Sojan Joseph MP: written questions 2025
59 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Parking: KentDepartment for TransportTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 81640 on Parking: Disability, whether her Department has had recent discussions with Kent County Council on its use of powers under Part IV of the Road Traf
Answer: Kent County Council, as the traffic authority for Kent, are wholly responsible for exercising their powers under Part IV of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Whilst the Department does not typically intervene in local authority decision making on mark...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordInland Border Facilities: AshfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of checks on goods coming into the UK at Sevington on the protection of a) public health and b) animal health.
Answer: Border checks undertaken by competent authorities at the Sevington SPS Border Control Post are an important element of the system designed to manage biosecurity risks. The Sevington facility is enabling the implementation of SPS controls at the border on ...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAmbulance Services: KentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89222More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve ambulance waiting times in (a) Ashford constituency and (b) Kent.
Answer: The Government recognises that in recent years ambulance response times have not met the high standards patients should expect.We are determined to turn things around. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, backed by almost £450 million of capita...
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Quality BoardDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 87562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to announce the new membership of the National Quality Board.
Answer: In our 10-Year Health Plan we committed to reintroducing a new, rigorous focus on high-quality care for all, and that as part of this we will revitalise the National Quality Board. The next meeting of the National Quality Board is in December, and we cont...
Answered 11 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordTake-away Food: Delivery ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the application of food safety regulations to (a) the vehicles and (b) the bags used by delivery drivers.
Answer: Food safety regulations in the United Kingdom apply to all stages of the food supply chain, including the transport and delivery of food by vehicles and in bags. These requirements are set out in the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, whi...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGeneral Practitioners: VeteransDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82536More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure more GP practices join the veteran friendly GP accreditation programme.
Answer: NHS England, in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners, is continuing to encourage general practices (GPs) to participate in the Armed Forces Veteran Friendly GP accreditation scheme. This voluntary initiative is available to GPs acro...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for (a) small boats, (b) dinghies and (c) other vessels that are seized for trying to transport migrants into the UK.
Answer: All vessels that have been subject to seizure, are held by Border Force until the completion of criminal investigations and any resulting legal proceedings. The majority of boats, dinghies and other vessels are not fit to ever go to sea again, as they arr...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: Foster CareDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82140More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the placement of children with new foster parents does not have a disruptive impact on their education.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked-after child’s life.Under the care planning, placement and case review guidance and regulations, and Section 22c of the Children Act 1989, social workers, with the sup...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for disabled parking bays for people who are of state pension age with mobility issues but are not in receipt of the higher ra
Answer: Part IV of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 provides local authorities with powers to mark out bays for specific purposes, issue local parking permits, and use Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to reserve spaces for specific purposes. This can be a vol...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversity of Greenwich and University of KentDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with the (a) University of Kent and (b) University of Greenwich on the potential impact of the formation of the London and South East University Group on courses avail
Answer: The department sees collaboration of this type as a positive pathway towards building greater resilience in the sector, especially where this will bring positive benefits to students.Universities are autonomous and independent from government. As such, th...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversity of Greenwich and University of Kent: RedundancyDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with the (a) University of Kent and (b) University of Greenwich on potential redundancies of (i) teaching and (ii) other staff following the formation of the London an
Answer: The department sees collaboration of this type as a positive pathway towards building greater resilience in the sector, especially where this will bring positive benefits to students.This partnership has been led by the universities themselves. However, t...
Answered 12 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77850More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will provide multi-year funding settlements for children's hospices in (a) Kent and (b) England after this financial year.
Answer: We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to suppor...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Nationals Abroad: DeathForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available to help families living in the UK after the death of a family member living abroad.
Answer: It is a top priority of the UK Government to ensure that we have the right people in the right places to support those who require consular services overseas. We regularly review the services we offer, including the support we provide to families in the U...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEast Kent Hospitals NHS Trust: SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 73947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of cancelled surgeries (a) at the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust and (b) in England as a result of increased humidity in op
Answer: National Health Service organisations are locally responsible for their estate, including making decisions on the management of operating theatres. Guidance on ventilation in healthcare premises, including humidity, is provided in the Health Technical Mem...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: Local GovernmentHome OfficeTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 73946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with local authorities in areas where the EU Entry/Exit System will come into force on 12 October 2025.
Answer: The EU Entry/Exit System will be implemented at the juxtaposed border controls in the UK. Ministers and officials have been working closely with key affected stakeholders to ensure the necessary preparations are in place. This includes frequent engagement...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73062More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, what discussions she has had with the British National (Overseas) (BHO)
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in d...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGurkhas: PensionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) the Nepalese Government and (b) Gurkha veteran representatives on bringing pensions for Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 in line with the standard British Army pension.
Answer: The UK Government greatly values the Gurkhas’ long and distinguished history of service in our Armed Forces and remains committed to supporting the welfare of Gurkha Veterans and their families in both the UK and Nepal. In March 2025, I met with the Nepal...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsHome OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to phase out (a) animal testing and (b) testing on beagles at (i) MBR Acres and (ii) other facilities.
Answer: This Government has made a commitment to the long-term goal of phasing out animal testing in science and research. An immediate ban is not presently feasible due to international regulatory requirements for the safety testing of chemicals and medicines. S...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDartford-Thurrock Crossing: TollsDepartment for TransportTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 June 2025 on Dart Charge, HCWS708, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Local Resident Discount Scheme for the Dartford Crossing
Answer: The current approach of applying the local resident discount only to people who live within the boroughs where the Dartford Crossing is located (Dartford and Thurrock), recognises that it is the people living in those boroughs who are most affected by the...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policies on the adequacy of the care available to people living with dementia; and if he will make an assessment of th
Answer: Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence g...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: PublicityDepartment for EducationTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed removal of funding for the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme on the ability to (a) promote and (b) increase apprentic
Answer: Promoting apprenticeships and technical education routes remains a key part of this government’s education policy. The decision to not continue the Apprenticeships Support and Knowledge (ASK) programme was based on the following:Growth in awareness of app...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTuberculosis: Disease ControlForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on tackling the global TB epidemic in preparation for the World Health Assembly in May 2025.
Answer: The UK is a leading donor in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and engages closely with international partners to tackle the disease. Our £1 billion commitment to the Global Fund (2023 to 2025) will provide TB treatment and care for 1.1 million people, ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTuberculosisDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support public health action to tackle tuberculosis.
Answer: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England’s joint tuberculosis (TB) action plan for England details actions to achieve a 90% reduction in people with TB by 2035 and is aligned with the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. The plan ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordApprentices: PublicityDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme for raising awareness of (a) apprenticeships, (b) traineeships and (c) T Levels in (i) Kent and (ii) Engla
Answer: The Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) programme has played an important role in promoting apprenticeships and other technical education routes over the last nine academic years. Over this period there has been a significant increase in the intere...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimals: Hunting and SmugglingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward measures to ban (a) trophy hunting and (b) animal smuggling.
Answer: The Government committed to a hunting trophy import ban of endangered animals in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver on this commitment in the most effective way. As outline...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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