SuffolkMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 29288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of national resilience arrangements in enabling Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to maintain fire cover in Central Suffolk and North I
Answer: Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for assessing and planning for wildfire risk locally through their Community Risk Management Plans and work with other responders to ensure appropriate preparedness. National resilience arrangements provide addi...
Answered 23 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 29287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evidence her Department has considered on whether proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14 will improve pupil outcomes compared with existing Key Stage 4 technical provision.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: SuffolkDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Essex and Suffolk Water about the resilience of water supplies in Suffolk following the introduction of a temporary use ban in August 2026.
Answer: It is the responsibility of water companies to determine when and how Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) are implemented. The Environment Agency meets with the water company weekly to discuss water resources and drought actions. It provides monthly drought prospec...
Answered 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to amend the funding formula for capital funding for local highways authorities.
Answer: The Government plans to review the funding formula that it uses to distribute capital funding to local highways authorities to see whether it can be adjusted to consider, for example, the conditions that affect the wear and tear of local roads.Highways ma...
Answered 11 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: SuffolkDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether Suffolk will have sufficient specialist school places to meet the needs of pupils who are unable to have their needs met through the Government's proposed more inclusive
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: East of EnglandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of whether existing compensation arrangements adequately reflect the impact of the proposed Norwich to Tilbury electricity transmission project on the
Answer: The government does not agree compensation for individual landowners or businesses affected by the proposed Norwich to Tilbury project. This is a matter for the transmission owner, National Grid, and the landowners or businesses concerned. Where acquisiti...
Answered 17 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to local authorities in Suffolk to meet expenditure incurred in preparing for the implementation of local government re
Answer: As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local govern...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordVocational Education: QualificationsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2026Awaiting answerUIN 28613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how proposed technical education pathways for pupils from the age of 14 differ from technical education available to pupils through existing Key Stage 4 qualifications.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: Central Suffolk and North IpswichDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2026 to Question 13402 on Flood Control: Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, what is the Department's definition of benefit-to-cost ratios and what are
Answer: For FCERM projects, the use of benefit-cost ratio calculation is outlined in the Government's Flood and coastal erosion risk management funding policy. Further explanation to ensure consistent application is then provided to practitioners in the Environme...
Answered 15 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Capital InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department plans to make any further major capital commitments before 2030.
Answer: The Department remains committed to delivering against our existing capital portfolio. This will be reviewed and updated at future Spending Reviews in the normal way. As per the normal course of business, as key projects progress through Business Case dev...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordBypasses: IpswichDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 28218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department have considered introducing 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 16 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2026 to question 11989, if she will provide further information relating to plans to review the funding formula for capital funding to local highways authorities; when the revi
Answer: Highways maintenance block allocations have been made up to and including financial year 2029/30.The Department has not yet set a date for the review. It will be important to ensure that the review takes place close to the point that allocations for 2030/...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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