Saqib Bhatti MP: written questions
327 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Office for Budget Responsibility: Disclosure of InformationTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97187More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 3 December 2025, Official Report, column 991, what the planned timetable is for the inquiry.
Answer: A leak inquiry is now under way and the government does not comment on the details of leak inquiries. The Independent Adviser for Ministerial Standards has written to the leader of Reform UK and does not intend to investigate this matter. The Chief Execut...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordOffice for Budget Responsibility: Disclosure of InformationTreasuryTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97186More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 3 December 2025, Official Report, column 991, how much funding her Department plans to provide for the leak inquiry.
Answer: A leak inquiry is now under way and the government does not comment on the details of leak inquiries. The Independent Adviser for Ministerial Standards has written to the leader of Reform UK and does not intend to investigate this matter. The Chief Execut...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: InjuriesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment has her Department made of the potential impact of employer National Insurance Contribution increases in the financial year 2025/2026 on a) the charity sector and b) neuror
Answer: This government recognises the vital role that charitable organisations and community groups play in providing crucial support to families and individuals across the country. These organisations, as well as the wider voluntary, community and social enterp...
Answered 12 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain: InjuriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Government’s upcoming Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan will improve data recording and data access relating to brain injury survivors.
Answer: We expect to publish the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Action Plan in the first half of 2026. This will allow time to ensure the plan is in line with our 10-Year Health Plan and is robust, action-oriented, and reflects emerging priorities across health, soc...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBrain: InjuriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what policy areas are in the scope of the upcoming acquired brain injury action plan.
Answer: We expect to publish the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Action Plan in the first half of 2026. This will allow time to ensure the plan is in line with our 10-Year Health Plan and is robust, action-oriented, and reflects emerging priorities across health, soc...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBrain: InjuriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 96903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department will publish the Acquired Brain Injury Action plan.
Answer: We expect to publish the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Action Plan in the first half of 2026. This will allow time to ensure the plan is in line with our 10-Year Health Plan and is robust, action-oriented, and reflects emerging priorities across health, soc...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPupils: Per Capita CostsDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department have considered the sustainability of current per-pupil funding allocations.
Answer: The overall core schools budget (CSB) is increasing by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the CSB totals £65.3 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.The £3.7 billion increase includes the £2.3 billion ann...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Department has conducted or plans to conduct an equality impact assessment to examine the impact of universal school meal programmes on pupils with religious dietary requirements.
Answer: The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the school food standards to ensure that children are served healthy, nutritious meals at school. The standards do not specify food requirements in terms of cultural and religious needs...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FoodDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have raised concerns with her Department regarding a) the adequacy of funding for free school meals and breakfast clubs where pupils have religious dietary requirements b) what the nature of th
Answer: The department spends over £1.5 billion annually supporting free school meals provision to around 3.5 million school pupils. Officials meet regularly with the sector to gather feedback.The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in ...
Answered 5 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of what funding mechanisms will be utilised to support the implementation of the newly announced enrichment entitlement for schools.
Answer: Many schools excel at offering a diverse range of activities that are woven into their ethos, all delivered using resources within and outside the school. These school activities are often enhanced by working with local clubs, voluntary sector organisatio...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAssessmentsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89647More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the reduction in the number of exams on school standards.
Answer: The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review acknowledged that young people in England sit more hours of exams than their peers in many other countries. As GCSEs are reformed, the department will work closely with Ofqual and exam boards to reduce exam...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAssessmentsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to exam times on students.
Answer: The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review acknowledged that young people in England sit more hours of exams than their peers in many other countries. As GCSEs are reformed, the department will work closely with Ofqual and exam boards to reduce exam...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAssessmentsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Curriculum and Assessment Review, published on 5 November 2025, if she will instruct Ofqual to release the analysis quoted on the impact of reductions to
Answer: This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries o...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of excluding (a) general practitioners and (b) other frontline medical staff from the covid-19 booster vaccination programme in autumn 2025 on (i
Answer: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI has advised that COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for m...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to assess the adequacy of the accessibility to parents of recent childcare announcements made by her Department.
Answer: In 2025/26, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements, an additional £2 billion compared to 2024/25, saving eligible families who use their full entitlement £7,500 a year on average. The government will provide an ad...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordExtended Services: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to provide funding for wraparound childcare after March 2026.
Answer: This government is rolling out free breakfast clubs in all primary schools, with £80 million funding available from April 2026 to bring free breakfast clubs to an additional 2,000 schools. It builds on the more than £30 million the department has invested...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBreakfast ClubsDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department plans to measure the (a) effectiveness and (b) uptake of breakfast clubs; and whether she plans to publish this assessment.
Answer: The department is using the findings from the early adopter phase to inform the national roll out of free breakfast clubs. We’re also committed to continuing to learn throughout national roll out and have robust evaluation activity in place, including loo...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBreakfast Clubs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department plans to integrate feedback from schools on the adequacy of funding for the breakfast clubs programme.
Answer: We have always been committed to rolling free breakfast clubs out nationally and the test and learn phase was put in place to inform how best to do so.We have been listening to schools and other stakeholders throughout this phase and will continue to work...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBreakfast ClubsDepartment for EducationTabled 31 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 87083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of children who are attending the early adopters breakfast clubs.
Answer: The free breakfast clubs early adopter phase has been a huge success, with data showing that over 5 million breakfasts have been served so far. We continue to receive excellent feedback from schools, parents and pupils on the positive impact that the free...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordStatutory Sick Pay: Agency WorkersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of expanding Statutory Sick Pay on recruitment agencies; and if he will consider taking steps to (a) enable agencies to recover SSP costs from hirers
Answer: Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is part of the Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay. The Government conducted a Regulatory Impact Assessment Here on the impact of the SSP measures in the Employment Rights Bill. Whilst this is not a specific assessmen...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAgency Workers: Conditions of EmploymentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that requirements on agencies to offer guaranteed hours contracts do not reduce flexibility; and if he will consider reforms to allow such contracts to be
Answer: The Government believes agency workers should be able to access a contract which reflects the hours they regularly work. Agency workers who prefer a more flexible arrangement can reject any guaranteed hours offer.It will generally be hirers’ responsibilit...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordJob Creation and TrainingTreasuryTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81375More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Autumn Budget 2025 incentivises businesses to invest in (a) job creation and (b) workforce development.
Answer: Economic growth is the central mission of this government, and we recognise that sustainable growth can only be achieved in partnership with businesses and other stakeholders. We are providing long-term stability through clear fiscal rules that give firms...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordConditions of Employment and Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81374More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential cumulative impact of (a) National Insurance contributions and (b) the Employment Rights Act on overall hiring costs for UK businesses.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy, including on businesses. The Government decided to protect the smallest busi...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81373More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of National Insurance contributions on small and medium-sized businesses ability to hire new staff.
Answer: A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy, including on businesses. The Government decided to protect the smallest busi...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational BaccalaureateDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16-19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in the 2025/26 academic year, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards ...
Answered 7 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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