Peter Bedford MP: written questions 2025
357 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Gambling: TaxationTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100716More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to betting and gaming levies on illegal gambling operations in the UK.
Answer: Estimates suggest the illegal market is relatively small in the UK, between 2 – 9% of legal online market stakes. The Gambling Commission is already tackling this risk and protecting consumers, but we recognise that modern technology makes it easier for i...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: TaxationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the agricultural sector on the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Re
Answer: The Government regularly and actively engages with representatives from the farming industry through regular meetings and discussions, ensuring we listen to their views, understand their concerns, and take their feedback into account. At the November 2025...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBudget November 2025: Hospitality IndustryTreasuryTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100708More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she had with representatives of the hospitality sector ahead of the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answer: Ahead of the Budget Government Ministers and Senior Officials met with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including those from the hospitality sector. These meetings provided an opportunity for the Government to ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Small BusinessesMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of small and medium sized businesses in the Department's supply chain.
Answer: Defence is an engine for growth. The Department is taking significant steps to promote the use of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within its supply chain. The new Office for Small Business Growth is being established to provide a single access p...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordJuries: Public ConsultationMinistry of JusticeTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what public consultation his Department has undertaken on planned changes to jury trials.
Answer: In developing his recommendations, Sir Brian Leveson and his expert advisers, including Professor David Ormerod, consulted with many external bodies involved in the Criminal Justice System including criminal legal organisations, charities, academics, and ...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrants: OffendersHome OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants that possess a criminal record (a) in the UK and (b) abroad were previously thought by her Department to not hold a criminal record since July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not readily available, requiring manual scrutiny of systems and matching of individual records, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: OffendersHome OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of migrants that arrived in the UK by small boat that possess a criminal record either in the UK or abroad.
Answer: The Home Office conducts mandatory identity and security checks on all small boat arrivals.As part of this process, the Home Office collects biometric data—such as facial images and fingerprints—to verify identity. These biometrics are checked against Hom...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWorkplace Pensions: National Insurance ContributionsTreasuryTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98647More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate has she made of the number of people that will reduce their working hours following the introduction of National Insurance contribution on any salary sacrifice scheme exceeding £2,000.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to pensions salary sacrifice.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds information on the number of road traffic accidents caused by people driving legally under non-GB issued driving licences.
Answer: The information requested is not held by the Department for Transport.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98627More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing asylum expenditure data by constituency.
Answer: The department publishes asylum expenditure data at national or regional level, which is more robust and meaningful for policy and operational purposes.All available information on asylum expenditure is published in the Home Office Annual Report and accou...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Tax Credit and Universal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of foreign-born families who will claim universal credit or tax credits for more than 2 children and (b) the total cost of this.
Answer: No such estimate has been made. Universal Credit is primarily reserved for people settled in the UK, and overall, the proportion of claimants in this country who are foreign nationals has fallen since October 2024. But we want to go further which is why w...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds information on the number of UK road traffic accidents caused by people driving in the UK without a valid full or provisional UK-issued driving licence.
Answer: This information is not held by the Department for Transport.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: Dogs and PrimatesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the strategy Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what dat
Answer: The Government’s publication, Replacing Animals in Science: A Strategy to Support the Development, Validation and Uptake of Alternative Methods, sets out our long-term vision for a world in which the use of animals in scientific research is eliminated exc...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Foreign NationalsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of stopping out of work benefits for foreign nationals in the UK.
Answer: On 20 November the Home Secretary launched a consultation on proposals for a fairer pathway to settlement, the point at which foreign nationals generally gain access to public funds. These plans include doubling the standard qualifying period for settleme...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for Access to Work applications; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken for those applications on applica
Answer: We recognise the importance of clearing the backlog, which is why last year we increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% and we have continued to streamline delivery practices. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioritise ...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Coal Staff Superannuation SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department expects to reach a decision on the potential transfer of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme reserve; and if he will publish a timeline for implementation.
Answer: The Chancellor announced in the budget the transfer of the full reserve of £2.3bn which will increase member incomes by 41%. Implementation is a matter for the Trustees but we understand they have put processes in place so that the first payments will be ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFirstPort: StandardsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her department has had recent discussions with FirstPort property management on the adequacy of their service.
Answer: In response to widespread concerns raised in the debate on property service charges on 30 October, I met Martin King, Managing Director of FirstPort, on 17 November. In that meeting, I pressed Mr King and his associates on a wide range of issues stemming ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if his department will a) include?sepsis research?in its publication of areas of research interest for alternative methods to animal testing and b) end the use of sepsis research involv
Answer: The Government’s strategy to support replacing animals in science commits to publish biennially from 2026 a list of alternative-methods research and development priorities.Sepsis is a complex and multifaceted condition, and its study presents significant ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Vocational GuidanceDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Careers Advisors working in schools receive training in mental health support, to help identify and assist students experiencing mental health challenges.
Answer: The department recognises the vital role that careers advisors play in supporting young people to thrive in their future career. We do not expect careers advisors to provide clinical mental health care, but we are committed to ensuring they are better equ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordVisasHome OfficeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her department monitors the whereabouts of people in the UK who overstay their visa.
Answer: We expect people with no right to be here to leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, Immigration Enforcement will seek to enforce their departure.The Home Office does not routinely categorise immigration offenders by the manner in which they...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: OffendersHome OfficeTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the number of immigrants granted asylum or indefinite leave to remain that have a criminal record either in the UK or abroad.
Answer: The requested information is not in a reportable format and can only be collated at disproportionate cost.As explained in this note published in April 2025, systems for collecting and compiling data related to foreign national offenders in the immigration...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBeer and Cider: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92332More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of cutting duty on draught beer and cider served in pubs.
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the government cut alcohol duty rates on draught products by 1.7%, which applies to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85...
Answered 24 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordVAT: Drink and FoodTreasuryTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92331More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of cutting VAT for food and drink served in pubs, social clubs and brewery taprooms.
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. VAT is the U...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: MigrantsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that immigrants in the UK do not drive on public roads under a non-GB issued licence for longer than 12 months.
Answer: While the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is responsible for issuing driving licences, enforcement of the law is a matter for the police.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department holds information on the number of UK road traffic accidents caused by immigrants driving without a valid full or provisional UK driving licence.
Answer: This information is not held by the Department for Transport.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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