Sarah Dyke MP: written questions
157 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Nature Conservation: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that all police forces have access to adequate (a) training and (b) resources to (i) identity, (ii) record and (iii) investigate wildlife crime.
Answer: Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). In 2025/26, it is providing £424,000 to the Unit. The NWCU helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights l...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar PowerDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to help ensure that local communities benefit from hosting ground mounted solar farms.
Answer: The Government is determined to ensure that, where communities host clean energy infrastructure, they benefit from it directly. We recently published a working paper on community benefits, in which we proposed making it mandatory for developers to provide...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSolar Power: AgricultureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help support agricultural buildings to be fitted with solar panels.
Answer: The Government is looking to facilitate and promote extensive deployment of rooftop solar on industrial and commercial property.Commercial rooftop solar panel installations, which includes agricultural buildings, already benefit from permitted development...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Bills Discount Scheme: AgricultureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of discontinuing energy discount schemes on (a) apple and (b) pear growers.
Answer: No such assessment has been made. However, the Government believes our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImperial War MuseumDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Gallery at the Imperial War Museum on public access to the National Gallantry Awar
Answer: Gallantry awards, amongst them Victoria and George Crosses, honour exceptional acts of bravery and courage. The stories they tell form an important part of our national history. The Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, which houses a signific...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordShared Rural NetworkDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the delay in full Shared Rural Network rollout until 2027 on rural businesses; and what steps she is taking to mitigat
Answer: Ofcom is responsible for assessing the 4G coverage improvements delivered by the Shared Rural Network. Its latest published figures show that 4G now reaches over 95% of UK landmass. This means that the Shared Rural Network met its overarching target a yea...
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimals: HealthDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76060More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of levels of digital connectivity on farmer's ability to use animal health monitoring systems.
Answer: Defra continues to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on connectivity issues facing the rural and farming communities. DSIT’s Shared Rural Network has already delivered 4G coverage to over 95% of UK landmass, en...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRural Areas: SafetyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of farmers being unable to reliably report accidents due to poor broadband or mobile signal on safety in rural are
Answer: Defra continues to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on connectivity issues facing the rural and farming communities. DSIT’s Shared Rural Network has already delivered 4G coverage to over 95% of UK landmass, en...
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76058More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria she considers when setting student maintenance loan thresholds.
Answer: The loan for living costs is a contribution towards a student’s living costs while attending university, with the highest levels of support for students who need it most.The government recognises the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had on studen...
Answered 26 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordFree School MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of schools that have the budget to provide free school meals in the next 5 years in a) Somerset and (b) England.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton to the answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 71911.
Answered 3 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: Planning PermissionDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on integrating heritage conservation more effectively into planning systems.
Answer: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on ensuring heritage delivers on this Government's core missions including planning reform. Ministers and officials hav...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Buildings: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support owners of listed buildings with the cost of essential repairs.
Answer: DCMS works with Arm's-Length Bodies, such as Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and other partner organisations to support owners of listed buildings in a range of ways including through advice, guidance, and supporting heritage skills ...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Buildings: ApplicationsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the average waiting time is for a decision on a listed building application made to Historic England in the last 12 months.
Answer: Based on a sample of 400 cases, the average time between Historic England receiving an application for listing and the notification of a decision to interested parties was between 36 and 37 weeks between April 2024 and April 2025, which is the latest peri...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordYouth Centres: SomersetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase the number of youth clubs in Somerset.
Answer: This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. We are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultural Machinery: Trade PromotionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74861More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) export opportunities and (b) support needs for (i) manufacturers and (ii) suppliers of (A) machinery and (B) technology used by the (1) agricultural a
Answer: The agri-tech sector, covering agricultural machinery and technology, was identified in the Industrial Strategy as a high-growth area with strong export potential. The sector is expected to grow with global demand increasing for technologies to support ec...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade PromotionDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises exhibiting at sector-relevant international trade shows and (b) esta
Answer: Though our Trade Strategy, Industrial Strategy, and Small Business Plan, we are putting in place the policies, support, and services needed to drive export-led growth. For the first time, DBT has integrated its support for SMEs across all sectors in a sin...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Rural AreasDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74855More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the trends in the number of business closures in rural areas.
Answer: Defra publishes the Statistical Digest for Rural England to provide up-to-date analysis across a wide range of subjects including information on business survival and growth. Business deaths per head of population are lower in rural Areas. In 2023, there ...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTravellers: Caravan SitesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Gypsy and Traveller sites will be included in the next round of Social and Affordable Homes Programme funding.
Answer: Traveller sites fall within the scope of the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and we welcome bids to deliver new sites. It is our intention to publish a full prospectus for the Programme in autumn 2025 and open it for bids in the winter.
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of no rollover option being in place for the Countryside Stewardship scheme on (a) farmers and (b) 2030 nature recovery targets.
Answer: The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on Environmental Land Management schemes to £2bn by 28/29. Customers with Countryside Stewardship Higher-Ti...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAgricultural MachineryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to add (a) bale breakers, (b) handheld (i) pH and (ii) EC meters, (c) in situ soil sensors, (d) wireless data loggers and (e) fogging units for in-house propagation wi
Answer: The latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund closed for applications on 10/07/25. We are continuing to work to simplify and rationalise our grant funding from 2026 onwards following the Spending Review and ensuing business planning to ens...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic merits of implementing circular economy models.
Answer: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources are in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we stimulate innovation, create thousands of green jobs, and unlock economic o...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will establish a long-term resource use target through the circular economy strategy.
Answer: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero. Moving away from the linear make, use and throw model is vital to meeting our Net ...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to support a consumer right to repair through the Circular Economy Strategy.
Answer: Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate acti...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHospital Beds: SomersetDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many community hospital beds will be provided in each of the next five years in Somerset.
Answer: The number of community hospital beds operational varies over the course of the year in response to supply and demand. For example, fewer beds are needed during the summer.The Government expects neighbourhood services to be designed in a way that reflects...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS Foundation TrustsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, what his planned timescale is for NHS Foundation Trusts to deliver additional services within co
Answer: As per the 10-Year Health Plan, for the very best National Health Service foundation trusts there will be a new opportunity to hold the whole health budget for a local population as an Integrated Health Organisation (IHO). The intention is to designate a ...
Answered 2 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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