Sammy Wilson MP: written questions
116 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fire and Rescue Services: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of local councils that plan to increase the local fire precept to fund fire services in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answer: This is a devolved policy issue, you will appreciate I am unable to comment on any levels which may be set outside of England. However, in England, decisions on council tax levels are for individual local authorities including fire authorities and council...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated to the fire service for each of the last ten years.
Answer: Details of funding for fire authorities made available through Local Government Finance Settlements are set out in the Core Spending Power tables. The most recent Core Spending Power allocations table published as part of the final 2025/26 Local Governmen...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTobacco and Vapes BillDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27138More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the impact assessment for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, published on 5 November 2024, whether the specified cost of retailer staff training (a) is a one-off cost and (b) reflects on
Answer: The estimated familiarisation and staff training costs included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill impact assessment are assumed to be one-off costs, and individual estimates are provided for each specific policy.The bill will gradually end the sale of tobacco...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTobacco and Vapes BillDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative estimate of the costs of (a) implementing a one-time increase in the legal purchase age of tobacco and (b) introducing an age escalator, in the context of the Tobacco
Answer: Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability, and ill health. It causes approximately 80,000 deaths a year in the United Kingdom, one in four of all cancer deaths, and kills up to two-thirds of its users.Smoking also substantially incr...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSTEM Subjects: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26808More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a STEM teachers continuing professional development fund with industry.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department has a range of programmes to support continuing professional development for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), for...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSTEM Subjects: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with teaching groups on the potential merits of establishing a STEM teachers continuing professional development fund with industry.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department has a range of programmes to support continuing professional development for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), for...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Recognition of StatesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has reviewed policy on recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since 2020.
Answer: The UK's long-standing position is not to recognise the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. This is in accordance with several UN Security Council Resolutions and in line with the rest of the international co...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIran: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26460More
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 alleged instances of persecution against Christians in Iran.
Answer: We condemn Iran's restrictions against Freedom of Religion or Belief. Christians, particularly converts from Islam, and other minority religions, continue to face severe repression in Iran. We were proud to help deliver the Iran Human Rights resolution, a...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChristianity: OppressionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of the Government's allocated funding for the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief has been directed towards supporting persecuted Christia
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. The FCDO John Bunyan Fund (JBF), the designated programme for Fo...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSTEM Subjects: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to promote STEM courses across the education system.
Answer: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.High and rising school standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.The ...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the uptake of (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answer: At present, the Government has no policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles, mopeds or other powered light vehicles. The Government supports the purchase of zero emission motorcycles with the plug-in motorcycle grant for those who want to switch to a...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the licensing process for (a) mopeds, (b) motorcycles and (c) other powered light vehicles.
Answer: The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing re...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of the licensing regime proposed in the report entitled A licence to net zero, published by the Motorcycle Industry Association in October 2023.
Answer: The Department for Transport has received additional evidence from the Motorcycle Industry Association on the road safety considerations for the proposals set out in their report ‘A Licence to Net Zero’, which proposed changes to the existing licensing re...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: SalesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with her (a) European and (b) international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non zero emission powered light vehicles.
Answer: The Secretary of State has not yet had any discussions with international counterparts on end of sales dates for new non-zero emission powered light vehicles. We remain committed to decarbonising transport, including powered light vehicles, as we shift to...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcyclesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with motorcycle manufacturers.
Answer: Ministers have not met with motorcycle manufacturers. Officials continue to meet with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), which represents and oversees the interests of motorcycle, moped, scooter and Powered Light Vehicle (PLV) industry.
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, when the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group is next scheduled to meet; and whether that meeting will discuss user lic
Answer: The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Driving LicencesDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2024 to Question 4347 on Motorcycles: Driving Licences, whether the Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group met in autumn 2024.
Answer: The planned meeting of The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group for autumn 2024 has now been rescheduled for 20 January 2025. The Government is considering plans to review existing requirements for motorcycle training, testing and licensing, taking account of...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to respond to (a) attacks on (i) Christian communities, (ii) humanitarian access and (iii) religious freedom and (b) violence in Aleppo.
Answer: The FCDO has consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, including minorities, publicly and in our engagement with regional and international partners. We are closely monitoring the treatment of religious minorities, including Chri...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Parkinson's DiseaseDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with Parkinson's who receive the health element of Universal Credit do not have to prove that they continue to live with a degenerative condition after six
Answer: The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) determines entitlement to the extra health-related amount of Universal Credit. It is not based on a person’s condition, but on how it affects their ability to function. It recognises that conditions can vary in their s...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWork Capability AssessmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to make changes to the Work Capability Assessment.
Answer: The Work Capability Assessment is not working and needs to be reformed or replaced. This needs to come alongside a proper plan to support disabled people to work, which will, in turn, bring down the benefits bill. We are taking the time to review this in ...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordParkinson's Disease: Health ProfessionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14048More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include steps to (a) grow and (b) upskill the Parkinson's specialist workforce in the (i) ten year and (ii) long-term workforce plan.
Answer: The 10-Year Health Plan will set out how we will deliver a National Health Service that is fit for the future, with a better service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. We expect that the long-term workforce plan will need to be updated...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNeurology: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14047More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken for patients diagnosed with a neurological condition to begin consultant-led treatment.
Answer: Tackling waiting lists, including for neurology, is a key part of our Health Mission. We are committed to getting back to the NHS Constitutional standard that at least 92% of patient wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, within our firs...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNagorno Karabakh: Cultural HeritageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13195More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on the protection of the cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh.
Answer: The UK Government is clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is important. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of t...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArmenia: AzerbaijanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13194More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart on the right of return of Armenians of Artsakh under international protection.
Answer: The UK has consistently encouraged the Azerbaijani authorities to provide clarity on the rights and security of ethnic Armenians displaced by conflict who wish to return to Nagorno-Karabakh. We have no plans to raise international protection in relation t...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordArmenia: AzerbaijanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13193More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on Armenian prisoners illegally held by the Azerbaijan regime.
Answer: The UK continues to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that those detained during its longstanding conflict with Armenia, or during September 2023's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions, in...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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