Shivani Raja MP: written questions
778 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Food SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of converting productive agricultural land to solar farms on food security.
Answer: The Government does not believe that the accelerated roll-out of solar generation poses a threat to food security. The total area used by solar farms is very small. Even in the most ambitious scenarios, we only expect up to 0.4% of total UK land to be occ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInfant Foods: LeicesterDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of infant formula shortages on families in Leicester, particularly those on lower incomes or with limited access to alternative formula supplies.
Answer: The Department’s National Supply Disruption Response, (NSDR), acts as the single point of contact for the medical supply industry. The NSDR has been engaged along with the Food Standards Agency to support the incident with infant formula products and spec...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInfant Foods: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is considering mandating routine cereulide toxin screening in all powdered infant and follow-on formula products placed on the UK market.
Answer: Infant formula regulations set robust nutritional and compositional standards, to ensure that all infant formulas for sale in the United Kingdom are suitable for meeting the nutritional requirements of babies. While these regulations do not specify testin...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordInfant Foods: ContaminationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what specific support and guidance has been provided to NHS services in a) Leicester and b) the East Midlands to identify and manage infants presenting with symptoms consistent with the cereulide t
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), along with partner agencies in the devolved administrations, have been supporting the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, and local authorities with their investigations responding to the recall of infant...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Higher EducationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Question 112415, what evaluation he has conducted of the link between students leaving higher education without completing their studies and subsequent reliance on out-of-work benefits among
Answer: No specific assessment has been made, or evaluation conducted, of the link between leaving higher education without completing and welfare benefits but we know qualifications matter. Data from the 2021 census showed, 1 in 5 young people aged 16-24 in full...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Higher EducationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2026 to Question 112415 on Social Security Benefits: Higher Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the number of people who lea
Answer: No specific assessment has been made, or evaluation conducted, of the link between leaving higher education without completing and welfare benefits but we know qualifications matter. Data from the 2021 census showed, 1 in 5 young people aged 16-24 in full...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to help improve endometriosis training.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring heal...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to work with regulators and professional bodies to improve endometriosis education.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring heal...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEndometriosis: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that endometriosis is consistently and adequately covered in the education and training of healthcare practitioners.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring heal...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what mechanisms are in place to monitor local authorities’ compliance with statutory duties relating to high needs element 3 funding; and whether her Department plans to strengthen oversight to ensure that all
Answer: Where a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, the local authority must secure the special educational provision specified in the plan. The allocation of top-up funding to ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the consistency of local authorities’ approaches to allocating high needs element three funding to further education colleges; and whether her Departme
Answer: Where a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, the local authority must secure the special educational provision specified in the plan. The allocation of top-up funding to ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAssisted Voluntary Return SchemesHome OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Voluntary Return scheme, including (a) financial assistance payments, (b) flights and travel costs, (c) casework and staffing costs and (d) reintegrat
Answer: The information requested regarding the number of individuals who departed under a voluntary return scheme and subsequently re-entered the UK is not available from published statistics.The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expendi...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAssisted Voluntary Return SchemesHome OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who departed the UK under a voluntary return scheme subsequently (a) re-entered the UK unlawfully and (b) made a further asylum claim within five years of departure.
Answer: The information requested regarding the number of individuals who departed under a voluntary return scheme and subsequently re-entered the UK is not available from published statistics.The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expendi...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114317More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much and what proportion of Vehicle Excise Duty receipts was (a) allocated to and (b) spent on road repair and maintenance in the 2024-25 tax year.
Answer: The Consolidated Fund receives the proceeds of Vehicle Excise Duty along with most other tax revenues to support public services and investment in infrastructure, including vehicle infrastructure and road maintenance. The Government is going well beyond i...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114316More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding she has allocated to National Highways for ongoing repairs and maintenance of motorways and strategic A roads in addition to funding provided in the Autumn Budget 2025.
Answer: The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) due to be published in March will set out the funding that will be provided to National Highways for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the strategic road network over the period from 2026/27 to 2030/31. ...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to provide incentives to Local Highway Authorities to achieve green ratings under traffic light rankings for pothole repairs; and whether she plans to impose consequences on
Answer: The Government has provided a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years. A portion of this funding is incentive funding, which is subject to local highway authorities publishing their maintenance plans and m...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the funding allocated to Local Highway Authorities for pothole repairs.
Answer: The Department has announced a record £7.3 billion investment into highways maintenance over the next four years which will enable local authorities to invest in significantly improving the long-term condition of England’s road network, delivering faster,...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCPR: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department issues to first aid training providers on anatomical differences between men and women relevant to the delivery of CPR.
Answer: The Department is aware of research that shows differences in bystander response in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to men versus women. Research also shows that training is key to improving bystander confidence in providing CPR to women and...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCPR: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the predominant use of male CPR manikins in first aid training on survival outcomes for women experiencing cardiac arrest.
Answer: The Department is aware of research that shows differences in bystander response in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to men versus women. Research also shows that training is key to improving bystander confidence in providing CPR to women and...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOverseas CompaniesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK businesses that have relocated overseas since July 2024; and what information his Department holds on the reasons for those relocations.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TransportDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of SEND transport contracts on local authority spending; and whether she plans to introduce annual cost caps.
Answer: We know challenges in the SEND system are creating pressures on home-to-school travel. We will reform the SEND system to enable more children to thrive in local mainstream settings. This will mean fewer children need to travel long distances to access edu...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: NutritionDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to a) improve the nutritional quality of school meals and b) increase the use of British produced food and ingredients in schools.
Answer: The department aims to revise the School Food Standards and is engaging with stakeholders, including academics and nutrition professionals, to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history.Schools are responsible ...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Passenger DutyTreasuryTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112442More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department is taking steps to help reduce the rate of Air Passenger Duty for (a) domestic flights and (b) flights to European destinations.
Answer: The government is committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world. The rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) in part depends on dest...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: TaxationTreasuryTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112439More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has any plans to make (a) Universal Credit, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, and (c) Housing Benefit taxable state benefits.
Answer: Means-tested benefits that are designed to meet specific costs, such as Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit, are not taxable, and the government has no current plans to alter this.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEstate Agents: ConsumersDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that estate agents comply with existing consumer protection law; to help support effective enforcement action against rogue operators who mislead cons
Answer: The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), protects consumers from unfair trading practices and prohibits traders, including estate agents, from omitting (or providing unclear, untimely or obscure) material information to consumers i...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →