Sharon Hodgson MP: written questions 2026
41 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Free School Meals: EligibilityDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reviewing the No Recourse to Public Funds income thresholds to ensure equity of eligibility for all children when expanding access to the free school meal
Answer: The department has permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds, provided they meet income thresholds set out in public guidance.This ensures that children can access support regardless o...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHearing Impairment: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on developing national guidance for Auditory Verbal therapy for deaf children since March 2025; and whether he plans to establish a timeline for publishing tha
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of services to meet the needs of their local populations, including services for non-hearing children. NHS England supports ICBs to make informed decisions about the provisi...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: Washington and Gateshead SouthDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in Washington and Gateshead South constituency are covered by the pension triple lock.
Answer: Caseload statistics for State Pensions are available via Stat-Xplore - Log in. The latest published data currently relate to the quarter ending May 2025. The State Pensions Triple Lock applies to recipients of the core element of State Pension. Based on l...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPoverty: Washington and Gateshead SouthDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of measures to reduce child poverty on children in Washington and Gateshead South constituency.
Answer: Estimates of the total impact on low income poverty levels, and the number of children gaining, from the main changes included in the strategy for the United Kingdom as a whole are available here: Child Poverty Strategy: Impact on low income poverty level...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: Washington and Gateshead SouthHome OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate policing in Washington and Gateshead South constituency.
Answer: The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.For 2025-26, a total of up to £422.2 million...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Washington and Gateshead SouthTreasuryTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106300More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many public sector workers have received an above-inflation pay rise in Washington and Gateshead South constituency since 5 July 2024.
Answer: We value all our public sector workers, and pay awards reflect the important work that our nurses, teachers, doctors, prison officers and soldiers do to keep the country running.The overwhelming majority of awards announced in 2025/26, including for all o...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Services: Washington and Gateshead SouthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made in meeting the 18-week referral-to-treatment standard in Washington and Gateshead South constituency.
Answer: The Washington and Gateshead South constituency is served by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB). Performance against the 18-week Referral to Treatment standard for this ICB has improved from 68.9% to 70.5% since the Government ca...
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to launch the consultation on updating school food standards.
Answer: The department aims to revise the school food standards and is engaging with stakeholders to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history. We intend to consult on these revisions and further details on timings wi...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworks: RegulationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to adopt a UK-wide model similar to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Act (Scotland) 2022.
Answer: There are currently no plans to adopt a model similar to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Act (Scotland) 2022 on a UK-wide basis.I recently met with Siobhian Brown MSP, Minister for Victims and Community Safety in the Scottish Government to understand the i...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworks: SmugglingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment of the fireworks black market his Department has made to determine whether further restrictions on sales and use of fireworks would fuel illegal trade.
Answer: No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.I launched a public campaign on f...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworksDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made to determine whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer fireworks is sufficient to protect animals and vulnerable people from harm.
Answer: No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.I launched a public campaign on f...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworksDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will conduct a review into fireworks legislation.
Answer: No recent formal assessment of the fireworks legislation has been made including whether further restrictions on sales and use would fuel illegal trade or whether the 120 dB noise limit for consumer firework is sufficient.I launched a public campaign on f...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFireworksDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will meet with fireworks industry stakeholders, such as Fireworks Impact Coalition, to discuss calls for a comprehensive review of fireworks legislation.
Answer: I will continue to engage with businesses, consumer groups and charities to gather evidence on fireworks-related issues. I also recently met with the Scottish Government, and a number of MPs to discuss fireworks policy and hope to meet with the Fireworks ...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: StandardsDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104662More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to introduce monitoring arrangements to assess compliance with the updated school food standards once they are in force.
Answer: The department aims to revise the School Food Standards and is engaging with stakeholders to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history. School governors and trustees have a statutory duty to ensure compliance,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat Batteries: VATTreasuryTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101728More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered adding heat batteries to the list of Energy Saving Materials.
Answer: Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHeat Batteries: VATTreasuryTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 101727More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she had made of the potential implications for her policies that heat batteries do not qualify for VAT relief through the Energy Saving Materials framework, while being MCS-certified and eligible for
Answer: Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at ...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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