Rachel Gilmour MP: written questions
277 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will meet with Ofgem to discuss poor practice in the recouping of (a) missed and (b) underpaid payments in the energy sector.
Answer: The Department has regular meetings with Ofgem on a number of issues. The Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to custome...
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will issue guidance on raising an issue of safety on a housing development where the operators are aware of the risks.
Answer: The Health and Safety Executive already provide guidance on raising health and safety issues in a workplace or public space. This can be found on their website www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she made an assessment of the potential impact of removing the match-funding provision through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on children in adoptive and kinship care before announci
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Tiverton and Minehead to the answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49523.
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to cap the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on children in adoptive and kinship care.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Tiverton and Minehead to the answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 49523.
Answered 29 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGP Surgeries and Hospitals: Power FailuresDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the provision of emergency back up generators in rural (a) hospitals and (b) GP surgeries.
Answer: No national assessment has been made of the provision of emergency backup generators in hospitals and general practice surgeries. It is the responsibility of each National Health Service provider to have resilience plans and procedures in place.Guidance i...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Houses: ExmoorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53746More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Exmoor National Park Authority on the suitability of change of use applications for pubs on Exmoor.
Answer: Planning permission is always required to change use of a pub, ensuring that local consideration can be given to any such proposals through the planning application process, in consultation with the local community. Defra cannot comment on individual plan...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: Rural AreasDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support rural (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) further education colleges to recruit (i) sustainable and (ii) adequate levels of staff.
Answer: High-quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child and young person’s outcome in schools and colleges. Recruiting and retaining more qualified, expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break dow...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with which organisations her Department held discussions on changes to the level of funding provided through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
Answer: The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.The adoption and ...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of restoring the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund in the forthcoming spending review.
Answer: The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.The adoption and ...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundDepartment for EducationTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of (a) children and adolescent mental health services and (b) other services to support adopted and kinship cared children, in the context of the reductio
Answer: The government is investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life.The adoption and ...
Answered 4 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGwyn JenkinsMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will make an assessment of the suitability of the appointment of General Sir Gwyn Jenkins as First Sea Lord.
Answer: General Jenkins is a proven leader with a distinguished career in both the military and at the core of Government. He brings with him a wealth of operational and organisational expertise and he will continue the modernisation of the Royal Navy, ensuring i...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: AppealsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the (a) length in number of applicants and (b) duration of time of the backlog in Personal Independence Payment awards for appeals where a decision was previously made.
Answer: As of April 2025, a total of 8,900 appeals are currently in progress. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 100. DWP is not solely responsible for appeals wait time. Appeals are lodged by claimants with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (H...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the (a) length in number of applicants and (b) duration of time of the backlog in Personal Independence Payment awards.
Answer: As at the end of January 2025, a total of 265,000 New Claims were in progress. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 1,000.For the average clearance times in median weeks for New Claims under Normal Rules, please see the Personal Independence Paymen...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: PollutionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on confirmed cases of waterborne illness linked to exposure to (a) Salmonella and (b) Leptospira at UK bathing waters since 2020.
Answer: There have been no reported outbreaks of salmonella spp. associated with recreational water use in the time period requested since 2020.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes surveillance of Salmonella spp. infections. No information is availabl...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: Pollution ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average time was between a pollution discharge notification and a public bathing water quality warning being issued during the 2024 season.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) does not record the time between notifying a Local Authority of a pollution incident that may affect a bathing water and how long it then takes the Local Authority, who have the responsibility for notifications being put up at ...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWater CompaniesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with water companies on expanding the usage of community testing.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) engages with citizen science groups on a site-by-site basis regarding bathing waters along with water companies who do the same. The EA uses citizen science data to provide supplementary insights. Citizen science initiatives fo...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBeaches: ClosuresDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of beach closures caused by pollution on tourism in coastal communities.
Answer: DCMS recognises the importance of clean and accessible beaches to the tourism offer in coastal communities.For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage which affect coastal beaches.That is why the Water (Special Measures) Ac...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to reduce the cost of temporary accommodation for local authorities through the Spending Review.
Answer: At phase 1 of the Spending Review the Government announced a £233 million increase for homelessness services, taking total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. This includes the largest-ever investment in prevention services, enabling councils to interv...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented HousingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help increase social housing supply through the Spending Review.
Answer: The government will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on deliverin...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFood Supply and PovertyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 1 May 2025AnsweredUIN 49864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse of (a) food insecurity and (b) economic hardship.
Answer: It is unacceptable that people are falling into hardship and using foodbanks. This is why we have committed to tackling poverty and ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. Our plan for Making Work Pay and our Get Britain Working White Paper, alo...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting permitted development rights for (a) caravans and (b) temporary installations on agricultural land to cases
Answer: The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: SomersetDepartment for TransportTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the Strategic Outline Business Case by West Somerset Railway for linking Bishops Lydeard and Taunton.
Answer: The Government believes that local authorities are best placed to decide on, and take forward, transport schemes that will most benefit their local areas. The Department does not currently have any plans to take forward development of Bishops Lydeard and...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEssential Tremor: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of funding for research into essential tremors.
Answer: The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is supporting research that involves essential tremors and has awarded £2,814,334 for related studies in the last five years. The NIHR welcomes fund...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish (a) an arthritis action plan and (b) other disease-specific action plans following publication of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
Answer: There are currently no plans to publish an arthritis action plan following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan.Services for those with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including arthritis, are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs)....
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArthritis: ExerciseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help people with arthritis to stay physically active.
Answer: Guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the diagnosis and management of osteoarthritis recommends therapeutic exercise for all people with osteoarthritis that is tailored to their needs and that is part of a wider st...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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