Rebecca Smith MP: written questions
280 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Internet: 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 recordFires: Air PollutionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the the amount of smoke pollution caused by wildfires in the UK in (a) 2024 and (b) in 2025; and if she will make a statement.
Answer: The estimates for emissions from wildfires in 2024 will be published in February 2026, and the estimates for 2025 will be published in February 2027.
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Wholesale TradeTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89098More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of its plans for business rates reform on the (a) wholesale sector and (b) (i) number of jobs and (ii) levels of costs in the wholesale sector.
Answer: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower businessrates multipliers fo...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMedical Treatments: InnovationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to open its Early Access Service for innovative technologies in areas of unmet clinical need.
Answer: In July of this year the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published a statement of policy intent for the development and implementation of an Early Access Service for innovative medical devices. This statement is available at the follow...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAerials: RentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 80709 on Churches: Aerials, what estimate she has made of the average change in rents paid to (a) churches, (b) local authorities,
Answer: Measures included in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 will extend the statutory valuation framework contained in the Electronic Communications Code to certain cases regulated by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the B...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for (a) research into and (b) the treatment of low-grade glioma; and whether he plans to increase that funding.
Answer: The Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).The NIHR is continuing to invest in brain tumour research. Working with stakeholders from across the research community, in Se...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its updated violence against women and girls strategy.
Answer: This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women andgirls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving fo...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the updated Violence Against Women and Girls strategy will include policies on tackling harms against (a) young boys vulnerable to child sexual abuse and (b) all children.
Answer: This Government has been clear that the level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in our country is intolerable, and we are treating it as the national emergency that it is.The new VAWG Strategy will set the direction for the next decade, driving f...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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