Steve Witherden MP: written questions 2025
67 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Pathways to Work: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in reference to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of th
Answer: The Department published a Policy Rationales Impact report “Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impact” alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in t...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPathways to Work: Public ConsultationDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 26 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to meet disabled people to discuss the proposals set out in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 26 March 20
Answer: We have set out proposals to reform the health and disability benefits proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper published on 18 March 2025. A full 12-week consultation will begin from the point all accessible versions are published on GOV.UK. We woul...
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHate Crime: Transgender PeopleHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to help tackle hate crimes against trans people in England and Wales.
Answer: All hate crimes, including those targeting the LGBT+ community, are completely unacceptable. This Government is determined to tackle these appalling crimes, and we back the police in taking strong action against the perpetrators of these offences.We have ...
Answered 14 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHate Crime: LGBT+ PeopleHome OfficeTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes an aggravated offence.
Answer: All hate crimes, including those targeting the LGBT+ community, are completely unacceptable. This Government is determined to tackle these appalling crimes, and we back the police in taking strong action against the perpetrators of these offences.We have ...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCountryside: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 35489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to publish an (a) Green Paper and (b) public consultation on access to nature; and what steps he has taken to improve people's access to nature.
Answer: We are currently developing policy to improve access to nature, working closely with other Government departments and key stakeholders, and further information will be available in due course. In addition, we are already delivering key initiatives aimed a...
Answered 28 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on its international obligations on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in th
Answer: The UK remains opposed to anti-United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Knesset legislation which came into force on 30 January, and unequivocally rejects attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA. UNRWA plays a v...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: HorsesDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29997More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) awareness and (b) compliance with Rule 215 of The Highway Code.
Answer: The Government's flagship road safety campaign, THINK!, aims to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. The THINK! Campaign plays an important role in raising awareness of, and encouraging compliance with, new road safety le...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 7 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29996More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department increased firearms license fees for option (a) one, (b) two and (c) three.
Answer: On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.A full impact assessment was published alongsi...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 7 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the money raised from increasing firearms license fees will be spent on improving the appraisal process.
Answer: On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.A full impact assessment was published alongsi...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFirearms: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 7 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29994More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing firearms license fees on (a) farmers and (b) rural communities.
Answer: On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.A full impact assessment was published alongsi...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordIsrael: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Israeli legislation on UNRWA on UK government funding.
Answer: The UK has committed £41 million for UNRWA this financial year, to deliver essential services for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to Palestinian refugees across the region. This funding has now been released to United Nations Relief...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Company ObligationDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) households and (b) listed buildings have been awarded funding for energy efficiency installations under the ECO4 scheme in (i) Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency (ii) Wales
Answer: ECO4 does not award funding to households, it is an obligation set by Government on large energy suppliers to install energy efficiency measures. To the end of September 2024 (the latest available data by parliamentary constituency and nation), ECO4 has s...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: PlanningMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed national planning reforms for farmers on (a) the environment and (b) animal welfare.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment. The revised Framework published on 12 December last year maintains the expectation that where signif...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordFossil FuelsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to end fossil fuel (a) extraction, (b) exports and (c) imports.
Answer: The Government will consult on the implementation of its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in due course. It does not intend to revoke existing licences. The Government has announced it will introduce new legislation t...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon EmissionsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to limit the UK’s CO2 emissions to its proportionate share of the remaining global carbon budget for 1.5°C.
Answer: The latest assessments by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that the pathway to 1.5°C remains open, but only if urgent action is taken. The UK is a global leader in the fight against climate cha...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCarbon EmissionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the UK's carbon footprint including emissions from imported goods is since 2010.
Answer: Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK Data are available up to 2021. The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO2, Methane ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: RefugeesMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the rules on request to review ARAP rejections within 90 days of receipt when a person is in (a) a life-threatening situation and (b) has limited a
Answer: We understand that Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) applicants often face difficult circumstances where it is not always easy to request a review of a decision finding their application ineligible within 90 days of receiving an outcome lett...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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