Saqib Bhatti MP: written questions
162 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Culture, Media and Sport: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025, to Question 33995, on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Internet what proportion of spending on the First Draft podcast was allocated to its (a) pro
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to PQ 33995.
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to ringfence official development assistance for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending R...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of official development assistance to Afghanistan is being spent on programmes supporting Afghan women and girls.
Answer: The UK is committed to prioritising gender equality and rights in Afghanistan. The needs and priorities of women and girls are at the core of the government's humanitarian response. In the Financial Year of 2023-24 (the most recent period for which we hav...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction of the proportion of gross national income spent on official development assistance on women a
Answer: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending R...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the request by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to call in the planning application for the new Chinese
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this quasi-judicial decision independent from the rest of Government.As set out in a joint letter by the ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is updating its impact assessment on restrictions on advertisements for less healthy food and drink products.
Answer: DCMS is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care, the lead department for the less healthy food and drink advertising restrictions, to monitor and assess the impacts and potential impacts of the legislation which was enacted by the p...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK will have to divert troops from other (a) theatres and (b) operations to maintain a presence in Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I cannot go into any further details at this stage but can say that our focus i...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has adequate military resources for a sustained presence in Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I cannot go into any further details at this stage but can say that our focus i...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: AmmunitionMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has sufficient munitions stockpiles to support Ukraine.
Answer: We inherited a position where the UK had donated, but not necessarily replaced, stockpiles to Ukraine. The Government is steadfast in our commitment to continue to supply military assistance to Ukraine and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrai...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the armed forces on deploying troops to Ukraine.
Answer: The Secretary of State is supported and advised by the Chief of the Defence Staff on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and how we can continue to best support Ukraine going forward.The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukr...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment 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 record
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