Phil Brickell MP: written questions
106 published records · newest first.
Written questions
HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of using of Empty Dwelling Management Orders to help increase available housing.
Answer: Local authorities can use an Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) to increase available housing by bringing empty homes back into use. Local authorities can apply for an EDMO when a property has been empty for more than two years. This is subject to th...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEthics and Integrity CommissionCabinet OfficeTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46285More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on establishing an ethics and integrity commission.
Answer: We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through issuing a new Ministerial Code which highlights the importance of the principles of publ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordOrigin Marking: Occupied TerritoriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of goods labelled as originating from within Israel’s pre-1967 borders which actually originate from Israeli settlements.
Answer: HMRC are responsible for the conduct of origin verification checks on imported goods. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, HMRC will undertake checks to verify the origin of those goods to ensure fiscal compliance. Data on imports fr...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWater CompaniesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) investigations have been opened and (b) enforcement action taken under the Water Industries Act 1991, section 3(3)(a).
Answer: Section 3(3)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991 sets a requirement on water companies ‘to have regard to the desirability of preserving for the public any freedom of access to areas of woodland, mountains, moor, heath, down, cliff or foreshore and other pl...
Answered 24 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44736More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of inland waters that have a statutory right of access for recreational users.
Answer: Current estimates are that around 4%, or 1,400 miles, of rivers in England and Wales have a public right of navigation. There are around 3,500 miles of canal and river navigations that have a public right of access through the licensing regimes operated b...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Waterways: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44735More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to extend rights of responsible access to include more inland waters for recreational use.
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors, including blue spaces, for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure this is safe and appropriate. This is why we have set out our ambitious manifesto commitments t...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWater and Sewerage (Conservation, Access and Recreation) (Code of Practice) Order 2000Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the water sector meets its obligations under the Water and Sewerage (Conservation, Access and Recreation) (Code of Practice) Ord
Answer: It is water companies’ responsibility to comply with their obligations in respect of the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation. The Secretary of State will take companies’ actual or likely non-compliance with the Code of Practice into ac...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWater and Sewerage (Conservation, Access and Recreation) (Code of Practice) Order 2000Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the compliance of water companies with the Water and Sewerage (Conservation, Access and Recreation) (Code of Practice) Order 2000.
Answer: It is water companies’ responsibility to comply with their obligations in respect of the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation. The Secretary of State will take companies’ actual or likely non-compliance with the Code of Practice into ac...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: SurveysDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to implement the findings of the Care Quality Commission Community Mental Health Survey 2024, published on 4 April 2025.
Answer: We welcome the Care Quality Commission’s Community Mental Health Survey 2024, and we are carefully considering its findings.Too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care that they need. The Government is committed to changi...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Greater ManchesterDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Northern Rail on the potential impact of the proposed reduction in (a) Sunday and (b) late evening services between Westhoughton Station and Manchester central stations on l
Answer: Northern trains have no plans to reduce services on the Manchester-Southport line that serves Westhoughton. Some Sunday services have been temporarily removed from the timetable. This was agreed by Northern leaders as part of Northern’s work to stabilise ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish National (Overseas): PensionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK residents with British National (Overseas) Visas are able to access pension savings held abroad.
Answer: We are aware that individuals who have moved to the UK on the British National (Overseas) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pension savings held in Hong Kong. We are committed to supporting the valued BN(O) community in the UK...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Bus Manufacturing Expert PanelDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representation non legacy groups have in her Department's Expert Bus Manufacturers Panel.
Answer: The membership of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel comprises two classifications: Standing Members and Additional Members. Standing Members include Government departments and wider industry bodies. Industry bodies include the Society of Motor Manufac...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: FinanceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the ability of newly formed companies to access finance.
Answer: The Government works with the British Business Bank to improve the access to finance landscape for smaller businesses. An example of the Bank’s interventions is the Start Up Loans programme which provides personal loans to start up a new business or devel...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEmpty Dwelling Management OrdersMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many empty dwelling management orders were used in England in each of the last five years.
Answer: The Department does not collect data on the number of Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMOs) that have been issued. Local authorities can apply for an EDMO when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticeship LevyDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40316More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has commissioned research into the satisfaction rates of (a) private companies and (b) students participating in apprenticeship levy programmes.
Answer: The apprenticeship evaluation surveys commissioned by the department provide insights into the satisfaction rates of employers and apprentices.For employers, overall satisfaction rates were 83% for all commercial employers and 89% for all employers who re...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordApprenticesDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of (a) trends in the level of completion rates of people undertaking apprenticeships funded by the apprenticeship levy and (b) the quality of monitoring of Higher Educati
Answer: Qualification achievement rates for apprenticeships are published annually at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25. Data for the 2023/24 academic year is available at this link.The department holds a...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Conflict: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support women and girls in states affected by conflict.
Answer: Empowering women and girls is a UK Government priority. The UK will take a leading role on the global stage, building partnerships, particularly in the Global South, to promote greater gender equality that strengthens whole societies and economies. Having...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHumanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve partnerships with major humanitarian relief donors, in the context of the recent USAID funding freeze announcement.
Answer: We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors, geographic regions and multilateral organisations. We are gathering information and working with other donor partners to share analysis of the pause be...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordOutdoor EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support the outdoor education industry.
Answer: The department believes all children and young people should have access to outdoor learning and the opportunity to learn about and connect with nature. Access to green space has been shown to have positive impacts on the physical, mental and emotional we...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on long-term funding for active travel.
Answer: The Government recognises that investment in high quality active travel infrastructure supports its economic growth, health and net zero missions by helping to revitalise high streets; enabling people to live longer, healthier lives; and helping to reduce...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: Greater ManchesterDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Greater Manchester Active Travel Commissioner on encouraging (a) walking and (b) cycling across the Greater Manchester region.
Answer: Active Travel England (part of the Department for Transport) has engaged regularly with Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner over the last year, including on the role active travel can play in supporting the development of the Bee Network. This...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordActive Travel: Bolton WestDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage active travel in Bolton West constituency.
Answer: Bolton West is part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) area. GMCA was awarded over £5 million through the fifth round of the Active Travel Fund in 2024 to 2025 and will receive over £15 million as part of the integrated settlements for 20...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDisclosure of Information: LawDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to update whistleblowing laws.
Answer: The Government is updating whistleblowing laws through the Employment Rights Bill which will strengthen the protections for whistleblowers, by making it explicit that sexual harassment can be the basis for a protected disclosure.
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: LicensingDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to harmonise the licensing requirements for private hire vehicles for every local authority in England.
Answer: The Government is responsible for setting the regulatory structure within which licensing authorities in England administer the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regime. Under this system licensing authorities have the flexibility to set the standar...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordElectoral RegisterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase voter registration for elections.
Answer: The government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of options to deliver on this manifesto commitment, including making greater use of public data and online government services. Any changes will be based on rob...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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