Simon Opher MP: written questions
226 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35792More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cancer screening programmes recommended by the National Screening Committee are (a) funded and (b) available to patients as quickly as possible.
Answer: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) Secretariat works closely with NHS England. This means NHS England is aware of conditions that the committee is considering for a screening programme. The costs and workforce requirements of potential screening...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35791More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration his Department has given to including a separate faster diagnosis target for children and young people with cancer.
Answer: The Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) includes children and young people and ensures that cancer is diagnosed or ruled out, within 28 days from referral. The latest FDS data, for December 2024, shows that 89.8% of children and young people with suspected ca...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35790More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure early diagnosis of cancer.
Answer: Earlier diagnosis of cancer, at stages 1 or 2, is key to delivering improved cancer outcomes and boosting chances of survival. The earlier that cancer is diagnosed, the more options there are for effective treatment.The Government is committed to improvin...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSexual Offences: Crown CourtMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of (a) rape and (b) sexual offence cases in the Crown Court.
Answer: We know that victims of rape and other sexual offences can wait longer than victims of other offence types for their cases to complete at the Crown Court. Judges, where possible, look to prioritise cases involving vulnerable victims and witnesses, which w...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationality: Fees and ChargesHome OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Good character: caseworker guidance, updated on 13 February 2025, whether her Department plans to review the £1,630 citizenship application fee.
Answer: Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 laid on 21 January, sets out increases to the fee maxima that applies to applications made from within the UK to natural...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power Stations: GloucestershireDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will visit the decommissioning power stations at (a) Oldbury and (b) Berkeley (Severn Edge); and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (i) deploying Small Modula
Answer: Great British Nuclear is driving forward its Small Modular Reactor competition and has separately acquired the site at Oldbury-on-Severn. No decisions have yet been taken on deployment of technologies at specific sites but the merits of any projects would...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Severn: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the long-term strategic investment required to support flood mitigation along the Severn Estuary.
Answer: We are committed to supporting coastal communities and ensuring flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future. We will work to improve resilience and preparation across central government and local authorities to better pro...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Arrangements OrdersMinistry of JusticeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of legal mechanisms available to victims of (a) coercive control and (b) other abuse when family courts do not enforce child custody arrangements.
Answer: A Child Arrangement Order may be made by the family court to specify whom a child should live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with.If the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a person has failed to comply with a Child Arrangemen...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: TrainingHome OfficeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police forces are adequately (a) trained and (b) resourced to respond effectively to (a) reports of (i) coercive control and (ii) abuse and (b) breaches of cour
Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we will treat it as the national emergency that it is.In our manifesto, we committed to strengthening training for policing to ensure they have the right knowledge and ski...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Arrangements OrdersMinistry of JusticeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to review (a) the requirement to pay fees to initiate legal action when child custody court orders are breached and (b) other financial barriers to enforcing those orders.
Answer: A Child Arrangement Order may be made by the family court to specify whom a child should live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with.If the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a person has failed to comply with a Child Arrangemen...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChild Arrangements OrdersMinistry of JusticeTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that breaches of child custody court orders are enforced (a) effectively and (b) in a timely manner.
Answer: A Child Arrangement Order may be made by the family court to specify whom a child should live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with.If the court is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a person has failed to comply with a Child Arrangemen...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: GrantsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32182More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Capital Grant scheme for farmers will re-open for applications.
Answer: Defra announced on the 24 February that the Environmental Land Management standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open in summer 2025. We will confirm the date it will re-open in due course.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will automate the visa extension scheme application process for people applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.
Answer: The UK has offered or extended sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians and their families under the Ukraine Schemes, thanks to the immense generosity of the British public. We are determined to continue to provide stability for those we have welcomed to the ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate Change: Developing CountriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a regional allocation system similar to flood and coastal management funding to support local authorities and
Answer: Local authorities have a critical role in responding to the impacts of climate change in their areas. The Government is currently reviewing its approach to Climate Adaptation, including the tools and support we give to Local Authorities. in terms of finan...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRiver Frome: BeaversDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the release of wild beavers in the River Frome.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government recently confirmed its position on the wild release of beavers in an announcement on 28 February. A licence is needed to release any beavers into the...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS 111: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the average response time for the NHS 111 service.
Answer: The Government is committed to continuing to improve NHS 111 to ensure that patients can access the right care the first time, only visiting accident and emergency services when necessary. This includes through growing the clinical workforce, making urgen...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS 111: Older PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the NHS 111 service is accessible to elderly patients.
Answer: NHS 111 is designed to be widely accessible and used by as many people as possible, including elderly patients. Patients can get help from NHS 111 by calling 111 for free from a landline or mobile phone, as well as in the NHS App and by using 111 online. ...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordOsteoporosis: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to deliver early diagnosis services for osteoporosis.
Answer: On 6 January 2025, NHS England published a new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to achieving the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. The plan includes funding to boost bone density (DEXA) scannin...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to end homelessness; and what steps she plans to take to involve people with lived experience.
Answer: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. ...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCaravans: SalesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to stop the mis-selling of static caravans via the holiday park industry.
Answer: The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires that all terms of written contracts must be fair and transparent. Additionally, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 prohibit unfair and misleading marketing tactics towards consumers. These ru...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCaravans: SalesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32072More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing new customer protections for individuals that purchase static caravans, in the context of alleged reporting of mis-selling.
Answer: The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires that all terms of written contracts must be fair and transparent. Additionally, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 prohibit unfair and misleading marketing tactics towards consumers. These ru...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegulationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32071More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department's proposed regulations on short-term lets will be extended to include static caravan holiday parks.
Answer: Parliament legislated to deliver the legal framework for a registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023. The Government is now developing the scheme and actively considering the appropriate scope of the scheme, inc...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate and Nature BillDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve data reporting on consumption emissions, in the context of commitments made during the Climate and Nature Bill Second Reading debate on 2
Answer: This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises and has agreed steps to take forward the spirit and substance of the Climate and Nature Bill with the Bill’s Sponsors. An update on these steps will be set out in a Minister...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNature ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement changes to binding commitments on nature protection, in the context of assurances made during the Climate and Nature Bill Second Readin
Answer: The Government is committed to deliver for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, to restore and protect our natural world. We will develop a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery information ...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that constraints on the strategic road network do not prevent local authorities from
Answer: The Secretary of State regularly engages with cabinet colleagues on matters of strategic importance. The government recognises the importance of ensuring that new housing development is supported by infrastructure, including transport. The National Planni...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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