Rachel Gilmour MP: written questions 2026
66 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Warm Homes PlanDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a direct-payment mechanism under the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme to enable grant funding to be paid directly to a TrustMa
Answer: The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme provides grant funding to local authorities to deliver energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income privately owned homes in England below EPC Band C. This includes homes both on and off the gas grid....
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that young people with symptoms of breast cancer are not dismissed by healthcare professionals because of their age.
Answer: It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including breast cancer in young people, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster.The National Health Service runs Help Us Help You campaigns in...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWarm Homes Plan: Rural AreasDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that households deemed financially eligible under the Warm Homes Local Grant are able to receive measures where local delivery agents are unable to provide t
Answer: The Warm Homes: Local Grant supports low-income households in England by funding energy efficiency improvements - including insulation, heat pumps, and solar PV. Eligible households in privately owned EPC band D–G homes, both on and off the gas grid, can ...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDental Services: ContractsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of recent reforms to NHS dental contracts in England on patient access to services and supporting dentists to deliver NHS care; and whether he has consider
Answer: We have introduced a package of reforms this year to address some of the pressing issues that dentists and dental teams have been experiencing. These reforms prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFire Prevention: EquipmentTreasuryTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12366More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying a reduced or zero rate of VAT to essential fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services ...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMobile Phones: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mobile phone coverage in rural areas; and what steps he is taking to tackle gaps in mobile and broadband connectivity in Oake in Somerset.
Answer: Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This includes rural communities such as Oake, as well as towns and cities. In their Connected Nations Spring update (13 May 2026), Ofcom reported that as of Ja...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTiverton High School: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress has been made in delivering the School Rebuilding Programme for Tiverton High School.
Answer: The project is at pre-feasibility stage, and the department is undertaking technical work and planning appraisals. Work to date suggests that significant development of the school will be required, and that this may not be permitted by the planning author...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Delivery ServicesHome OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve enforcement against dangerous riding among moped and motorcycle delivery riders.
Answer: The Government is clear that dangerous or anti-social riding by any road user, including moped and motorcycle delivery riders, is unacceptable. Those who break the law should expect robust enforcement action.A strong legislative framework is already in pl...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHeating: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8281More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to support households in off-gas-grid homes where heat pumps are not a viable option; and whether he plans to introduce grant funding for alternative low-carbon heating tech
Answer: To provide additional support for off-gas-grid households the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will begin to provide grants of £9,000 for hydronic heat pumps replacing oil or LPG boilers in off-grid homes from 21 July, in addition to the £7,500 grants that are avail...
Answered 17 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCrossbows Act 1987Home OfficeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to update the Crossbows Act 198, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislation; and what plans she has to regulate the
Answer: Measures being brought in through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which amend the Crossbows Act 1987, introduce stricter age verification procedures around the online sale, delivery and hire of crossbows. These measures will ensure that a crossbow, or pa...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to address gaps in broadband connectivity in rural areas where properties are beyond effective range of fibre-to-the-cabinet infrastructure and have no confirme
Answer: As of the end of December 2025, over 1.3 million premises in hard-to-reach communities across the UK had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.A further 580,000 premises are currently included in Project Gigabit c...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNeurologyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 5525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of ICB-level oversight of neurology services.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their local population, including for patients with neurological conditions. NHS England continues to set national standards, service specifications, and clini...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: VATTreasuryTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3620More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the total revenue raised through VAT on electricity used to charge electric vehicles, including (a) domestic charging at the reduced 5% VAT rate and (b) public charging at th
Answer: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue on electricity used to charge electric vehicles. This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive ...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice CautionsHome OfficeTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current review and oversight mechanisms in cases where the police issue a conditional caution without a charging decision being made, particularly in ci
Answer: The use of conditional cautions is governed by a clear statutory framework and established safeguards. They are provided for under sections 22 and 23 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and are subject to the Ministry of Justice’s Code of Practice for adult ...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: British Nationals AbroadDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of frozen state pensions on UK state pensioners residing overseas.
Answer: The UK's policy on the up-rating of the UK State Pension for recipients living overseas is a longstanding one. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide without regard to nationality and is uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so. This a...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Tax BurdenTreasuryTabled 19 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3037More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of the overall tax burden on hospitality businesses.
Answer: The Government recognises the important contribution that businesses in the hospitality sector make to local communities, the high street and the wider economy across the UK. The potential impacts of changes on this sector are carefully considered as part...
Answered 28 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEducation Act 1996Department for EducationTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department collects data from local authorities on the reasons why Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 is applied.
Answer: The department collects data from local authorities on placement reasons for pupils educated under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 for those in local authority funded placements.This information is published annually in the ‘Schools, pupils and their...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordYoung People: Missing PersonsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of embedding a cross-governmental approach to young people who go missing.
Answer: The government takes the issue of any child going missing, from home or care, extremely seriously and has provided clear guidance about responsibilities for all children who go missing. When a child is found, they must be offered an independent Return Hom...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFuels: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122338More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the costs of expanding the rural fuel duty relief scheme to cover all of Tiverton and Minehead constituency.
Answer: The Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme has provided a 5p reduction to motorists buying fuel in certain areas since its introduction in 2012. The areas included in the scheme demonstrate certain characteristics such as: pump prices much higher than the UK avera...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPropranololDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of stock levels of propanolol 80mg and 160mg modified release capsules until July 2026 on (i) patient outcomes and (ii) availability
Answer: The Department is aware of supply issues affecting propranolol 80 milligram and 160 milligram modified release (MR) capsules due to ongoing manufacturing issues. The issues affecting propranolol 80 milligram MR capsules are expected to resolve by July 202...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBreast Cancer: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out how the National Cancer Plan for England will reduce barriers to innovative and life extending treatments for people with secondary breast cancer when those treatments are not ap
Answer: The National Cancer Plan commits to increasing access to the best innovative cancer treatments for all patients, including those with secondary breast cancer. The Cancer Drugs Fund has helped to ensure that, according to industry data, patients in England...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Workplace PensionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the administration of the Tier 2 NHS Pension Scheme, particularly in relation to retirement dates and the clarity of communications regarding retireme
Answer: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) administers the NHS Pension Scheme in accordance with the scheme regulations and publishes clear guidance to support members applying for ill-health retirement, including Tier 2 benefits. The guidance sets out ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEmergency Calls: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the ability of rural communities to contact emergency services in the event of a prolonged power cut following BT’s move from copper landlines to digital
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that any risks from the industry-led migration of the copper based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for everyone across the UK, including rural communitie...
Answered 20 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of the UK’s readiness for war.
Answer: As set out in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, we are increasing national warfighting readiness to deter threats to UK and our interests. This includes transforming the Armed Forces to ensure they are more lethal, reversing the 14 years of hollowing out...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117188More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the business rates model on rural pubs that have been rescued and are operated by volunteers in local communities; and what steps she is taking to ensure that
Answer: The Government has announced a £4.3 billion business rates support package to protect ratepayers from large overnight increases in bills. In addition, the Government is introducing permanently lower multipliers for eligible RHL properties. These are worth...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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