Sojan Joseph MP: written questions
77 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Bus Services: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 31 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the provision of bus services in (a) Ashford constituency and (b) Kent.
Answer: The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordA28: BridgesDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Highways Agency on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10.
Answer: There have not been recent discussions between the Secretary of State and National Highways on increasing the height of the railings on the A28 overbridge over the M20 between junctions 9 and 10. Both the Department and National Highways take the issue of...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTransport: AutismDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27452More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that all public-facing transport staff participate in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.
Answer: This Government wants to focus on how transport can be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it – delivering on our pledge to put people at the heart of what we do on transport and enabling them to live healthy, fulfilling lives ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: AutismHome OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) police officers and (b) public-facing police staff participating in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.
Answer: Training on mental ill health and autism is already integrated throughout the initial police learning programme which all new recruits must complete.Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSports and Leisure: AutismDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring that public-facing (a) leisure and (b) sports staff participate in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.
Answer: As set out in the cross-government autism strategy (2021-2026), we want to improve understanding and acceptance of autism, and for public sector services to become more autism-inclusive.Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations are required...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: AutismDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27447More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) teachers and (b) other teaching staff participating in mandatory autism awareness and sensitivity training.
Answer: As set out in the cross-government autism strategy (2021 to 2026), the government wants to improve understanding and acceptance of autism and for public sector services to become more autism-inclusive.Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisatio...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payments: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the criteria for the eligibility of the Winter Fuel allowance to include pensioners who have received a terminal diagnosis.
Answer: Linking Winter Fuel eligibility to Pension Credit and other means tested benefits for pensioners, ensures the least well-off pensioners still receive the help they need; this includes people with a terminal illness who are eligible. There are no plans to ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRespiratory Syncytial Virus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of ensuring that adults aged over 60 with pre-existing conditions are included in the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination program
Answer: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) keeps all vaccine programmes under review and will continue to update its advice as new evidence emerges. In October 2024, the JCVI agreed that it would need to formally review, in detail, the evi...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the implications of developers failing to meet their commitments in planning agreements under Section 106 of the
Answer: The government is clear that developers must deliver on their planning obligations. Section 106 planning obligations are legal agreements, and a local planning authority may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained wit...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: ConcreteDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 21357 on Large Goods Vehicles: Concrete, what her Department's planned timetable is for publishing its findings.
Answer: The Department will publish its findings shortly.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of cadet forces on the (i) mental health and (ii) wellbeing of young people.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence has commissioned studies on the impact and value of the Cadet Forces to society and to schools. This independent research provides clear evidence that the cadet experience is not only engaging and fun but can, for some, be literall...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) support and (b) resources available to the (i) Sea Cadets, (ii) Volunteer Cadet Corps, (iii) Army Cadet Force, (iv) Air Training Corps and (v) Combined Cadet
Answer: We are committed to sustaining the Ministry of Defence Cadet Forces in Kent, in England, and across the UK. And Kent, as with other counties, is very well served with numerous Sea Cadet units, Army Cadet detachments and Air Cadet squadrons in the communit...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTaxis: TrainingDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of statutory safeguard training for (a) private hire and (b) taxi drivers under the Police and Crime Act 2017.
Answer: The Policing and Crime Act 2017 enables the Secretary of State for Transport to issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities on exercising their taxi and private hire vehicle licensing functions to protect children and vulnerable adults. Statutory gu...
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAccident and Emergency Departments: KentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce accident and emergency waiting times in hospitals in East Kent.
Answer: The Government recognises the pressures on the National Health Service during the winter period and the impact this is having on accident and emergency waiting times, including in hospitals in East Kent.We are committed to supporting the NHS to improve pe...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordEqual Pay: Ethnic GroupsWomen and EqualitiesTabled 14 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24028More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will publish a timeline for the introduction of mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting.
Answer: As set out in the King’s Speech in July, the government is committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. These measures will be part of the upcoming Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which will be pu...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability and Ethnic Groups: EqualityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22821More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to have discussions with EU counterparts on the introduction of the EU Pay Transparency Directive as part of the Government's plans to consult on the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
Answer: This Government is committed to building on the historic achievements of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and Equality Act 2010 and tackle pay discrimination. The Equality (Race and Disability) Bill will introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reportin...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordElectrical Goods: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to include the recycling of small electrical items as part of household waste collections.
Answer: The Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) regulations make producers responsible for the electrical products they place on the market when they become waste. As part of this producers can pay into the WEEE Compliance Fee fund that provides pro...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous DogsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of adding XL Bullies to the list of prohibited dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 on the number of attacks by XL Bul
Answer: Defra is continuing to engage closely with the Police, local authorities, and rescue and rehoming organisations to monitor the impacts of the XL Bully dog ban. These measures are vital to protect the public and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordVaccine Damage Payment Scheme: CoronavirusDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18797 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, how many of the claims relating to Covid-19 vaccination that have gone to tribunal have resulted in the Va
Answer: As of 1 December 2024, 49 appeals linked to COVID-19 vaccinations have been escalated to tribunal. Eight of these appeals have now concluded, with zero resulting in a payment being awarded.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPublic Sector: Re-employment and Workplace PensionsTreasuryTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19558More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing pension abatement rules on (a) public sector pensions and (b) re-employment earnings for public sector employees.
Answer: Pension abatement rules formed part of the overall design of most legacy Public Service Pension Schemes. These rules worked as part of an overall package to safeguard against undesirable practices and ensure propriety and value for money. Reformed schemes...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVaccine Damage Payment Scheme: CoronavirusDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent defending Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme appeals linked to Covid-19 vaccinations since 2021; and how many Vaccine Damage Payment Schemes appeals linked to Covid-19
Answer: Between 1 November 2021 and 1 December 2024, the total spent by the NHS Business Services Authority on behalf of the Department to defend against appeals within the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme was £104,005.05. As of December 2024, 49 appeals linked to C...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBereavement Counselling and Death: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including lessons on death and bereavement in the National Curriculum.
Answer: The department wants to support all young people to be happy, healthy and safe, and to equip them for adult life so they achieve and thrive. The statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance makes clear that teachers should b...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMental Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all integrated care boards meet the mental health investment standard.
Answer: The NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2024/25 makes clear that integrated care boards are expected to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard by increasing their investment in mental health services in line with their overall increa...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat NetworksDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) tenants and (b) leaseholders are not adversely financially impacted by communal heating schemes.
Answer: The Department is introducing heat network regulation in January 2026 which aims to provide consumers with comparable protections to existing gas and electricity regulations. Ofgem is being appointed as heat network regulator and will have powers to inves...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordKent Police: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 11 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding levels for Kent Police.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring that the police have the resources they need to tackle crime effectively.Kent Police’s funding will be up to £431.5m in 2024-25. This is in addition to £4m provided for the 2024-25 pay award which has been allocate...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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