Saqib Bhatti MP: written questions
327 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Culture, Media and Sport: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much time officials in her Department spent on the production of the First Draft podcast.
Answer: The podcast was created and delivered as part of the DCMS Communications Teams' day to day work at no extra cost.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33994More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials in her Department are responsible for the First Draft podcast.
Answer: The podcast was created and delivered as part of the DCMS Communications Teams' day to day work at no extra cost.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33993More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to the public purse was of the First Draft podcast.
Answer: The podcast was created and delivered as part of the DCMS Communications Teams' day to day work at no extra cost.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTelevision: BroadcastingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of EY's report entitled TV distribution after 2034, published in February 2024.
Answer: The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution after 2034, which is considering how people receive their television now and in the next decade. The evidence being considered as part of this process includes EY’s report. DCMS also p...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the press notice from the Advertising Standards Authority entitled Media restrictions on advertisements for “less
Answer: I have met the ASA and Ofcom twice to discuss the statement and the ASA’s subsequent consultation and officials are closely engaged with stakeholders. Implementing advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink on television and online is a manif...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIndustry: InvestmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what publications are available for Invest 2035.
Answer: “Invest 2035”, the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, was published 14 October 2024, setting out our vision for a modern Industrial Strategy. The Invest 2035 Prospectus was published alongside this, which sets out the UK’s pitch to investors and a roadmap d...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIndustry: InvestmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has conducted an impact assessment into Invest 2035.
Answer: The Green Paper ‘Invest 2035’ set out the vision for the government’s Industrial Strategy to engage key stakeholders and invite their contributions to the consultation process. As such it does not set out individual policies which can be subject to an imp...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChiltern RailwaysDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Chiltern Railways on increasing its capacity.
Answer: My officials and I continue to work with Chiltern Railways to improve passenger experience. Chiltern periodically adjusts its timetable in response to passenger demand.We are closely engaged with Chiltern’s fleet renewal programme. The option to procure a...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) frequency and (b) capacity of services between Birmingham and (i) Nottingham and (ii) Leicester.
Answer: The scope for increased frequency is limited by current infrastructure which is being considered as part of the proposed Midlands Rail Hub project. In terms of capacity, CrossCountry has recently declassified First Class accommodation on services from Bir...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub on economic growth.
Answer: Midlands Rail Hub would kickstart economic growth by introducing additional trains and improving the performance of the railways, and in March £123m was committed to design the first stage.In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spend...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordVisitor Levy: WalesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the proposal by the Welsh government to enable local authorities to charge a visitor levy.
Answer: Tourism is a devolved policy matter and we work closely with the Devolved Administrations. My department will carefully monitor the proposal by the Welsh government. Tax policy is a matter for HM Treasury and there are currently no plans to introduce a si...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordThe Observer: Buy OutsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) the Guardian Media Group and (b) Tortoise Media on the proposed buyout of the Observer newspaper.
Answer: It would be inappropriate to comment on any live merger case. As is clear under the Enterprise Act, this is a quasi-judicial process for the DCMS Secretary of State alone to exercise the statutory powers based on the evidence and following the established...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordYoung PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish the National Youth Strategy.
Answer: We plan to publish the National Youth Strategy in the summer, with an interim report to come out in the spring.
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24262More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of plans to redistribute council tax on councils with lower rates of tax.
Answer: The Government has no plans to redistribute council tax.
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24261More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has carried out an impact assessment on plans to redistribute council tax.
Answer: The Government has no plans to redistribute council tax.
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWater: SafetyDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that the risks of (a) cold water, (b) open water and (c) drowning are covered in the national curriculum.
Answer: Swimming and water safety is a vital life skill and that is why pupils are taught to swim and how to be safe in and around water at primary school. Swimming and water safety are compulsory elements of the primary physical education (PE) curriculum at key ...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22711More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to take steps with the Valuation Office Agency to introduce new valuation methods for business rates for grassroots music venues.
Answer: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including those on the high street, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic Venues: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22710More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permanently reducing business rates for grassroots music venues.
Answer: As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties from 2026-27 for properties with rateable values below £500,00. This permanent tax cut will ensure that...
Answered 16 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector DebtTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22709More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased borrowing costs on the UK's debt repayments.
Answer: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary when there are wider movements in global f...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordInvestment Returns: MortgagesTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22708More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of higher bond yields on mortgage repayments.
Answer: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary when there are wider movements in global f...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector DebtTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22707More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased borrowing costs on the UK's debt repayments.
Answer: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary when there are wider movements in global f...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCulture and Sports: LoansDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the (a) sports and (b) cultural sector on the repayment of Covid-19 loans by September 2025.
Answer: Loan financing was provided to organisations on favourable terms, tailored to meet the unique legal and financial circumstances of sporting and cultural organisations. The Government is clear that these loans must be repaid and, where necessary, steps wil...
Answered 9 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCulture and Sports: LoansDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that Covid-19 loans to the (a) culture and (b) sports sectors are repaid in full.
Answer: Yes.
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSurgical Mesh Implants: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by (a) Baroness Cumberlege entitled Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, published 8 Jul
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review’s overarching conclusion was that the system failed to listen to patients or put patients at the centre of their care. Subsequent work has focussed on improving how the system listens to and resp...
Answered 23 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice Stations: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the £264 million additional core grant funding for police will support police stations to remain open.
Answer: The 2025-26 provisional police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.5 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement, and equates to a 5.5% cash inc...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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