Steve Witherden MP: written questions
100 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Hate 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 recordMetals: Carbon EmissionsTreasuryTabled 17 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20885More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on foundry businesses (a) in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency and (b) nationally.
Answer: The government will introduce the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 1 January 2027. The UK CBAM will ensure highly traded, carbon intensive products from overseas face a comparable carbon price to those produced here so that UK decarbonisati...
Answered 13 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband and Mobile Phones: Montgomeryshire and GlyndŵrDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help improve (a) mobile signal and (b) broadband for areas that have no access to fibre internet in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency.
Answer: As part of the Shared Rural Network, we have recently upgraded and activated two government-funded masts in the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, delivering a 4G coverage boost to local businesses and community organisations, with more to come. Th...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to provide an update on the status of Drenewydd Actif Newtown’s application for the Community Ownership Fund.
Answer: Applicants to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) were required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form as a first stage and have this approved before being able to submit a full application in the next available round of the Fund.Drenewydd Actif re...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Nov 2024WithdrawnUIN 15400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's timetable is for announcing a decision on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway’s application for the Community Ownership Fund.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordDefibrillators: VATTreasuryTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13136More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing Value Added Tax from automated external defibrillators.
Answer: The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. For example, when an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity and then donated to an eligible body, no VAT is charged. Furthermore, all state schools in England ...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLord WalneyHome OfficeTabled 29 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to retain Lord Walney as the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption.
Answer: The Home Office is currently reviewing the role of the Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption through the Counter-Extremism sprint.Any decisions arising from this review will be announced in the normal was in due course.
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11140More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what UK-funded aid has been denied entry into Gaza since 7 October 2024.
Answer: During my visit to Al Arish, Egypt on 16 October, where I announced £1 million of UK assistance for Egypt's support to medically evacuated Gazans, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. As the Foreign Sec...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPalestinians: Gender Based ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11139More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of allegations of sexual violence and assault perpetrated against (a) women in Pa
Answer: The UK unequivocally condemns all alleged violations and abuses, including sexual violence, and calls for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. We are deeply concerned by allegations of sexual violence against P...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordLebanon: CiviliansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to help protect non-UK citizens in Lebanon who have siblings in (a) the UK and (b) Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency.
Answer: Consular services are only open to British nationals (funded by a premium on all British passports), and the UK Government is unable directly to assist non-UK citizens in Lebanon. However, immediate family members of British citizens and those settled in ...
Answered 6 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordImmigration: LebanonHome OfficeTabled 22 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of implementing a (a) resettlement and (b) reunification scheme for non-UK citizens in Lebanon who have siblings in (i) the UK and (ii)
Answer: We are monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Lebanon closely and keeping all existing pathways under review.Lebanese nationals who wish to join family members in the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available.Any application for a UK ...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRuabon Station: AccessDepartment for TransportTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that both platforms at Ruabon train station in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency are accessible to all.
Answer: I regret we are not yet able to comment on next steps regarding Access for All projects at specific stations including at Ruabon railway station. However, please be assured that we are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise ...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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