Rachel Gilmour MP: written questions
161 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bus Services: ConcessionsDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of introducing free bus passes for people aged 60 and over.
Answer: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statuto...
Answered 21 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic OffencesMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of sentencing guidelines for banned drivers causing harm to (a) children, (b) animals and (c) other vulnerable road users; and whether she plans to review those guidel
Answer: Driving offences have widespread impact on our communities and can have devastating consequences for victims, their families and their friends. The Government takes road safety very seriously and reducing those killed and injured on our roads is a key pri...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRights of WayDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the right to roam in England.
Answer: The Government committed in its manifesto to improving responsible access to nature. The Department is currently assessing the best way to deliver this, and further information will be made available in due course.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: TextbooksDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to purchase essential textbooks.
Answer: Overall core revenue funding for schools totals almost £61.6 billion this financial year, 2024/25. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and young people with high needs for the 2025/26 finan...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPostural Tachycardia Syndrome: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people with postural tachycardia syndrome.
Answer: Improving health outcomes for people who live with long-term conditions, including postural tachycardia syndrome, is a key part of the Government's mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future. The National Institute for Health and Care E...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund a permanent initiative.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Tiverton and Minehead to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: SomersetDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle disparities in length of periods of poor health between (a) people in Somerset and (b) the national average.
Answer: The United Kingdom faces significant health inequalities, with life expectancy varying widely across and within communities. The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain by tackling the structural inequalities that contribute to poor health, p...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: WaterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including (a) ingress and (b) egress routes for water in new building developments.
Answer: This government recognises the importance of development being resilient to flooding from all sources, including from surface water. The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that developments of all sizes sh...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCrafts: National Vocational QualificationsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to withdraw funding for the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Stone Masonry Heritage and Skills on (a) the preservation of heritage skills and (b) the
Answer: The government has a central mission to drive forward opportunity and growth, which relies on people having the skills needed to thrive in life and work. The construction sector is vital in driving economic prosperity and providing career opportunities fo...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department can take to ensure (a) existing drainage infrastructure is maintained and cleaned to appropriate levels to deal with high water volumes and (b) that future dr
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) maintains assets and infrastructure, including flood relief channels to divert water during heavy flows. EA monitoring teams use telemetry systems to identify and respond to high levels, while field teams ensure water conveyanc...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment and Support Allowance and Universal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the financial impact of transitioning from ESA to Universal Credit on adults with preventing disabilities.
Answer: We have interpreted your question to mean ‘To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the financial impact of transitioning from ESA to Universal Credit on adults with preventable disabilities’. The G...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: MouldMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to address the failures in remedial work to combat mould in rented properties, in the context of the associated health risks.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that rented homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February (HCWS423) confirming that the government will bring Awaab’s Law int...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFishing Vessels: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29274More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending business rate relief to include angling boats as small businesses.
Answer: Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value (RV). Eligible properties with an RV under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief and there is also tapered support available to properties va...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: Government AssistanceTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29273More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for Rateable Charity Relief for charity organisations using (a) tidal mooring and (b) harbour spaces.
Answer: Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value (RV). Eligible properties with an RV under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief and there is also tapered support available to properties va...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: Winter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the impact of the withdrawal of Winter Fuel payments on pensioners who (a) are not in receipt of Pension Credit and (b) have an annual income below £15,000.
Answer: The Government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control. The policy change ensures that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low-income pensioners who need it most. Information on pensioners with incomes b...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) his officials are taking diplomatic steps to ensure that (i) Avinatan Or and (ii) the remains of Yossi Sharabi are returned by Hamas.
Answer: The safe release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links, is a top priority for the government. The current ceasefire deal must secure their release, protect both Israelis and Palestinians, and allow the safe distribution of aid.The UK is wo...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PrisonersForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his (a) Israeli, (b) US and (c) Qatari counterparts on the (i) safety and (ii) potential early release of (A) Eli Sharabi and (B) Oded Lif
Answer: The safe release of all hostages, including those with strong UK-links, is a top priority for the government. The current ceasefire deal must secure their release, protect both Israelis and Palestinians, and allow the safe distribution of aid.The UK is wo...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Products: SmugglingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of (a) illegal and (b) banned products of animal origin (POAO) have been seized at the Port of Dover since September 2022.
Answer: Please see the table below for total seizures of illegal meat year on year. The figures quoted are seizures from all ports who had returned seizure data to us from September 2022 onwards as part of Defra African Swine Fever programme. This does not reflec...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAfrican Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth DiseaseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10798 on African Swine Fever and to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19080 on Foot and Mouth Disease, what recent assess
Answer: Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the UK, it remains a key priority in terms of exotic notifiable disease preparedness. The overall risk of an incursion is currently assessed to be medium, and we continue to prepare for ...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: CopyrightDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department had made of the adequacy of existing legislation to ensure copyright protections across the creative industries.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of the UKs copyright regime to the economic success of the creative industries, one of eight growth-driving sectors as identified in our Industrial Strategy. We are committed to supporting rights holders by ensurin...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: Council TaxTreasuryTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25085More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of current council tax guidance for the valuation of farm properties with outbuildings.
Answer: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes its guidance manual here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-manual/council-tax-practice-notes. Practice Note 2, Appendix 2 refers. Technical experts are also available internally to provide support to VOA ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: UK Trade with EUTreasuryTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25084More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of EU parcel regulations on the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises to trade with the EU.
Answer: The Government is aware of the EU Commission’s proposed reforms to the Union Customs Code (UCC), which include proposals aimed at addressing significant increases in volumes of parcels imported directly to consumers. The Government will continue to monit...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: Planning PermissionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential merits of incorporating (a) environmental and (b) animal welfa
Answer: The Department works closely with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to deliver planning reforms with regular discussions on how the impacts of development can be fully considered and planning can improve outcomes for nature whilst e...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the cost of acquiring a waste exemption permit on future trends in the level of landfill.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) charges consultation (including proposals to charge for waste exemptions) is now closed. The EA expects businesses that register and comply with waste exemptions without the requirement for an environmental permit, will continu...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed charge for waste exemption permits on the ability of small environmental farms to recycle.
Answer: The Environment Agency charges consultation included information on the affordability of waste exemption charges for the agriculture sector. It can be found online here. Included in the document is the following estimates for a 3-year registration period:...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →