Simon Opher MP: written questions
226 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Young PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the National Youth strategy; what steps she is taking to involve youth sector organisations in the development of that strategy; and how he
Answer: We are developing our plans for the new National Youth Strategy, in partnership with young people and with organisations within the youth sector, to bring power back to young people and rebuild a thriving and sustainable sector. We know there is excellent...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 21713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether hubs that provide open access mental health services for children and young people in every community will be delivered only through the Young Futures programme.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving mental health support for children and young people, as demonstrated by our pledge to roll out a network of Young Futures Hubs in every community to provide open access mental health support. We are currently worki...
Answered 14 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to begin rolling out measures to deliver the 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments this financial year; and how many such appointments he plans to deliver within the same peri
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure that patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeti...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDental Services: StandardsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to deliver 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments each year.
Answer: The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure that patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeti...
Answered 7 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMental Health Services: Children and Young PeopleDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to commission further waves of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England report.
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Report. We will publish plans in due course.
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: West BankHome OfficeTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21094More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support people applying for visas in the West Bank.
Answer: Currently, anyone who wishes to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available. The Visa Application Centre in Ramallah is open and operating as normal.Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Imm...
Answered 10 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19463More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will (a) introduce emergency presentation as a proxy staging measure for non-stageable blood cancers and (b) apply a corresponding national target to (i) measure and (ii) support
Answer: There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) the number of blood cancer patients diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways and (b) other data on the performance of such pathways.
Answer: The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: DiagnosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many blood cancer patients have been diagnosed via Non-Specific Symptom pathways in each of the last three years.
Answer: The capturing of non-specific symptom pathway outcomes was introduced in July 2023. From July 2023 to October 2024, 263 patients have been diagnosed via non-specific symptom pathways. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.engl...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet the Blood Cancer Alliance to discuss the need to include specific measures to improve blood cancer (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) care in the forthcoming cancer strategy.
Answer: There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-speci...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStudents: LoansDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the student loan finance repayment system to reduce monthly repayments for students in England.
Answer: The department is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, universities and students. The government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to un...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to organisations supporting the delivery of aid in Gaza since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The UK has now announced £112 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories so far this financial year, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank delivered through partner agencies. As part of this total, since July we have announ...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFree School Meals: Academic YearDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps with local authorities to extend provision of free school meals to school holidays.
Answer: There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFree School Meals: EligibilityDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she take steps to delegate powers to local authorities to (a) identify and (b) automatically register all children eligible for free school meals.
Answer: There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and encourages all eligible families to take up their entitlement. To make this as easy as possible the...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: RegulationTreasuryTabled 6 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18418More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regulations to enhance financial transparency within the hairdressing industry.
Answer: Financial transparency is key to ensuring cash-based businesses meet their legal obligations, such as registering with HMRC and paying taxes promptly. However, these benefits must be balanced against the burdens on business created by new regulation. Whil...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing advertising restrictions on high carbon emission products (a) on television and (b) online.
Answer: The Government is committed to reducing emissions from high carbon products and will continue to bring forward proposals to do so. The Committees of Advertising Practice and Advertising Standards Authority regulate the content and targeting of advertising...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: DetaineesHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish the criteria for determining which individuals seeking asylum will be subject to detention.
Answer: The Home Office has published guidance for determining who can be detained under immigration powers including those who are seeking asylum.‘Detained Asylum Casework’ sets out for the criteria for our caseworkers to determine under which circumstances asyl...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordIllegal Migration Act 2023Home OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to repeal the Illegal Migration Act 2023.
Answer: The Government has made clear the that the migration partnership with Rwanda will end. Consequently, the Government is considering all options connected with ending that partnership, including for the entirety of the Illegal Migration Act 2023. Legislativ...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrants: DetaineesHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle abuse in immigration detention centres.
Answer: We expect all suppliers operating on behalf of the Home Office to treat detained individuals with decency and respect, behaving in line with the high standards outlined in the Detention Centre Rules, published operating standards and service delivery cont...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMigrants: DetaineesHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory time limit on immigration detention.
Answer: There are currently no plans to introduce a time limit on immigration detention. This would risk significantly weakening our ability to remove those who have breached our immigration laws or who refuse to leave the UK voluntarily.
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of legislating to enable local authorities in England to adjust council tax rates by increasing them for higher-band proper
Answer: The government does not have any plans to reform council tax. In line with OBR forecasts made under the previous government, the government will maintain a core 3% referendum principle and a 2% adult social care precept in 2025-26.
Answered 27 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Relations: Departmental CoordinationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to promote cross-departmental work to strengthen community cohesion.
Answer: The Government has made £15 million available to the places most severely affected by disorder through the Community Recovery Fund to support the immediate recovery. Officials from my department have also carried out an extensive engagement process with t...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: RentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15245More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to prohibit a landlord from (a) demanding and (b) accepting more than one month’s rent in advance in respect of a (i) tenancy and (ii) licence of r
Answer: The government recognise that demands for extortionate rent in advance place a considerable financial strain on tenants and can exclude certain groups from renting altogether.We are very clear that the practice of landlords demanding large amounts of rent...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSports: Mental HealthDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 19 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of grassroots sports programmes in strengthening mental health (a) literacy and (b) resilience of men and boys.
Answer: Grassroots sports programmes provide important opportunities to bring communities together and to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of participants. Active lifestyles are also associated with 375,000 fewer people being diagnosed with depression.Th...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordX Corp: DisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 18 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing further regulations on X to tackle the spread the of (a) disinformation and (b) misinformation.
Answer: The Online Safety Act will require all in-scope services, including X, to tackle mis- and disinformation where it is illegal or harmful to children. The Act will also hold Category 1 services to account over the enforcement of their terms of service, incl...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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