Peter Bedford MP: written questions
225 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Civil ServantsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the nationality of foreign office civil servants on government policy.
Answer: All civil servants are appointed on merit and are required under the Civil Service Code to provide impartial, objective advice to Ministers.
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPensions: Inheritance TaxTreasuryTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121948More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Inheritance Tax on private pension provision.
Answer: Most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension will form part of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. This removes distortions resulting from changes that have been made to pensions tax policy over the las...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: CrimeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to betting and gaming levies on illegal gambling operations.
Answer: The issue of illegal gambling is a concern for this Government. We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed. As part of the 2025 Budget, the Treasury announced that the G...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFiscal Policy: ImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an internal (a) estimate and (b) similar type of projection for the net fiscal impact of immigrants in the UK over their lifetimes since July 2024.
Answer: The Migration Advisory Committee has produced an assessment of the lifetime fiscal impact of migrants in the UK, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6938108633c7ace9c4a41e42/ The_Fiscal_Impact_of_Immigration_Final__1_.pdfFurther...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what change there has been in the number of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers since 4 July 2024 for which the latest data is available.
Answer: Exiting all asylum hotels as soon as possible is one of the Government’s top priorities and must be executed through a controlled, managed and orderly plan of work. This plan involves reducing inflow, speeding up caseworking, maximising utilisation of our...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: Community RelationsHome OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department considers a person's potential impact on social cohesion and their likelihood of integration when assessing their asylum claim or visa application.
Answer: Every asylum claim is considered on its individual merits by assessing all the evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information guidance.Refugee status is granted when someone has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Ref...
Answered 15 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish student loan repayment data, broken down by national origin, for the last academic year for which data has been collated.
Answer: The number of student loan borrowers who are not UK Nationals and withdrew from their latest recorded course in 2024/25 was 15,000 (to the nearest 500).The department and the Student Loans Company have strengthened the quality and consistency of data in t...
Answered 10 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordOverseas Students: Student WastageDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many foreign nationals claiming student loan or a maintenance loan dropped out of their courses in the last academic year for which data is available.
Answer: The number of student loan borrowers who are not UK Nationals and withdrew from their latest recorded course in 2024/25 was 15,000 (to the nearest 500).The department and the Student Loans Company have strengthened the quality and consistency of data in t...
Answered 10 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Redundancy PayTreasuryTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121043More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total value of non-contractual severance payments across the civil service establishment in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Answer: All government departments are required to disclose information on exit payments in their Annual Reports and Accounts, in line with the Government Financial Reporting Manual. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Performance AppraisalCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121042More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil service employees were on performance management plans in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Answer: Data on how many civil servants have a performance management plan in place is not captured centrally.
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Office: ApprenticesNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many apprentices the Department recruited in 2025 compared with (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.
Answer: The Northern Ireland Office recruited 1 apprentice in 2023 and 1 in 2025 for a 2-year term. We did not recruit any apprentices in 2022 or 2024.
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: ApprenticesCabinet OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121040More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many apprentices the Department recruited in 2025, compared with (a) 2022, (b) 2023, and (c) 2024.
Answer: YearNumber of New Apprentices RecruitedTotal Apprenticeship Starts (New Recruits and Internal Conversions)2022369520233512620244210120252965 The Department had a greater number of apprenticeship starts overall during this period, as the total figures incl...
Answered 23 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: ApprenticesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many apprentices the department recruited in 2025, compared with the figures for i. 2022, ii. 2023 and iii. 2024.
Answer: There are two different ways of counting apprenticeship recruitment:Definition A: colleagues who joined on an apprenticeship contract.Definition B: colleagues who joined MHCLG via a role which was advertised as including an apprenticeship and subsequently...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment of Health and Social Care: ApprenticesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many apprentices the department recruited in 2025, compared with the figures for i. 2022, ii. 2023 and iii. 2024.
Answer: The majority of apprenticeships in the Department are held by existing employees who started an apprenticeship after they had joined the Department.The following figures refer only to people who were recruited specifically to a role as an apprentice in ea...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Work and Pensions: ApprenticesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprentices the Department recruited in 2025, compared with the figures for i. 2022, ii. 2023 and iii. 2024.
Answer: As the policy holder for apprenticeships and skills, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises the value of apprenticeships in building skills and kickstarting careers. We are committed to creating meaningful apprenticeship opportunities withi...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAutoimmune Diseases: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research his Department has conducted into changes in the number of cases of auto immune disorders since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer: The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has funded several studies which explore links between SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and autoimmunity.For example, in April 2025, researchers funded by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCharities: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119765More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of National Insurance changes on the closure rate of charities.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN set out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on indiv...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAlcoholic Drinks: Young PeopleHome OfficeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the age for alcohol purchasing to 16.
Answer: The Government has no plans to lower the legal age for purchasing alcohol from 18 in England and Wales.This is consistent with the Licensing Act 2003 objective of protecting children from harm.It remains an offence to sell alcohol to under-18s and license...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: AgeMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the age for deployable service-personnel to 16.
Answer: All recruitment into the UK military is voluntary and no young person under the age of 18 years may join our Armed Forces unless their application is accompanied by the formal written consent of their parent or guardian. We take the duty of care towards a...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmoking: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of lowering the age of smoking and vaping to 16 year olds on the impact of 16 year olds.
Answer: Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. It claims the lives of approximately 80,000 people a year in the United Kingdom and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users.Three quarters of smokers wish they had nev...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDriving Licences: Young PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of lowering the age of driving to 16.
Answer: The Department is not considering lowering the driving age to 16. Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and that is especially the case for young people who are disproportionately involved in road collisions. That is why the Road Safety Strategy focus...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPet Travel SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether UK pets that have an EU pet passport will continue to be able to travel to the EU under that passport, and not require an Animal Health Certificate to do so after 22 April 2026
Answer: Pets leaving Great Britain must comply with the relevant requirements as determined by the country of destination. Defra always advises pet owners to consult with the relevant authorities in the country of destination if any pet travel requirements for mo...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: TaxationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the potential impact of budget changes to betting and gaming levies on the viability of British sports.
Answer: The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing and other sports make to the nation’s economy and sporting landscape. DCMS and HMT Ministers have regular engagement on betting and gaming levies.
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWork Capability AssessmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Work Capability Assessments were (a) curtailed and (b) closed early in the last year for which data is available.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold or publish statistics on the number of Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) that have been curtailed or closed early, either over the last five years or in the most recent year for which data is available. ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWork Capability AssessmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Work Capability Assessments received Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity, Limited Capability for Work and Fit for Work awards in the last five years.
Answer: The department regularly publishes Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment (UC WCA) statistics, with monthly UC WCA decision outcomes, currently available from April 2019 to August 2025, shown in Table 6 of the latest data tables and on Stat-Xplore in...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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