Rachel Gilmour MP: written questions
277 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Flood 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 recordFlood Control: Local GovernmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methods for public recourse are available when a council authority is unable to fulfil their statutory duties on flood prevention.
Answer: Protecting all communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five core priorities. Lead local flood authorities (unitary and county authorities) are required to manage local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordOsteoporosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is to introduce early diagnosis services for osteoporosis.
Answer: On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. Further information on the Elective Reform Plan is available a...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: Working HoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the support for out of hours doctors services in (a) Tiverton and Minehead constituency and (b) England.
Answer: No such assessment has been made by the Department. The commissioning of out of hours services, and to what extent those services are supported, is the responsibility of local commissioners in partnership with their providers, and in the best interest of ...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEpilepsy: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding for research into epilepsy.
Answer: The Department funds research into epilepsy via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). There are currently no plans to assess the adequacy of funding for research into epilepsy, however, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality appl...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) support for homeless people and (b) the criteria by which those at risk of homelessness are deemed vulnerable.
Answer: Homelessness levels are far too high and this Government is taking action to deliver long term solutions. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25), bringing total...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: South WestDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding levels for NHS Dentists in the South West of England; and if his Department will draw up plans on how to use additional funding
Answer: A budget of £3.8 billion for primary, community, and secondary dentistry has been allocated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England for 2024/25, to deliver new initiatives and address the challenges facing National Health Service dentistry. Al...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Devon and SomersetMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the resources available to local government for planning enforcement in (a) Devon and (b) Somerset.
Answer: In the answer to Question UIN 16501 on 5 December 2024 I set out the government’s investment to support capacity and capability in local authorities. This will be further underpinned by increases in planning fees that will help improve the resourcing of p...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRenewable Fuels: Public ConsultationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 7 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to deliver a consultation on technical issues associated with renewable liquid heating fuel under Section 159 of the Energy Act 2023.
Answer: As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation which have fewest options to decarbonise. Renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) are also much more expensive to use than other heating solu...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: PaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of paying the State Pension in monthly instalments.
Answer: State Pension payments are usually paid four weekly in arrears. People have the option to be paid weekly or in some circumstances bi-weekly. There are no plans to introduce alternative payment arrangements.
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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