Shivani Raja MP: written questions 2025
131 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Business: FraudDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to protect consumers from fraudulent business practices.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is implementing the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act which strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA a...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDental ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of NHS Dentist appointments in (a) Leicester East constituency, (b) Leicestershire and (c) England.
Answer: The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentist...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: StrikesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of missed or cancelled appointments in the NHS as a result of strike action between (a) July - November 2023 and (b) July - November 2024.
Answer: NHS England publishes data on the number of rescheduled appointments due to industrial action, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/preparedness-for-potential-industrial-action-in-the-nhs/The following table show...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDoctors: RecruitmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the recruitment of domestic medical graduates from UK universities into the National Health Service.
Answer: Following completion of a medical degree, United Kingdom medical graduates must complete the Foundation Programme, a two-year work-based programme, to practise as a doctor in the National Health Service. We are committed to ensuring that the number of Fou...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordADHD: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support people seeking an official diagnosis of ADHD, (b) reduce wait times for an ADHD assessment and (c) continue access to the Right to Choose scheme.
Answer: It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments, in line with relevan...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase (a) automated announcements at railway stations and (b) assistance from platform staff for visually impaired passengers.
Answer: Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach. Whenever the industry carries out work at stations this must meet current accessibility standards, including for visual and audible announcements. Furthermore, al...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBus Services: FaresDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in the national bus fare cap on the number of journeys made by bus.
Answer: The government is investing over £150 million to deliver the new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025, which prevented a cliff-edge return to commercial fares. Under the plans of the previous administr...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Transport: Young PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the accessibility of public transport for (a) young people and (b) students.
Answer: Accessibility and inclusivity are key considerations for the government, especially as we seek to deliver against our key missions, including removing barriers to opportunity and delivering safer streets. The government is committed to making transport sa...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hotel rooms were used for asylum accommodation on (a) 1 July 2024 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many hotels were used for these purposes on each of those
Answer: As part of our effort to cut the overall costs of the asylum system, the Government is committed to end the use of asylum hotels over time, following the peak reached under the previous government when more than 400 hotels were in use, and almost £9 milli...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of VAT for private school fees on levels of demand for state school places; and what steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of
Answer: The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees. With regard to England, the government predicts that in the long-term steady st...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPharmacyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to renew pharmacy contracts following their expiry in March 2024; and if he will provide updated guidance on pharmacy funding following the Spring Budget.
Answer: As I have said in Parliament, the previous Government was unable to reach an agreement on the funding for community pharmacy ahead of the election. The existing contractual framework has remained in place and payments are made to contractors in accordance...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: Finance and Tax AllowancesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) targeted tax relief and (b) other financial support measures to support businesses that have had to source materials or services
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not provide financial support in relation to sanctions. Where possible, we have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate,...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: RussiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses that have experienced financial losses in relation to restrictions on trade with Russia.
Answer: Our sanctions are designed to minimise impact on the UK and avoid unintended consequences. We have sought to minimise the impact on businesses through implementing appropriate exceptions, specific export licences where appropriate, and wind-down periods w...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Birmingham and LeicesterDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) frequency and (b) capacity of rail services between Birmingham and Leicester.
Answer: The scope for increased frequency on the Birmingham to Leicester route beyond the current two trains per hour is limited by current infrastructure. The infrastructure capacity is being considered as part of the proposed Midlands Rail Hub project. In term...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of building the Midlands Rail Hub on people in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) Leicestershire.
Answer: We are working with Network Rail, Midlands Connect, and West Midlands Rail Executive, to maximise the benefits of Midlands Rail Hub for people throughout the region, including in Leicester and Leicestershire. In December, the Chancellor launched the secon...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of building a rail connection between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on (a) Leicester East, (b) Leicestershire and (c) England.
Answer: In December, the Chancellor launched the second stage of the Spending Review. This is a zero-based Spending Review, to ensure every line of spending – including the transport infrastructure portfolio – delivers the Plan for Change and provides good value ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: MidlandsDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of improving transport connections between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on economic growth in the region.
Answer: Economic growth is the number one mission of this Government. The Department for Transport is playing a key role in this, as we recognise the potential for transport investment to have a significant impact on local economic development across the country,...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: Coventry and LeicesterDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of journeys between Coventry and Leicester that are made by train.
Answer: The rail mode share between Coventry and Leicester is estimated to be approximately 3 per cent.
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordInsulation: HousingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to support the insulation of homes in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) other areas in England with high levels of fuel poverty.
Answer: The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy. Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: Mental Health Services and PovertyDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) child poverty, (b) access to mental health services and (c) the provision of adequate support for vulnerable children.
Answer: This government is committed to providing timely support to children and families that need help, and our mission-driven approach is critical to delivering this. In particular, through the missions to break down barriers to opportunity, and to make the NH...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will provide additional funding beyond the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to support the maintenance of historic places of worship in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) England
Answer: I note that the honourable member is asking us to spend more money and would be grateful if they could advise me on which other budget should be cut or tax should be commensurately increased. There is a range of funding available via DCMS and the Departme...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support minority-owned construction firms and builders gain equitable access to housing sector (i) opportunities, (ii) funding and (iii
Answer: Small and medium sized housebuilders, including those that are minority owned, are essential to meeting the government’s housing ambitions and supporting local economies. The government recently announced a £700m extension to the Home Building Fund which ...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBurial: Minority GroupsMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure bodies of deceased individuals are released promptly to families from minority religious communities.
Answer: Since 9 September 2024, all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by NHS medical examiners. NHS England has published the National Medical Examiner’s guidance which stipulates that arrangements at each medica...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBurial: Minority GroupsMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure that the bodies of deceased people from minority religious communities whose faith practices require burial within a specific timeframe are released promptly to their families.
Answer: Since 9 September 2024, all deaths in any health setting that are not investigated by a coroner will be reviewed by NHS medical examiners. NHS England has published the National Medical Examiner’s guidance which stipulates that arrangements at each medica...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Police and Crime Commissioners in (a) Leicestershire and (b) England on the potential impact of changes to the cost of firearms licenses on the police.
Answer: On 15 January 2025, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications, in line with the Government’s manifesto commitment on fire...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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