Shivani Raja MP: written questions
312 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cumbrian Coast Line: TunnelsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the expected date is for the commencement of on-site works at Bransty Tunnel, and what the expected date is for the full reopening of the Cumbrian Coast Line at Bransty Tunnel.
Answer: Network Rail has set up a dedicated Whitehaven Recovery Taskforce to address flooding and structural issues at Bransty Tunnel linked to historic mining activity. Detailed inspections are complete, and a permanent repair solution has been independently ver...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordDfT Operator: Public RelationsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what expenditure has DfTO undertaken on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.
Answer: DFTO have not used a public affairs company since 4 July 2024.
Answered 26 May 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: AviationDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Indonesia; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occas
Answer: The Department for Transport (DfT) works with international partners to contribute to safety, security and resilience, ensure international connectivity, and boost UK trade and investment. The official visits to Indonesia supported DfT’s ongoing internati...
Answered 19 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: AviationDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Chile; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and a
Answer: The Department for Transport (DfT) has a statutory requirement under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code to monitor port security in the British Overseas Territories. The visit in 2025 was to deliver security assessments of ISPS ...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: Exhaust EmissionsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has plans to introduce a zero emission vehicle mandate for the maritime sector.
Answer: The Department has no plans to implement a zero-emission vessel mandate for the maritime sector.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Charging PointsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £1 billion to cut costs for businesses, drive growth and clean up UK roads, published on 25 March 2026, over what period will the £1 billion funding pac
Answer: The £1 billion in funding to support businesses to transition to zero emission commercial vehicles is classified as capital expenditure. The £171 million allocated to the Depot Charging Scheme is part of the £1 billion total, alongside £877 million for th...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas StudentsHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the interaction between student visa policy and the financial sustainability of higher education institutions.
Answer: The tighter Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, set out in the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, will come into effect in June. Metrics will not be changed according to fluctuations in student visa refusal rates, which vary over time due to c...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: SponsorshipHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used to determine when breaches of sponsor compliance metrics result in (a) action plans, (b) recruitment restrictions, and (c) revocation of sponsor licences.
Answer: The tighter Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, set out in the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, will come into effect in June. Metrics will not be changed according to fluctuations in student visa refusal rates, which vary over time due to c...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas StudentsHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the changes in student visa refusal rates over the last 12 months; and how changes in rates are reflected in sponsor comp
Answer: The tighter Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, set out in the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, will come into effect in June. Metrics will not be changed according to fluctuations in student visa refusal rates, which vary over time due to c...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas StudentsHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that sponsors are not penalised for student visa refusals driven by (a) country conditions, (b) geopolitical instability and (c) other external factors.
Answer: The tighter Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, set out in the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, will come into effect in June. Metrics will not be changed according to fluctuations in student visa refusal rates, which vary over time due to c...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordVisas: Overseas StudentsHome OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 940More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk that increased student visa refusal rates may cause otherwise compliant sponsors to breach the 5% refusal threshold.
Answer: The tighter Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) metrics, set out in the Immigration White Paper on 12 May 2025, will come into effect in June. Metrics will not be changed according to fluctuations in student visa refusal rates, which vary over time due to c...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Mental Health ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential benefits of introducing provision for an embedded (a) mentor and (b) counsellor in every school in England through (i) internal staff and (ii) external providers.
Answer: The department is currently working to provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs).As at March 2025, 52% of pupils and learners were supported by MHSTs (70% of pupils in seconda...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: Cayman IslandsDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to the Cayman Islands; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each o
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: BruneiDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Brunei; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and
Answer: Two officials, one Grade 6 and one SEO travelled to/from Brunei at a total cost of £5,374.73 which was signed off in advance by a Senior Civil Servant, in line with departmental policy. The purpose of the trip was to conduct detailed multilateral air serv...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: MozambiqueDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of the flight to Mozambique; which Ministers and senior officials approved the visit; how many officials travelled on that occasion an
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: NepalDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of the flight to Nepal; which Ministers and senior officials approved the visit; how many officials travelled on that occasion and at
Answer: The Nepal flights were an ‘additional journey’, which is for DfT staff posted overseas. Such journeys are to enable staff and accompanying dependents at qualifying hardship posts to take a break away from local conditions during their posting. This was fo...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Transport: NigeriaDepartment for TransportTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026 to WPQ 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Nigeria; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordExercise: Codes of PracticeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance is available to businesses in the physical activity sector to support compliance with the law pending publication of the Code of Practice.
Answer: The Government acknowledges the importance of providing clarity to the physical activity sector regarding the forthcoming Code of Practice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) delivered the updated draft of the Code to the Government on 13 Apr...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordExercise: Codes of PracticeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed Code of Practice on the physical activity sector; and what consultation she has undertaken with representatives of
Answer: The Government acknowledges the importance of providing clarity to the physical activity sector regarding the forthcoming Code of Practice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) delivered the updated draft of the Code to the Government on 13 Apr...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPoverty: CarersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of carers who are in poverty because they have accrued National Insurance credits through caring responsibilities but are not eligible for contributor
Answer: Support for unpaid carers on low incomes is primarily provided through Universal Credit and Pension Credit, which include carer amounts in addition to the standard allowance or Standard Minimum Guarantee. These additions are worth up to £2,500 a year. In ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordParking: Private SectorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to provide (a) financial or (b) planning support to help local authorities bring closed private car parks back into operation.
Answer: As administrator for National Car Parks Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers is seeking to make the business viable and to avoid closures or job losses wherever possible. However, some sites that the administrator considered were not commercially viable have c...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Car Parks: LeicesterMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128933More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent closures of National Car Parks Limited sites in Leicester on (a) local businesses and (b) footfall in Leicester city
Answer: As administrator for National Car Parks Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers is seeking to make the business viable and to avoid closures or job losses wherever possible. However, some sites that the administrator considered were not commercially viable have c...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Car Parks: InsolvencyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of the administration of National Car Parks Limited on city centre parking capacity in (a) Leicester and (b) England; and whether he is
Answer: As administrator for National Car Parks Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers is seeking to make the business viable and to avoid closures or job losses wherever possible. However, some sites that the administrator considered were not commercially viable have c...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRobbery: Urban AreasHome OfficeTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of police resources to tackle robbery in urban areas.
Answer: The Government is determined that robust action should be taken to prevent robbery from happening and ensure swift justice for perpetrators.The central aim of our police reform agenda is to protect and revitalise neighbourhood policing. We are lifting nat...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCrimes of ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to protect vulnerable and elderly people from violent street crime.
Answer: The central aim of our police reform agenda is to protect and revitalise neighbourhood policing. We are lifting national responsibilities off local forces, so they focus on tackling local issues.The Government has already taken steps to boost the neighbou...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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