Rebecca Smith MP: written questions
165 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bahrain: NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Royal Navy personnel currently deployed to Bahrain for the decommissioning of HMS Lancaster will be withdrawn for the duration of the current conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Answer: The United Kingdom remains concerned over the indiscriminate attacks from Iran across the region, which are putting British nationals at risk. The safety of British personnel and citizens will always be the government's top priority, and we have therefore...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFree School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 106805, what steps her department is taking to ensure that all local authorities give serious consideration to implementing auto-enrolment for free school m
Answer: This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We want to make sure that every family that needs support can access it.Local authorities are responsible for managing their own processes for identifying ch...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesScotland OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 908006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussion he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the proposed application of electric vehicle pay-per-mile taxation on people living in rural communities in Scotland.
Answer: At the Budget, the Chancellor confirmed the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2028 - recognising that electric vehicles contribute to congestion and wear-and-tear on our roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty. While those living in...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Skilled WorkersDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration her Department has given to the potential impact of wage inflation on the availability of skilled labour in rail infrastructure, maintenance, and engineering roles.
Answer: The railway depends on a thriving and competitive supply chain that supports economic growth and invests in its workforce and the skills required to enable a functioning railway. The Department for Transport monitors capacity within the rail sector throug...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailway InspectorateDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of returning the Railway Inspectorate to the Health and Safety Executive.
Answer: His Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) was transferred from the Health and Safety Executive to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in 2006 to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of railway safety regulation. Housing HMRI within ORR allows safety...
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of emergency track and asset renewals on the rail network over the last ten years.
Answer: Analysis of trends in asset failures form part of Network Rail’s assurance processes. Whilst it has identified that track asset ‘used life’ has been increasing over ten years, its data shows that the ‘performance risk’ for rail and track geometry defects ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rail decarbonisation policies on costs to consumers.
Answer: The impact of rail decarbonisation policies on consumers is very minimal, as measures such as electrification of track and train are implemented over multi-year infrastructure investment cycles, and are not passed through to consumers in full via ticket p...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRailways: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of moving to a ten-year rail funding settlement to support long-term planning, value for money, and whole-life asset management.
Answer: We have considered the appropriate length of rail funding settlements as part of rail reform and the establishment of Great British Railways. Five-years of infrastructure funding, resulting in a five-year delivery plan, has been established as the appropr...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFoster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her department has made of the effectiveness of the Independent Fostering Agencies at improving the retention of experienced foster carers; and what steps she is taking to ensure that Regional C
Answer: The department’s fostering plan, published on 4 February, focuses predominantly on strengthening local authority fostering provision, which has seen the biggest decrease in foster carers in recent years. At the same time, we want to see an expansion of th...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFoster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that Regional Care Cooperatives work in structured collaboration with Independent Fostering Agencies to (a) facilitate shared sufficiency planning (b) maximise
Answer: The department’s fostering plan, published on 4 February, focuses predominantly on strengthening local authority fostering provision, which has seen the biggest decrease in foster carers in recent years. At the same time, we want to see an expansion of th...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing Benefit: Social Rented HousingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made a recent evaluation of the effectiveness of the under-occupation deduction policy for social rented housing.
Answer: The Department has not recently evaluated the effectiveness of the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy. Information on the number of households subjected to the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, by nations and regions, is available on Stat-Xplore via the H...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing Benefit: Social Rented HousingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department will publish (a) national and (b) regional breakdowns of under-occupied social rented housing.
Answer: The Department has not recently evaluated the effectiveness of the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy. Information on the number of households subjected to the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, by nations and regions, is available on Stat-Xplore via the H...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social Behaviour: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 101647 on Anti-social Behaviour: Children, whether she will provide a forum for volunteer groups to ask questions that may arise as a result of t
Answer: Guidance accompanying the new mandatory reporting duty will make clear that child sexual abuse must never be tolerated. The government will work closely with those impacted by the introduction of the duty to ensure it is clearly understood ahead of commen...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 101646 on Offences against Children, whether guidance will explicitly address the concerns outlined in the Casey Review that Child Sexual Exploit
Answer: Guidance accompanying the new mandatory reporting duty will make clear that child sexual abuse must never be tolerated. The government will work closely with those impacted by the introduction of the duty to ensure it is clearly understood ahead of commen...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 6 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 101646 on Offences against Children, whether guidance to volunteer groups will explicitly state that child sexual abuse must not be tolerated und
Answer: Guidance accompanying the new mandatory reporting duty will make clear that child sexual abuse must never be tolerated. The government will work closely with those impacted by the introduction of the duty to ensure it is clearly understood ahead of commen...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCompanies House: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with Companies House on recent increases to their fees.
Answer: The recent adjustments to the fees, which came into effect on 1 February 2026, were determined following detailed modelling of budgetary requirements by Companies House to support the delivery of priorities set by this government. There was extensive dial...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFoster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the regionalisation of foster care commissioning on the role of independent fostering agencies, including on (a) placement availability, (b) co
Answer: Every child in care should have a safe, loving home at value for money for the taxpayer. Through our package of measures, including those in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will rebalance the placements market, improve competition, regulatio...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFoster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of independent fostering agencies on a) costs to local authorities and b) outcomes for children in care; and whether plans to regionalise the comm
Answer: Every child in care should have a safe, loving home at value for money for the taxpayer. Through our package of measures, including those in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will rebalance the placements market, improve competition, regulatio...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFree School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities in England have implemented auto-enrolment for free school meals.
Answer: The department does not hold information on which local authorities in England have implemented auto‑enrolment for free school meals. Local authorities are responsible for managing their own processes for identifying eligible children.This government is c...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: WalesWales OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of the proposed visitor levy on the Welsh economy.
Answer: The Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy could raise up to £33 million a year to reinvest in local communities and support tourism, reflecting the strength of the sector.We have announced that a similar overnight levy will be introduced in England, building on...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Retail TradeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105431More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the development, operating and upgrade costs of the proposed Great British Railways retail app and website; how she plans to assess value for money; and when final information on t
Answer: Officials continue to develop the proposition for the Great British Railways app and website. We are engaging with industry on this project and will provide updates in due course.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Retail TradeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what safeguards will be included in the Great British Railways licence to manage conflicts of interest arising from Great British Railways’ dual role as system operator and rail retailer.
Answer: To ensure fair and open competition when Great British Railways (GBR) has a dual role as a retailer and provider of wider retail industry management functions, the government has announced a robust package of safeguards. These are a Code of Practice, with...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Retail TradeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the principle of economic parity between Great British Railways’ retail operations and third-party retailers will be included in the Great British Railways Licence.
Answer: To ensure fair and open competition when Great British Railways (GBR) has a dual role as a retailer and provider of wider retail industry management functions, the government has announced a robust package of safeguards. These are a Code of Practice, with...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Retail TradeDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral evidence to the Transport Committee on Wednesday 7 January 2026 on the Railways Bill, how structural separation between retail functions and cross-industry management functions of Gre
Answer: To ensure fair and open competition when Great British Railways (GBR) has a dual role as a retailer and provider of wider retail industry management functions, the government has announced a robust package of safeguards. These are a Code of Practice, with...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Parliamentary ScrutinyDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned sequencing and timetable is for (a) publication of the draft Great British Railways licence for parliamentary scrutiny and formal consultation, (b) consultation led by the Office of Rail and Ro
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 88358 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Further information on the GBR licence can be found in the Railways Bill factsheet: holding Great Bri...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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