Rebecca Smith MP: written questions
165 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Police Federation of England and Wales: PayHome OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the governance, transparency and accountability of the Police Federation of England and Wales in the context of the remuneration of the General Secret
Answer: We ask police officers to do a unique and challenging job, so it is vital that they have effective and robust representation of their interests through the Police Federation of England and Wales.The Police Federation must be fully accountable to its membe...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: PornographyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104453More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she will make the UK AISI/Thorn Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention mandatory for artificial intelligence developers.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 January 2026 to Questions UIN104313, UIN104352 and UIN104434.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGardens Trust: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what regard he has given to representations from the Gardens Trust about his Department's plans to remove it as a statutory consultee in the planning system.
Answer: On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closed on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here. No decision will be made on the Garden Trust’s role until responses to t...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnti-social Behaviour: ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101647More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish guidance to clarify the legal position of children aged 13 to 16 under section 75 of the Crime and Policing Bill.
Answer: Before commencing the new duty to report child sexual abuse, the Government will provide an appropriate period of time to prepare relevant sectors for implementation. This will include the development and publication of guidance for reporters.
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOffences against ChildrenHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that victims aged between 13 and 16 are adequately protected under section 75 of the Crime and Policing Bill, in light of findings from the Casey Review.
Answer: In its final report to government, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recognised that in limited circumstances, a different approach to mandatory reporting may sometimes be necessary when considering sexual activity between teenagers – for ex...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordReligion: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote social cohesion by improving faith literacy in schools.
Answer: High quality religious education (RE) can support community cohesion by developing pupils’ knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and by fostering understanding among people of different faiths and cultures. All state-funde...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchoolsDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a joined-up approach to the implementation of the Schools White Paper, the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Review, and the Curriculum Review.
Answer: Every child deserves an education that meets their needs, one that is academically stretching, where every child feels like they belong, and that sets them up for life and work.The Curriculum and Assessment Review was clear that whilst many young people a...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordInternet: PornographyCabinet OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101643More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which department has lead responsibility for policy on online pornography regulation; and with reference to Baroness Bertin's independent report entitled Creating a Safer World – the Challenge of Regulating Onli
Answer: Baroness Bertin’s independent report made 32 recommendations, including on governance and oversight of pornography policy. The ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’, published on 18 Dec...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPornographyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Baroness Bertin's independent report entitled Creating a Safer World – the Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography, published in February 2025, whether he has assessed the pote
Answer: The Government welcomes Baroness Bertin’s independent report, named Creating a Safer World – the Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography, as shedding light on an important issue. The finding that high levels of pornography use can lead to mental health...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIntimate Image Abuse: Victim Support SchemesHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current criminal and civil remedies available to victims of intimate image abuse; and with reference to Baroness Bertin's independent report
Answer: Work to address the circulation of non-consensual intimate image (NCII) content online is an important part of the government’s ambition to halve VAWG in a decade, and the recently published VAWG Strategy includes a commitment to explore routes to ensure ...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPornography ReviewDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to set out a timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of Baroness Bertin's Independent Pornography Review by May 2026.
Answer: ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ commits to creating a joint team to address the issues in Baroness Bertin’s Review. The team will be formed by the Home Office, Department for Scie...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIntimate Image AbuseHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reports of non-consensual sexual deepfake images have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what steps her D
Answer: The Office for National Statistics publishes information on the number of ‘threaten to share intimate photograph or film’ offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, but information on whether these offences involved non-consensual sexual deepfa...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGender Based Violence: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department has allocated to tackling violence against women and girls since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Home Office allocated £74 million in FY2024/2025 and £122.3 million in FY2025/2026 to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).Our investment funds a range of vital frontline support services to victims of VAWG, improving police response to VAWG...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEquality and Human Rights Commission: Codes of PracticeWomen and EqualitiesTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101637More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to respond to the recommendations made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on their updated code of practice following the For Women Scotland ruling.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my written answer to PQ92379, dated 26 November 2025, which provides the information you requested. The EHRC has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the consultation and submitte...
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99430More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Minister of State for Social Care will reply to the email of 21 October 2025 from the hon Member for South West Devon on scheduling a meeting with him to discuss the demand on primary care
Answer: A meeting has been scheduled with the hon. Member to discuss this matter.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRolling Stock: South WestDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the withdrawal of Class 43 HST trains from service in the South West does not affect scheduled services.
Answer: The Department is committed to maintaining a reliable timetable in the South West as the High Speed Train (HST) fleet, including Class 43 power cars, is withdrawn. The remaining three units are being withdrawn at the end of the Summer 2025 timetable and t...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether, under the Devolution Framework, non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authorities can receive any form of consolidated multi-year settlement.
Answer: The devolution framework in the English Devolution White Paper commits to a simplified funding landscape for Mayoral and Foundation Strategic Authorities. Foundation Strategic Authorities receive a single allocation from the Adult Skills Fund to support e...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: CornwallMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, in light of his letter to Cornwall Council stating that he is minded, on an exceptional basis, to explore designating the council as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority, whet
Answer: The English Devolution White Paper set out a clear and transparent pathway for areas to be designated as Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and thereby become eligible for an Integrated Settlement. Any future designation of Cornwall Council as a S...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Marine SystemsDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that the necessary licences for marine autonomy sea trials to take place can be granted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Answer: The MCA have engaged with Harbour Masters and the Defence Maritime Regulator to facilitate creation of maritime autonomy sea trial areas. MCA are also in discussions with the Government Legal Department to explore avenues for providing the necessary certi...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the treatment of surplus funds held by district councils, including West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council, in the event that those auth
Answer: It is expected that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. It is essential that councils continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties during and after local government reorganisation. The Department will continue to ...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: InnovationMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Defence and Security Accelerator.
Answer: UK Defence Innovation Defence and Security Accelerator (UKDI-DASA) does not track constituency level data but does track data regionally. There have been 237 UKDI-DASA funded projects in the South West totalling £51.2 million, 169 of those were awarded to...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: InnovationMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Exploration Fund.
Answer: Funding from the Exploration Fund (ExF) is allocated internally to projects within the Ministry of Defence, some of which may include provisions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs cannot apply directly for funding from the ExF. Constituen...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: InnovationMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence SMEs in South West Devon constituency have a) applied for and b) received funding from the Defence Innovation Fund.
Answer: Funding from the Defence Innovation Fund (DiF) is allocated internally to projects within the Ministry of Defence, some of which may include provisions for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs cannot apply directly for funding from the DiF. Con...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Codes of PracticeDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish the draft statutory Code of Practice governing retail market conduct under Great British Railways; whether she plans to consult on that Code of Practice; and whether that Code will be
Answer: The future rail retail industry code of practice will set out clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) interacts with all market participants. It will be owned and managed by the ORR, and GBR’s licence will require compliance with it. The R...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGreat British Railways: Retail TradeDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her estimate is of the a) initial set-up and b) ongoing costs associated with Great British Railways’ future retail capability via website and app.
Answer: The government has set out plans for GBR to retail online, bringing together the 14 rail operator websites and apps. This will reduce fragmentation, deliver savings through removing duplication, and provide a more coherent passenger offer. The costs and s...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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