Rebecca Smith MP: written questions
72 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 904908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the defence investment plan.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will be published this Autumn. For the very first time the Ministry of Defence’s Plan will cover the full scope of the defence programme, from people and operations to equipment and infrastructure, to ensure we can deliver the ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: South West DevonHome OfficeTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has commissioned the use of (a) hotel accommodation and (b) private rented accommodation in South West Devon constituency for the purpose of housing asylum seekers since 4 July
Answer: Statistics are published on a quarterly basis detailing the number of asylum seekers in supported accommodation in each local authority area. The most recent publication can be found here: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCervical Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the levels of cervical screening uptake in Devon.
Answer: NHS England has created a South West Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy committee, along with its associated pillars, covering cervical screening, human papillomavirus vaccination, and cervical cancer treatment, which is delivering numerous projects to ...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: Written QuestionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 59537, tabled by the hon. Member for South West Devon on 12 June 2025.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59537 on 20 June 2025.
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil SocietyDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will publish the civil society covenant.
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is working closely with civil society representatives to develop a Civil Society Covenant that will act as a foundation for resetting the relationship between government and civil society. We aim to publi...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: MayorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the ??English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, whether new unitary councils will have the option of adopting council mayors as their execu
Answer: In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider the governance models available to local authorities across the sector. As part of wider reforms to the local government landscape, the department continues to review avai...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: MayorsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to allow local councils to (a) adopt and (b) retain a mayoral executive model.
Answer: In the English Devolution White Paper, the Government made a commitment to consider the governance models available to local authorities across the sector. As part of wider reforms to the local government landscape, the department continues to review avai...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference chapter 2, section 9D of the Local Government Act 2000 of her Department’s English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what powers a directly el
Answer: The Functions and Responsibilities Regulations 2000, made under the Local Government Act 2000, set out which functions are not to be the responsibility of a council’s executive (mayor and cabinet, or leader and cabinet). As we set out in the English Devol...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCurriculum and Assessment ReviewDepartment for EducationTabled 2 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to hold discussions with religious education organisations on developing a national standard for religious education as part of her Department's curriculum and assessment review.
Answer: Religious education (RE) remains a statutory subject in all state-funded schools in England. While it is not part of the national curriculum, it continues to play an important role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain.The independent Curriculum ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: DevonMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.7 of the Spring Statement, how many housing units will be refurbished in the (a) South West Devon, (b) Plymouth Moor View and (c) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituencies in 2025
Answer: The Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication in Summer 2025 will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation. This work includes an extensive review of our Service Family Accommodation to determine how we will ut...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025, how much funding allocated to his Department will be allocated to the refurbishment of service housing stock.
Answer: The allocation of funding for refurbishment of service housing stock is currently in the process of being determined, aligned to the Defence Housing Review.
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBoats: Small BusinessesDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the draft Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code on small businesses.
Answer: The public consultation for the Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure Code of Practice and underpinning Statutory Instrument ran from the 4th December 2024 to the 25th February 2025. A De-Minimis Assessment for the Code of Practice and Statutory...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of engaging the pharmacy sector to help deliver digital NHS health checks.
Answer: The NHS Health Check Online will be ready for piloting in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Throughout the development of the pilot, Community Pharmacy England has been engaged.Individuals taking part in the pilot will be able to us...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made on the national rollout of digital NHS health checks across England; and when he expects that rollout to be completed.
Answer: The NHS Health Check Online service will be piloted in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Subject to the outcomes of the pilot, an independent evaluation and Government Digital Service processes, the aim is to roll out nationally fro...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacy: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to provide funding for the Pharmacy First scheme after March 2025.
Answer: The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. We are working at pace wi...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has considered (a) phasing in changes and (b) enabling the completion of projects that were (i) already on-site, (ii) due to commence shortly and (ii) part of phased works
Answer: Claims received in this financial year are unaffected, assuming that they are eligible claims with the required detail and documentation. We expect the cap will be applied to all claims received on or after 1 April 2025. We will be publishing guidance on ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, announced on 22 January 2025, on the ability of religious build
Answer: DCMS Ministers received advice on changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, including consideration of the potential impacts of various options to scale the scheme.We believe that the changes announced will continue the widest distribution of ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFarmers: Government AssistanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers who are not registered to the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.
Answer: This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a two-year period. Following the announcement that Defra has closed SFI for the submi...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: Nitrogen DioxideDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of airport expansion on meeting targets under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions.
Answer: My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the D...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAirports: ConstructionDepartment for TransportTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of airport expansion on meeting targets under the Air Quality Standards Regulation
Answer: My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the D...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPhysics: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to replace the funding of the Stimulating Physics Network.
Answer: This government has inherited significant pressures on public finances and difficult decisions must be made on how money is spent right across the public sector to ensure we deliver on our priorities. Despite these challenges, the department continues to ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 903168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of energy costs on businesses.
Answer: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPornography: InternetDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to strengthen the regulation of online pornography platforms hosting violent and extreme content.
Answer: From 17 March 2025 services in scope of the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content. Publishers of pornography online also have a duty to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing pornographic ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSupported Housing: Housing BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of naming supported lodgings as specified accommodation under housing benefit regulations.
Answer: No such assessment is planned.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support developers to comply with biodiversity net gain policy for large housing developments when credits (a) are and (b) are not available.
Answer: The Government has published extensive guidance on biodiversity net gain (BNG), alongside the statutory biodiversity metric tool, which supports developers in calculating the biodiversity value of their developments. Defra are also funding the Planning Ad...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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