Paul Kohler MP: written questions 2025
116 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Universal Credit: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the data release entitled Number of children in Universal Credit households, by School Year and 2024 Parliamentary Constituency, November 2024, published on 5 June 2025, if she will pu
Answer: The requested data was published here on 6 June 2025, as an additional sheet in the spreadsheet entitled “Number of children in Universal Credit households, by School Year and 2024 Parliamentary Constituency, November 2024”. https://www.gov.uk/government/...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAviation: FuelsTreasuryTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49255More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential revenue from introducing a fuel tax on domestic aviation to encourage rail travel.
Answer: Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector, since tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. APD varies by distance and class of travel and is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26. The dom...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWest Coast Main LineDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help increase the capacity of the West Coast Mainline between Crewe and Manchester.
Answer: This Government is committed to improving rail connectivity across the North and working with local leaders, as set out in our manifesto. While we will not reverse the decision to cancel Phase 2 of HS2, we recognise concerns about connectivity between Bir...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: PassengersDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49253More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the bus fare cap on passenger numbers.
Answer: The Government is investing over £150 million to deliver the new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025 to help keep bus fares affordable. Under the plans of the previous administration, the £2 cap on bu...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49252More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding she plans to provide through the (a) Bus Service Operator Grant and (b) Bus Service Improvement Plan in the Spending Review 2025.
Answer: The Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, ...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHigh Speed 2 Line: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49251More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on private financing options for the second phase of High Speed Two.
Answer: The Government’s current focus is the safe delivery of High Speed Two (HS2) between Birmingham Curzon Street and London Euston at the lowest reasonable cost. While we will not reverse the decision to cancel Phase 2 of HS2, we recognise concerns about conn...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordReparation by OffendersMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to promote the use of restorative justice.
Answer: Restorative justice can improve victim satisfaction and reduce reoffending. Victims must be informed about restorative justice under the Victims’ Code.We provide grant funding to Police and Crime Commissioners for victim support services, including restor...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: CostsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44852More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support leaseholders with the cost of lease renewal.
Answer: The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 includes provisions that will make it cheaper and easier for existing leaseholders to extend their lease or buy their freehold. As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the go...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44851More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of businesses utilising rail travel to the effectiveness of the rail network; and what steps she is taking to consult with business on her planned reforms to the
Answer: We recognise that business travel is a significant reason for using the railways. Research just published has shown that 15 per cent of journeys on DfT-contracted rail passenger services were made for business travel. On 18 February we launched the eight-...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 3 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will publish a response to her Department's consultation entitled, Design standards for accessible railway stations: a code of practice, published on 23 August 2023.
Answer: This consultation was conducted under the previous government. The Department for Transport is currently considering publication of a response.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to remove Appendix B of the PRM NTSN.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Transport has no plans to remove Appendix B from the Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRM) NTSN. The PRM NTSN is one of several measures that help make the railway more accessible and should be considered in conjunction with relevan...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many railway stations underwent development where (a) full step-free access and (b) only passive provision was provided between 2019 and 2024.
Answer: During the period 2019 – 2024, 66 major accessibility interventions were delivered at 63 different stations under the Access for All Programme, 4 of which were fixed funding contributions through the Access for All mid-tier programme.
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact Appendix B of the PRM NTSN on the availability of step-free Access at Railway Stations.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Transport has no plans to remove Appendix B from the Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRM) NTSN. The PRM NTSN is one of several measures that help make the railway more accessible and should be considered in conjunction with relevan...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNight-time Economy: ClosuresTreasuryTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41351More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39774, what assessment she has made of the medium-long term impact of the closure of (a) grassroots and (b) cultural nightlife businesses on tax revenue.
Answer: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street. That is why we have announced our intention to introduce permanently lower rates for high street RHL properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27, wh...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) of all ages and (b) under 22 years of age receive the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element of Universal Credit in Wimbledon constituency.
Answer: Quarterly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work in Great Britain are published on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides figures up to December 2024 which can be b...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39795More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) of all ages and (b) under 22 years of age receive the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element of Universal Credit in the (i) London Borough of Merton and (ii) t
Answer: Quarterly statistics for the number of People on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability restricting their ability to work in Great Britain are published on Stat-Xplore. The latest release provides figures up to December 2024 which can be b...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNight-time Economy: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of energy costs on nightlife businesses.
Answer: We recognise the impact that high energy costs are having on nightlife businesses. Through the Clean Energy 2030 Action Plan, we are providing a foundation to build an energy system that can bring down energy bills for businesses for good.To further suppo...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordVAT ExemptionsTreasuryTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39774More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a targeted VAT relief to 15% for (a) food, (b) alcohol and (c) tickets for (i) grassroots and (ii) cultural nightlife busine
Answer: The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK.VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Tax breaks re...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Wandle: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect the River Wandle from pollution.
Answer: The Wandle pollution incident on 18 February was unacceptable. I understand the Environment Agency is investigating.The Government is going further to clean up our waterways, delivering the Water (Special Measures) Act, giving Ofwat powers to ban bonus pa...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of train overcrowding on access to railway stations for wheelchair users.
Answer: We know that overcrowding can have an additional impact on those requiring assistance to complete their journeys. The Department for Transport publishes statistics on passenger numbers and overcrowding. The latest release was in September 2024. The Office...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of pre-booked passenger assists.
Answer: There was an increase of 22 per cent in the number of bookings for passenger assistance in 2023/2024. We want to see further increases in the number of people who are able to pre-book assistance by making improvements to the assistance that is offered as ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on providing full-step free access at Haydons Road station.
Answer: Following a recent nomination for step free upgrades at Haydons Road station, the Department and rail industry unfortunately identified limited passenger benefits. As such, limited funding is being prioritised to progress other stations which will deliver...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of railway stations have level boarding for passengers.
Answer: The Government is strongly committed to making the oldest railway in the world accessible. We will continue to take the Access for All programme forward as fast as funds allow. The Government programme of rail reform will end years of fragmentation – brin...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLondon Underground: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Transport for London on increasing the number of stations with step-free access on (a) the Northern Line, (b) the District Line and (c) across the London underground net
Answer: Ministers and officials have regular conversations with Transport for London on a variety of issues including accessibility of their network. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL is responsible for managing the London Underground.
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish her Department's review of the Access for All Scheme.
Answer: Various reviews of the Access for All programme have been undertake by the Department for Transport, the Government Internal Audit Agency and Network Rail. A number of changes to the programme have been implemented around Network Rail resourcing, governan...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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