Richard Foord MP: written questions 2025
50 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Trees: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees sections of her Department's Environmental Improvement Plan, published on 1 December 2025, what discussions she has
Answer: Defra has engaged with MHCLG on the forthcoming review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This government is committed to the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 which includes an action to maintain current protections in the NPPF for ancie...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational ParksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to amend the Protected Landscapes Duty.
Answer: Whilst the Government does not intend to repeal the duty, we acknowledge that decision makers may need support in applying the duty appropriately. The department has already published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies opera...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFibromyalgia: Work Capability AssessmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the symptom lists used in disability and capability assessments for people with fibromyalgia; and whether his Department plans to update that guidance.
Answer: The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) are functional assessments. They do not evaluate claimants based on their medical diagnosis or health condition alone and claimants are not assessed against a set ...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordM48: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the 2022 South Wales Trunk Road Agent review finding on the M48 central safety barrier; and what steps her Department is taking to
Answer: Whilst the 2022 review by South Wales Trunk Road Agent (SWTRA) into the M48 central safety barrier focuses on the Welsh section of the M48 only, safety remains the number one priority for the Department and National Highways across the strategic road netw...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDisease ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK Resilience Academy's Exercising Best Practice Guidance, whether external expert observers and evaluators have been involved in Exercise Pegasus; and what steps he is taking
Answer: Trained observers and evaluators participated throughout Exercise PEGASUS, the largest simulation of a pandemic in United Kingdom history. These observers and evaluators provided an external view on the decisions and actions taken by participants, support...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInfectious Diseases: Disease ControlDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Recommendations 6 and 7 of Module 1 of the UK Covid 19 Inquiry, what steps he is taking to (1) gather and (2) publish findings, lessons and recommendations within the recommended
Answer: Live participation in Exercise PEGASUS has now concluded, although a fourth phase, centred around recovery, is planned to be exercised in 2026. A published post-exercise report will include learning and findings from this and all preceding phases and this...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ComplaintsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure complaints in his Department exceeded the required 50-working-day timeframe for issuing an outcome in the latest period for which data is available.
Answer: Between 1 January and 31 October 2025, a total of 86 Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) complaints were processed. Of these, 71 (83%) were resolved within the 50-working-day timeframe, while 15 (17%) exceeded this timeframe.
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Workplace PensionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88382More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) transparency and (b) communication in cases of alleged armed forces pension overpayments.
Answer: Armed Forces pension overpayments can occur for various reasons, most commonly following the death of a pension recipient. When an overpayment is identified, the payment agent, Equiniti, will initially inform the pension recipient or their next of kin abo...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCountryside: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 is not amended to reduce the level of protection for National (a) Parks and (b) Landscapes.
Answer: The Protected Landscapes Duty, at section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, will play a key role in achieving government’s commitment to enable Protected Landscapes organisations, including National Parks and National Landscapes, to make ...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to publish a national strategy for palliative and end of life care.
Answer: The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.Additionally, we are supporting the hospice sector with a £...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance Certificates: Holiday AccommodationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84737More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support self-catering businesses in making changes to properties to comply with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
Answer: Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation sought views on whether short-term lets should be included to help ensure a consistent standard across all private rent...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNational ParksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the protected landscapes duty.
Answer: This Government is working with a range of partners to consider the impact of the Protected Landscapes Duty. We have received and considered many letters on this matter, including one Campaign for National Parks wrote on behalf of over 170 organisations. ...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAdditional Voluntary ContributionsTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 78848More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether pension increases resulting from voluntary National Insurance contributions are backdated to the date HMRC received payment in cases where processing delays exceed the expected timeframe.
Answer: Where voluntary National Insurance contributions lead to a pension increase, the adjustment is applied to the relevant tax years being applied for and is backdated to the date HMRC received the payment, even if processing takes longer than expected.
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel: SchoolsDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support families in rural areas with the cost of transport to schools.
Answer: The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, particularly in rural areas.On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue ...
Answered 18 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 905631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of rural broadband coverage.
Answer: Rural broadband coverage is not good enough. We are delivering nationwide gigabit broadband, through Project Gigabit.Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, 89% of premises benefitting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCambodia: ThailandForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent reports of the shelling of civilian infrastructure in Thailand by Cambodian forces; and i
Answer: The Government continues to monitor the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute closely with officials from our Embassies in Bangkok and Phnom Penh conducting site visits to affected areas to better understand the impact on local populations. We urge all parties...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FinanceDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71514More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the difference in per capita bus funding between rural and urban areas.
Answer: The Government recognises that different areas have different characteristics and needs for their local bus network. The Government has committed to reforming bus funding to create a fairer and simpler system for bus funding that takes into account local ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Convention for the Protection of All Persons From Enforced DisappearanceMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; and for what reason the UK has not yet signed that Convention.
Answer: The Government considers that the current domestic framework and legislation already prevent arbitrary arrests, prohibits torture and degrading treatment, and holds the Security and Intelligence Agencies to account.We therefore currently have no plans to ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordOfficial Visits: USAHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of providing protection and support during Donald Trump's visit to Scotland.
Answer: We were delighted to welcome the President to the UK earlier this year. The visit supported our deep and enduring alliance with the United States, which is vital for both our economic and security interests.As is the case for many visits from high profile...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTelevision: Data ProtectionDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that internet-connected smart TVs do not monitor users’ activity without prior, informed consent; and if she will consider requiring such d
Answer: All organisations in the UK that process personal data must comply with the requirements of the UK GDPR, including ensuring any processing is lawful, fair and transparent. Providers of smart devices must consider how their products implement these princip...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGardens: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will consider introducing a national scheme offering small grants to private individuals for the creation of climate-resilient, wildlife-friendly gardens.
Answer: We recognise the importance of individual action and the contribution that wildlife-friendly gardens can make to nature recovery and climate resilience. Our Land Use Consultation this year asked about approaches to support such outcomes in urban areas. We...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSelf-assessmentTreasuryTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69596More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment on (a) small business owners and (b) unrepresented taxpayers; and if she will consider delaying implementatio
Answer: HMRC are on track to implement Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax for those with income over £50,000 from April 2026, with a wide range of customers already testing the service in live running. MTD modernises the tax system and will help self-employe...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the potential savings to the public purse of issuing the Winter Fuel Payment on a per-household basis.
Answer: No such estimate has been made. The Winter Fuel Payment is already a household payment paid on an individual basis. Winter Fuel Payments are typically £200 for a household with someone of State Pension age and £300 for a household with someone aged 80 or ...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordImmunosuppression: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the reasons for the price differential between (a) ciclosporin and (b) other generic immunosuppressant drugs sold in UK pharmacies compared to the s
Answer: The Department has made no assessment of the reasons for the price difference between ciclosporin and other generic immunosuppressant drugs sold in United Kingdom pharmacies compared to other countries.The UK has well established mechanisms to control the...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Learning DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will set out what (a) support and (b) safeguards are in place to assist adults with intellectual disabilities in completing benefit application forms; and whether information provided when applyi
Answer: The Department is committed to pursuing a just, equal and inclusive society, ensuring independence and control for all customers, including all disabled people and those with complex needs. This means we need to ensure that our customers have access to re...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →