Paula Barker MP: written questions 2024
170 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bangladesh: HinduismForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) discussions he has had with his counterpart in Bangladesh and (b) diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
Answer: I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, the UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all ...
Answered 4 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3199More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the interim government in Bangladesh.
Answer: The UK Government welcomes the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigatin...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCivil SocietyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3198More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to use the (a) expertise and (b) capacity of the voluntary and community sector to help (i) develop and (ii) deliver the Government's policy objectives.
Answer: The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with civil society and treating them as an equal, expert partner who will be integral to delivery of the Government’s vision for national renewal.The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) h...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3197More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to work with the voluntary and community sector to help end homelessness.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for cross-governmental coordination of policy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and will update in due course.
Answered 11 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: Civil SocietyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to engage with civil society on the delivery of the Government's programme.
Answer: The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with civil society and treating them as an equal, expert partner who will be integral to delivery of the Government’s vision for national renewal.The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) h...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VacanciesHome OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to incentivise recruitment of (a) domestic graduates from overseas and (b) overseas graduates to fill shortages in the labour market.
Answer: Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.The Home Office keeps visa fees under revi...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrant Workers: VacanciesHome OfficeTabled 30 Aug 2024AnsweredUIN 3194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will reduce the cost of visas for overseas graduates who are able to fill gaps in the labour market.
Answer: Overseas students who successfully complete an eligible course in the UK are entitled to remain on a graduate visa for two years after their studies end, or three for PHDs, to work, live and contribute to society.The Home Office keeps visa fees under revi...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: Cost EffectivenessDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) roadworks and (b) road maintenance are carried out in the most (i) efficient and (ii) cost-effective way.
Answer: Road works are essential to ensure that utility companies can install and maintain the infrastructure on which we all rely and highway authorities can maintain their roads to an appropriate standard. We continue to work closely with utility companies and ...
Answered 3 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: CostsDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the annual cost is of (a) overrunning and (b) delayed road maintenance works.
Answer: Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority to maintain and manage the highway network it is responsible for. The Department for Transport does not collect nor require local highway authorities to provide data about...
Answered 3 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordRoad WorksDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of the road network that was restricted due to (a) roadworks and (b) closures on 22 July 2024.
Answer: My Department does not collect information on road closures and we are not able to make an assessment of the proportion of the road network that was restricted. Roads are managed by either National Highways or local highway authorities, depending on the r...
Answered 3 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordUSA: CubaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the US economic embargo on Cuba on (a) the economy of Cuba and (b) trade between the UK and Cuba.
Answer: The UK has consistently voted in support of the annual United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The embargo impedes the economic development of the country. Titles III and IV of the Helms Burton Act pre...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Domestic AbuseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that local authorities do not apply local connection tests to victims of domestic abuse.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social hous...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSleeping Rough: WomenMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help reduce the number of women who are rough sleeping.
Answer: Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. We recognise that women sleeping on the streets have different experiences and needs to me...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: Domestic AbuseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department will take to help protect victims of domestic abuse who have joint tenancies in social housing.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social hous...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordTemples: SecurityHome OfficeTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help protect Hindu temples.
Answer: We are absolutely committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion and we will not tolerate anti-Hindu hatred in any form. Government and police routinely assess potential threats to ensure that protective measures are in...
Answered 5 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department will take to incentivise young people who live in supported accommodation to work more hours.
Answer: We acknowledge the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in supported housing. However, people in supported housing and in receipt of Housing Benefit are always better off in work than not w...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordHousehold Support FundDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to provide a multi-year funding settlement for the Household Support Fund.
Answer: £500 million is being provided to enable the current Household Support Fund, including funding for Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means Local Authorities in England are receiving £421 million to ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCash DispensingTreasuryTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2144More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to cash in areas with (a) few and (b) no cash machines.
Answer: The Government is committed to protecting access to cash forindividuals and businesses. The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator responsible for access to cash further to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, with powers to seek to ensure t...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with business to reduce the (a) manufacture and (b) distribution of single use plastic products.
Answer: This Government is committed to banning the sale, supply and manufacture of wet wipes containing plastic.
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordPlastics: PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce plastic pollution.
Answer: The Government is committed to reducing plastic waste and in April 2024 announced a ban on plastic-containing wet wipes. We will be assessing further actions to take to address the challenge of plastic pollution and move to a circular economy for plastics...
Answered 30 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: North of EnglandDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to improve rail connectivity between (a) Liverpool and (b) other northern cities.
Answer: Transport is an essential part of our mission to rebuild Britain, and this Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that works for the whole country. This includes improving rail connectivity across the north of England. Re-introducing the Hig...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordCare Workers: Migrant WorkersHome OfficeTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will undertake a review of the treatment by agencies of staff recruited from overseas to work in the adult social care sector through the Health and Care Worker Visa scheme in respect of (a) wo
Answer: The Home Office keeps all its policies under review, including the Health and Care visa. We will work across government to carefully consider policies relating to the treatment of internationally recruited care workers. The Government will ensure that tho...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordImmigration: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a migration impacts fund.
Answer: The Government has not made a recent assessment of a migration impacts fund. The Home Office is continuing to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on supporting those who have resettled in the United Kingdom.
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: SafetyHome OfficeTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been issued by her Department to Fire Authorities on the impact to safety standards of riding (a) three, (b) four and (c) five firefighters on an appliance.
Answer: Expectations of FRAs from Government are set out in the Fire and Rescue National Framework, which all FRAs must have due regard to. Whilst the National Framework does not include explicit reference to operational safety standards, I will consider if this ...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: StandardsHome OfficeTabled 18 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the governance of fire and rescue services.
Answer: We have not undertaken an assessment of the governance of Fire and Rescue Services but recognise its importance in ensuring effective delivery of public safety outcomes.We continue to work with Fire and Rescue Authorities, the Local Government Association...
Answered 25 Jul 2024
Original Parliament record
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