Paula Barker MP: written questions 2024
170 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Social Rented Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many social houses will be built by housing associations with Government support in the next 12 months.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024. The Government supports housing associations and local authorities to build new social and affordable housing through the Affordable Homes Programme. We do not set annual...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordParks: Urban AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in maintaining parks in cities.
Answer: The Government supports local authorities in the maintenance of urban parks and green spaces in many ways. The Government’s Green Flag Awards scheme helps to increase access to quality green spaces and sets the standard for those spaces to meet the needs ...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAbortion: ClinicsHome OfficeTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on how to effectively enforce the law in respect to buffer zones around abortion clinics.
Answer: The Crown Prosecution Service published guidance on 31 October 2024, alongside further information from the College of Policing, setting out how the police and prosecutors should approach enforcing the new offence.
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordStudents: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to support students with (a) the cost of living and (b) accommodation costs.
Answer: The government is determined that the higher education funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students. This government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go t...
Answered 8 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Young PeopleDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to incentivise businesses to employ young people.
Answer: The Government’s plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all, including young people. In addition, the Department for Education has established Skills ...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Reading EastHome OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to address the intelligence failings outlined in the regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report issued on 20 May 2024 in the case of deaths in the Forbury Gar
Answer: The deaths of James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020 were a tragedy. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of James, Joseph and David, and with all of ...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Reading EastHome OfficeTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has responded to the regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report issued on 20 May 2024 in the case of deaths in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020, to which a response
Answer: The deaths of James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails in the Forbury Gardens terror attack of 20 June 2020 were a tragedy. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of James, Joseph and David, and with all of ...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFilmDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10793More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that growth in the British film industry is shared across the UK.
Answer: The government is firmly committed to supporting the growth of the film industry across every nation and region. Through our UK-wide funding programmes, investment in infrastructure, tax reliefs and support for independent British content, we want the UK ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordFilm: LiverpoolDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the growth of the film industry in Liverpool.
Answer: The government is firmly committed to supporting the growth of the film industry across every nation and region. Through our UK-wide funding programmes, investment in infrastructure, tax reliefs and support for independent British content, we want the UK ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMerseyside Police: Organised CrimeHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help support Merseyside Police to tackle organised crime gangs.
Answer: The impact of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) is felt on our streets and in our communities. The Home Office is committed to ensuring that the police have the capabilities they need to tackle this significant threat.Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) continu...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMerseyside Police: Crimes of ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Merseyside Police on tackling (a) violent and (b) knife-related crime.
Answer: Tackling knife crime and violence is a top priority for the Government.We are already taking action to get dangerous weapons off the street. We have banned Zombie style knives and zombie style machetes, and the manufacture, supply, sale and possession of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTommy Robinson: DemonstrationsHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Metropolitan Police in relation to (a) reports of planned protests by Tommy Robinson on Saturday 26 October 2024 and (b) public protection during those protest
Answer: The Home Secretary is in regular contact with the Metropolitan Police Service on a range of issues, including public order.The management of demonstrations is an operational decision for the police, who are independent from government.
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRadicalismHome OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor far-right activity.
Answer: The government is absolutely committed to tackling those who spread views that promote violence and hatred against individuals and communities in our society, and that radicalise others into terrorism.To understand such threats, we routinely monitor and a...
Answered 30 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of (a) trends in level of planning applications granted for buy-to-let developments and (b) the potential impa
Answer: The department does not hold data on planning applications for buy-to-let developments and we are therefore unable to assess the impact of trends in applications on first-time buyers.
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: Tenants' RightsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing private rented sector tenants' protections and rights of redress against (a) landlords and (b)
Answer: Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) schemes play a vital role in protecting tenant deposits and providing free alternative dispute resolution, should a deposit dispute arise at the end of a tenancy. TDP providers are appointed as authorised schemes through g...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth Services and Social Services: HomelessnessDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence entitled Integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness, published on 16 March 2022,
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, and is working across the Government and the health system, and with local government, commissioners, and the voluntary sector, to continue to ...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: RentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the role of letting agencies on trends in the level of rents in the private rented sector.
Answer: The Government keeps trends in the Private Rented Sector under review, including the role of letting agents.The English Private Landlord Survey 2021 asked landlords if they had increased their rent and, if so, what were their motivations for doing so. It ...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHome Care Services: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that home care workers are paid correctly for their travel time.
Answer: All workers, including social care workers, must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for the work that they do. Time spent travelling between appointments counts as working time for minimum wage purposes. If anyone thinks th...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCommonwealth: LGBT+ PeopleForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help promote LGBT rights across the Commonwealth.
Answer: The UK is strongly committed to championing LGBT+ human rights and activists across the Commonwealth. This work is enabled by our £40 million LGBT+ Rights Programme, which supports the vital work of organisations such as The Commonwealth Equality Network ...
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Departmental CoordinationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with the Minister for Women and Equalities on a role for a Women and Equalities Minister in the cross-government strategy to tackle homelessness.
Answer: We will consult and engage a wide range of stakeholders to develop our new cross-government strategy to make sure we put in place services that meet people’s needs. This includes discussions with the Secretary of State for Education who has responsibility...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordVon Hippel-Lindau Disease: BelzutifanDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide Belzutifan to patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE has published f...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRevenue Support GrantMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will incorporate other streams of funding into the Revenue Support Grant.
Answer: I refer my Hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 524 on 26 July 2024.
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government ServicesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of trends of the level of demand on statutory services provided by local authorities since June 2010.
Answer: Local authorities play a crucial role in the delivery of this Government’s missions, from driving growth, to delivering opportunities for all. The Government is under no illusions about the scale of the pressures that local authorities are facing which is...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the local authority funding gap in the next two years.
Answer: I refer the hon member to the answer to Question UIN 524 answered on 26 July 2024.
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to give local authorities greater flexibility in respect to grant funding.
Answer: The Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system, moving away from wasteful competition and towards multi-year funding settlements.We want to have better...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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