Simon Opher MP: written questions
108 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cost of Living: Young PeopleTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113999More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support young people with the cost of living.
Answer: At the Autumn Budget in 2025, the government took action to bear down on prices and target everyday expenses, including taking an average of £150 off household energy bills from this April. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will strengthen protections for priv...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBrownfield Land Release FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he plans to extend the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
Answer: The third round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund will launch this year. Design options are currently being explored by officials.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHistoric Environment RecordsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58971 on Historic Environment Records, how he plans to commence section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; and
Answer: The government continues to consider the implementation of section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. Any announcements will be made to Parliament in the usual way.
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: Health ProfessionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support networks of (a) clinicians and (b) health professionals who wish to share best practice on responding to domestic abuse.
Answer: A network of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (DASV) Leads are embedded in almost every National Health Service trust, integrated care board, and region across England. These Leads act as advocates both within the NHS and in partnership with external ag...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Plan 2 student loan borrowers there are resident in Stroud.
Answer: As of 30 April 2025, there were approximately 19,000 (to the nearest 1000) Plan 2 student loan borrowers with a positive loan balance registered with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to postcodes which fall wholly or partly within the local authority area ...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOrchestras: Government AssistanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 2 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support orchestras.
Answer: The Government is proud to champion our world-class orchestras and musicians, and help them to thrive. Through Arts Council England’s (ACE) 2023–26 National Portfolio Investment Programme, more money is going to more orchestral organisations in more parts...
Answered 6 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPension Funds: Fossil FuelsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with The Pensions Regulator on what estimate it has made of how many and what proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in (a) thermal coal-fired and (b) any other foss
Answer: The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has not produced such estimates. As part of its supervision and to assist in understanding the link between performance and asset allocation, TPR now gets access to investment data from workplace pension schemes – including in...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGaza: Health ServicesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107192More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to keep the Gaza medical evacuation scheme operating.
Answer: We have supported a number of sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK. We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region and will update on this in due ...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses and Small BusinessesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) small and (b) start-up businesses.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting small and start-up businesses through the Small Business Plan - the most comprehensive package of support for small and medium size businesses in a generation.Start-ups play a crucial role in fostering competition...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Solar PowerDepartment for EducationTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department will resume approvals for applications made by schools to attain purchasing power agreements for the installation of solar panels.
Answer: A temporary pause in Summer 2025 was quickly lifted and the programme is continuing as normal. Schools wishing to take forward solar projects via a Power Purchase Agreement should apply in the usual way following available guidance.
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNon-governmental Organisations: RegistrationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support international non-governmental organisations that have been deregistered in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli government.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made on 5 January.
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIntegrated Care Boards: Further EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Integrated Care Boards include further education colleges as partner institutions in their place-based partnerships, clinical strategic plans and Neighbourhood Health Plans; and if he will
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Association of Colleges' report entitled From treatment to prevention: how colleges can build a healthier society, published in December 2025, what assessment his Department has made of th
Answer: The primary purpose of Tailored Learning, which includes what used to be called Community Learning, is to support learners into employment and to progress to further learning, in line with the overall purpose of the Adult Skills Fund.It plays a vital role...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordFurther EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Association of Colleges' report entitled From treatment to prevention: how colleges can build a healthier society, published in December 2025, what discussions he has had with Cabinet coll
Answer: The department consults with Cabinet colleagues on a range of policies, and we are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all young people, including those with specific needs. We have introduced the Youth Guarantee to tackle the number of t...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial and Affordable Homes Programme: StroudMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in Stroud.
Answer: Since coming into office the government has listened carefully to social and affordable housing providers, and we have responded positively to their calls for increased grant funding, for measures to improve their financial capacity, and for regulatory ce...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to UIN 94508, how many of these unique applications were made by people currently outside the UK, compared to those already based in the UK.
Answer: The Department has not undertaken an analysis of the information collected as part of the 2025 medical specialty training programme to assess the location of applicants at the point of application.
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: StaffDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the modelled projections in the 10 Year Workforce Plan will include projections for medical specialties.
Answer: The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. It will include modelling of the potential size and shape of the future workforce a...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how extra training places as set out in the 10 year plan will be divided between specialities.
Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July this year, over the three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.On 8 December, the...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAnaesthetics: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog for core anaesthetic training.
Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan published in July this year, over the three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.On 8 December, the...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: Solar PowerDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support schools seeking to attain purchasing power agreements for solar panels.
Answer: My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Budget 2025 indicated that departments could consider private sources of finance, including Public Private Partnerships, to decarbonise the public sector estate. The department is exploring ho...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: SwimmingDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 100101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to publish data on school swimming attainment.
Answer: The department is processing the information gathered on school swimming attainment, which was received through the physical education and sport premium digital expenditure reporting return. We will publish a summary of quality assured data in due course.
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: FreeholdMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he holds data on the number of private new-build freehold estates managed via resident-run companies.
Answer: My Department does not hold specific data on the number of private new-build freehold estates managed via resident-run companies.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Management Companies: RegulationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to regulate property management companies.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77534 on 17 October 2025.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth Professions: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individual applicants applied for specialty training places across all 65 medical specialties; and how many training places were available in 2025.
Answer: The Department holds data based on the application process for medical specialty training which allows the identification of unique applicants. This data is part of management information systems summarising information supplied in medical specialty train...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElections: Social MediaMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of allegations of foreign interference in recent elections in Romania and Germany through social media;
Answer: The Government takes any attempts to intervene in democratic processes very seriously. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes, including from foreign interference. The Defending Democracy Taskforc...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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