Simon Hoare MP: written questions 2025
36 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Banks: ClosuresTreasuryTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27867More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to ensure access to banking services in areas affected by bank closures.
Answer: The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets in Dorset and across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with bank...
Answered 6 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Services: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the impact of the provision of council services in rural areas on the cost of those services in (a) North Dorset constituency and (b) other rural
Answer: The government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive almost a 6% increase in their Core Spending Power (CSP) next year, which is a real terms inc...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27865More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions on employment rates (a) nationally, (b) in Dorset and (c) in North Dorset constituency in th
Answer: The Office for Budget Responsibility's October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) contains forecasts and assessments of government policy, including the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions. The OBR expects the 16+ employment rate to r...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27864More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the coverage is of superfast broadband in (a) Dorset and (b) North Dorset constituency; and what steps he is taking to improve superfast broadband coverage in hard-to-reach areas.
Answer: According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 97% of premises in Dorset can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 61% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>1000 Mbps). In the North Dorset constituen...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record5G: Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the coverage is of 5G in Dorset; and what steps he is taking to improve 5G coverage in rural areas.
Answer: I have raised my concerns about the reporting of mobile connectivity with Ofcom, but Ofcom reports that 5G is available outside 86% of premises across the Dorset local authority area from at least one mobile operator.In order to realise the full economic ...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: InvestmentDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27862More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to publish the Road Investment Strategy 3; and what funding is available via that scheme.
Answer: The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) will cover the five-year period from April 2026 to March 2031. We expect to publish that Strategy at the end of 2025 with a draft Strategy published in the summer of 2025. An Interim Settlement for National Highwa...
Answered 10 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Inheritance TaxDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of farms that will be affected by changes made to agricultural property relief and Inheritance Tax at the Autumn Budget 2024 in (a) North Dors
Answer: Assessing the impact of the new Inheritance Tax policy, which comes into force from 6 April 2026, relies on a number of factors such as ownership structure and debt levels. Without such information, which the Government does not hold at that level, ar...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Education: VATDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT changes on (a) private schools and (b) demand on the state sector in North Dorset constituency.
Answer: The department has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in North Dorset specifically who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT impact on school fees.Across the UK as a whole, including North Dorset, the government predic...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFunerals: LicensingMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress she has made on changing licensing in the funeral home sector.
Answer: Funeral directors have a profound responsibility to treat those who have died with the utmost dignity and respect and the majority of funeral directors conduct themselves in accordance with the high standards expected of them. However, the Government reco...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Services: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the additional costs of providing council services in rural areas.
Answer: This government is committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural councils in England. Places with a significant rural population will on average receive around a 5% increase in their Core Spending Power next year, which is a real terms increase. N...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government Finance: Rural AreasMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution in response to the hon. Member for North Dorset during the Oral Statement of 1
Answer: The government is absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities.We are committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to fix the foundations of local government in partnership with the sector and on...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →