Paula Barker MP: written questions 2025
129 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Housing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of houses that will be built by the end of 2025.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36228 on 14 March 2025.
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of homelessness since July 2024.
Answer: Local housing authorities report their homelessness activities under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by completing the quarterly Homelessness Case Level Information Collection (H-CLIC) st...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to Personal Independence Payment on people above over state pension age.
Answer: Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made on people who will no longer be eligible to receive Personal Independence Payment by age.
Answer: Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: Housing ImprovementMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there are obligations on landlords in relation to the rent they charge if their property has been improved with a grant under the (a) Energy Company Obligation, (b) Boile
Answer: Energy Company Obligation schemes do not place obligations on landlords in relation to the rent they charge if their property has been improved.Currently, private landlords in England and Wales are eligible to apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with reg...
Answered 17 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: TribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consideration is given to home Energy Performance Certificates by the first-tier tribunal in determining a market rent assessment.
Answer: A market rent decision in the First-tier Tribunal is a judicial decision. In reaching a decision, a tribunal will take into account all relevant factors in a given case including, amongst others, those relating to the condition of a property such as energ...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's proposed social security reforms to PIP on trends in the levels of child poverty.
Answer: The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41135More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has commissioned an impact assessment on the proposed PIP reforms on household income with (a) at least one person in work and (b) at least one recipient of PIP, whether that be t
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get B...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of PIP recipients were in some form of (a) work and (b) training on 25 March 2025.
Answer: You can find the proportion of PIP recipients in employment in the evidence pack that was provided alongside the ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’, which shows that 17% of PIP claimants were in employmen...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's proposed changes to PIP on access to (a) carers allowance, (b) council tax support and (c) other benefits linked to PIP.
Answer: There will be no immediate changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. For those already on PIP, the changes will only ...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's proposed changes to PIP on households in which a PIP recipient is exempt from the benefit cap.
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published here alongside the Spring Statement.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper ...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Local Housing AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an impact assessment of the potential impact of changes to Personal Independence Payments on under 35's who claim Local Housing Allowance at the 1 bedroom rate.
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published here alongside the Spring Statement.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper ...
Answered 31 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the composition of the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy aligns with the Government’s (a) obesity strategy and (b)
Answer: The Food Strategy Advisory Board is a small group of senior leaders representing a wealth of experience from across the food system. Its role is purely advisory, to help steer the food strategy in delivering our ambition for a healthier, fairer and more r...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a list of members of the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy.
Answer: The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025.
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to conduct a public consultation before finalising appointments to the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy.
Answer: The role of the Food Strategy Advisory Board is purely to advise on the development of the food strategy. There will be multiple routes for stakeholders to share ideas as part of the co-design process in 2025.
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy includes representation from businesses involved in the production of (a) legu
Answer: The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025. The Food Strategy Advisory Board is the first step in a wider engagement strategy which will continue to ensure and demonstrate the joined-up and system-wide appr...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what eligibility criteria his Department is using to appoint members to the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy.
Answer: Membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board has been selected through identifying senior leaders who represent important elements within the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector. The Government has sought to keep it a small group while r...
Answered 16 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Food Strategy Expert Panel: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) large food manufacturers and (c) public health organisations on the composition of the
Answer: Members of the Food Strategy Advisory Board were selected through identifying senior leaders who represent important elements within the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector.
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBiometrics: Private CompaniesHome OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) retailers and (b) trade unions on the risk of misidentifications by private facial recognition systems.
Answer: The Home Office is not responsible for facial recognition systems procured and operated by independent retailers.In terms of police use of facial recognition systems, the Home Office supports forces in developing systems, guidance and training to minimise...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: BiometricsHome OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legal safeguards for people wrongly flagged as criminals by private facial recognition systems.
Answer: The Home Office is not responsible for facial recognition systems procured and operated by independent retailers.In terms of police use of facial recognition systems, the Home Office supports forces in developing systems, guidance and training to minimise...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBiometrics: ShopsHome OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards her Department has put in place to help protect people misidentified by facial recognition technology in shops.
Answer: The Home Office is not responsible for facial recognition systems procured and operated by independent retailers.In terms of police use of facial recognition systems, the Home Office supports forces in developing systems, guidance and training to minimise...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBiometricsHome OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of facial recognition misidentifications on the public.
Answer: The Home Office is not responsible for facial recognition systems procured and operated by independent retailers.In terms of police use of facial recognition systems, the Home Office supports forces in developing systems, guidance and training to minimise...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Supply: CostsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of water infrastructure costs on consumers.
Answer: For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterwa...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: NationalisationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department made of the potential merits of nationalising the water industry.
Answer: The Secretary of State has been clear the Government has no intention to nationalise water companies. Nationalising a water company would cost billions of pounds, and it would take years to unpick the current ownership model, during which time underinvest...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordWater ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33999More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in the level of water chargers on consumers.
Answer: For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterwa...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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