Steff Aquarone MP: written questions
100 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Energy: MetersDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with cabinet colleagues about the potential impact of signal issues on smart meters on the energy transition and net-zero.
Answer: The Government is working closely with the Data Communications Company (DCC) - the organisation responsible for the smart metering network in Great Britain - to ensure that connectivity can be extended to the small minority of unserved properties as soon ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRenewable Energy: InvestmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of electricity connection charges on investment in renewable energy (a) small businesses and (b) farms.
Answer: Ofgem is responsible for the connection charging regulatory framework, which strikes a balance between recovering costs from connecting customers and electricity bill payers. In recent years Ofgem has reduced the connection costs that customers face, for ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: BatteriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126894More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of electric vehicle batteries were (a) reused, (b) recycled and (c) disposed of via landfill or incineration in the UK in the most recent 12-month period for which data
Answer: Defra does not currently collect this data. Current statutory reporting requirements for waste batteries do not distinguish between reuse and recycling, or between different types of industrial battery, which includes electric vehicle batteries. It is aga...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: BatteriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126893More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the UK’s capacity to (a) process and (b) recycle electric vehicle batteries over the next 20 years.
Answer: Defra has not formally made this estimate, however as part of the department’s ongoing review of the UK batteries regulations we are considering waste electric vehicle battery arisings and the capacity that will be required to process them.Under current r...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126892More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of advertising the digital ID consultation on a) Spotify, b) Apple Podcasts and c) Audible.
Answer: Podcasts are not bought at partner level, so we’re not able to provide this information. I refer the Hon Member to PQ126891 for details on costs.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126891More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of advertising the Digital ID consultation on podcasts.
Answer: The digital ID consultation is open to the public, and its success is hinged on open and transparent participation. We have a duty to reach as broad a population as possible and have worked with media partners in order to ensure that the public are aware ...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAcademies: NorfolkDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to delay departmental decisions on academy closures or mergers in Norfolk until after the 2026 local elections.
Answer: In line with the Cabinet Office May 2026 elections guidance, during the three weeks preceding local authority elections, the department will take special care in relation to decisions, announcements and other public actions which could have a bearing on t...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress has been made in increasing the number of digital and data professionals in the civil service.
Answer: In April 2025, the Prime Minister made the commitment that one in 10 civil servants will work in technology and digital roles by 2030. When like-for-like roles are compared over the 6-months from April to October 2025, the digital workforce has grown by 0...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Digital TechnologyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps have been taken to reduce fragmentation of digital systems across departments, as identified in the State of Digital Government Review.
Answer: At the same time as publishing the State of Digital Government Review, the Government set out the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. In January 2026, the Government published the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government, translating that vision into a ...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectronic Government: ReviewsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress has been made implementing the recommendations of the State of Digital Government Review since its publication in January 2025.
Answer: Since January 2025, the Government has united digital, data, and AI teams into one centre to tackle identified systemic blockers to transformation. Government has also launched the GOV.UK app, the digital HM Armed Forces Veteran Card, and 13.2 million peo...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSchools: ClosuresDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of delaying decisions on school closures until after the 2026 local elections in relevant local authorities.
Answer: The department has not made such an assessment.However, in line with the Cabinet Office May 2026 elections guidance, during the three weeks preceding local authority elections the department takes special care in relation to announcements, including acade...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFuel Oil: VATTreasuryTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119033More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total VAT revenue from a). domestic and b). commercial heating oil sales in FY2024-25.
Answer: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services. This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrativ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: UK Trade with EUDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help reduce bureaucracy and improve export processes for SMEs trading with the EU.
Answer: We are improving our relationship with the EU and will align with the EU where it is in our national interest. This will help reduce barriers to trade, and the bureaucracy and onerous paperwork for UK businesses, particularly SMEs. Alongside this, DBT pub...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: AustraliaDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the termination of the UK–Australia social security agreement in 2001 on UK citizens who return from Australia after long periods of work there; an
Answer: The Government currently has no plans to reinstate or negotiate a new reciprocal social security agreement with Australia. Support for pensioners who, for whatever reason, find themselves on a low income is provided through Pension Credit. It guarantees a...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEconomic Growth: NorfolkTreasuryTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908199More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help increase economic growth in Norfolk.
Answer: The government is restoring stability, increasing investment, and reforming the economy to drive growth across every region of the UK.Norfolk will receive £32.5 million in Local Transport Grant funding enabling local authorities to deliver transport impro...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBreakfast ClubsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117993More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Specialist Resource Bases and Alternative Provisions are eligible for funding from the free breakfast clubs scheme.
Answer: All state-funded schools with primary aged pupils, including those with specialist units, special schools and alternative provision schools, are in scope for the free breakfast clubs programme.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, all state-f...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSixth Form Colleges: ClosuresDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department defines a partial closure of a Sixth Form College; and whether removal of A-Level provision constitutes a partial closure.
Answer: The arrangements for closing a standalone sixth form college are set out in the Dissolution of Further Education Corporations and Sixth Form College Corporations (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2012, and do not include partial closure.It is for the colleg...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Waste: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to Question 108923, whether she plans to provide transitional arrangements to councils going through Local Government Reorganisation.
Answer: Local authorities with a transitional arrangement are listed in the commencement regulations with the date by which they must introduce food waste collections from households. These were applied where long-term waste disposal (mechanical biological treatm...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordResearch: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 27 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 116644More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of HMRC’s operational capacity and performance standards for processing R&D tax credit repayments.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role that research anddevelopment (R&D) plays in driving innovation and economic growth as well as the benefits it can bring for society. HMRC actively balances its compliance efforts with the need to ensure tho...
Answered 4 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Action 15 of the National Cancer Plan, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that patients in remote and rural areas with poor access to public transport are not disa
Answer: The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will tackle unwarranted geographical variation head on and ensure that everyone has access to the best diagnostic and treatment services, no matter their postcode.We recognise that rural and coastal areas have been...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy Company ObligationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, by what route installers can access funding under the extended ECO4 scheme.
Answer: Installers participate in the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and access funding only by delivering measures on behalf of obligated energy suppliers. ECO4 is not government‑funded, rather suppliers pay for installations and recover costs through their cu...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: WasteDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage food surplus redistribution in the baking industry.
Answer: We recognise the environmental, economic and social benefits of preventing food waste and redistributing surplus food to organisations who can use it. Redistribution is second only to prevention in Defra’s Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy, which includes th...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCarbon Emissions: Bank ServicesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department provides to the baking industry to decarbonise.
Answer: Businesses in the baking industry can benefit from the Climate Change Agreements scheme, which provides Climate Change Levy discounts of up to 92% in return for improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions. More broadly, our Clean Power by 2030 missio...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ElectionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer to Question 107848 on 27 January 2026, if he will publish (a) the list of attendees and (b) the minutes of his meeting with Norfolk County Council on 16 De
Answer: The meeting was attended by representatives from Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Nicola Beach, Andrew Cook, Cllr Kay Mason Billig and Tom McCabe. My Department has no plans to publish the minutes of the meeting.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDomestic Waste: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with local authorities going through Local Government Reorganisation to ensure that food waste collections align with new boundaries.
Answer: Amended section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities in England to arrange for the separate collection of food waste from all households, at least once a week. All local authorities should provide a food waste service fo...
Answered 5 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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