Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Businesses: BillingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the use of e-invoicing to support SME digital adoption.
Answer: E-invoicing can help SMEs to reduce administrative burdens and data processing errors. Increasing SME adoption of digital tools like e-invoicing can therefore lead to increased productivity, as well as improved payment times and streamlined tax administra...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: BillingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department plans to take to promote e-invoicing among SMEs.
Answer: Many SMEs could benefit from digital tools like e-invoicing. E-invoicing can streamline invoicing processes and lead to increased productivity, improved payment times and easier tax administration. However, we know that SMEs face several barriers to adopt...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to work with technology companies to co-develop (a) standards and (b) frameworks to help increase levels of trust in AI among (i) the public and (ii) busine
Answer: The government recognises the importance of trust in AI systems. DSIT is building confidence in and driving adoption of AI by supporting a growing, competitive, and dynamic AI assurance ecosystem. AI assurance can help provide the basis for consumers to t...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: EnforcementMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the funding allocation for planning enforcement for local authorities for the next (a) year and (b) five years; and what steps she is taking (i) to ensure tim
Answer: Local planning authorities do not receive a standalone funding allocation for planning enforcement.Planning enforcement is at the discretion of local planning authorities and it is for them to decide when and how they use the powers available to them depe...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPermitted Development Rights: Public ConsultationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of permitted development rights on (a) community engagement with and (b) levels of local oversight for planning; a
Answer: Where permitted development rights consent development which could have local impacts, a prior approval process can allow for consideration of specified planning matters by the local planning authority and the local community. Planning law requires local ...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to promote reading through (a) digital formats and (b) media platforms commonly used by young people.
Answer: The department wants children to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information, and teachers should encourage pupils to develop reading habits by listening to, discussing, and reading a wide range of literature. Departme...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that employers provide disabled people with the support they need to stay in work in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.
Answer: Access to Work aims to support the recruitment and retention of disabled people into employment. It is a personalised discretionary grant that provides support with workplace adjustments beyond an employer’s obligation as outlined in the Equality Act 2010...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of access to books in low-income households on reading outcomes among children eligible for free school meals.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 59345.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUrinary Tract Infections: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to improve access to effective (a) symptom management and (b) pain relief for people with chronic urinary tract infections in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency is served by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB applies the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) t...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: DisabilityDepartment for TransportTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer on the affordability of motor insurance for drivers requiring specialist vehicles due to (i) disability
Answer: This Government is committed to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. The cross-Government motor insurance taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competiti...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting times are for appeals awaiting an inspector assignment.
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate's Strategic Plan commits to removing all casework backlogs and meeting all Ministerial targets by 2027. The Inspectorate continues to make considerable progress towards meeting that ambition across casework areas including nation...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning Permission: AppealsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for enforcement appeals pending by written representations.
Answer: The Planning Inspectorate's Strategic Plan commits to removing all casework backlogs and meeting all Ministerial targets by 2027. The Inspectorate continues to make considerable progress towards meeting that ambition across casework areas including nation...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordProperty: SalesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61418More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the digitalisation of the property transaction process.
Answer: The government is committed to modernising the home buying and selling process. We recently announced local authority pilots involving making key property information available online and the introduction of common data standards so that data can be share...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordConveyancing: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61417More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to reform the residential conveyancing process to (a) reduce the time taken and (b) increase transparency for (i) buyers and (ii) sellers.
Answer: The government is committed to modernising the home buying and selling process. We recently announced local authority pilots involving making key property information available online and the introduction of common data standards so that data can be share...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a national chemicals regulator to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination.
Answer: Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments work closely with regulators and government agencies to prioritise issues for regulatory action in the UK relating to chemicals. We are working across government to help us assess levels of per- and polyfluoroa...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDrinking Water: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review the current regulatory limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
Answer: The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007; updated in August 2024, and a consolidated version was published in March 2025. In February 2025, the DWI published a report from the advisory group of drin...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Chronic IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55944, what steps her Department plans to take to support people with complex and overlapping health conditions who are subject to the current PIP asses
Answer: We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that changes will be made to the eligibility criteria for the daily living component of PIP. Claimants will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity. This change does not...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of developing a strategy to ensure the full participation of blind and partially sighted students in education through the use of (a) assist
Answer: Assistive technology (AT), such as dictation tools and screen readers, can break down barriers to opportunity for students with disabilities and is a key part of helping every child to achieve and thrive.With rapid improvements in the accessibility featur...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFurther Education: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing ringfenced funding for statutory vision impairment services in further education.
Answer: The government’s approach to supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in further education (FE) aims to ensure that all students with SEND receive appropriate support tailored to their needs.All education and training...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNeurological Diseases: Primary CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that total triage systems in primary care do not compromise the continuity of care for patients with (a) Parkinson’s disease and (b) other chronic neurological condi
Answer: The triage process is designed to direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional based on their individual needs. This includes those who request or require continuity of care with the same general practitioner (GP), such as patients with...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration Controls: British National (Overseas)Home OfficeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59604More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that British National (Overseas) passport holders are afforded (a) access to the UK’s digital eGates at border control and (b) equal treatment to British passport hold
Answer: The Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025, sets out new measures on a wide range of immigration and border issues, including our vision to revolutionise the UK border by using technology to make visible change to security, flow and the passenger ...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: FraudDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on protecting (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people against AI scams using deepfake content; and what ste
Answer: DSIT regularly engages with Home Office on ongoing efforts to protect users from online harms, including AI-generated scams. AI generated content is regulated by the Online Safety Act where it is shared on an in-scope service and constitutes either illega...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: Public AppointmentsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to establish a statutory regulator for domestic renovation contractors to improve (a) consumer protections and (b) accountability.
Answer: This Government is working to ensure we have a high-quality and professional construction industry, with consumer protection at the heart of this. TrustMark, sponsored by the Department and licenced by the Government, is the Government Endorsed Quality Sc...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUnfair Practices: CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what legal redress is available to victims of rogue traders where alleged misconduct spans multiple jurisdictions in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland.
Answer: A range of legal redress options are available to those who consider they have fallen victim to rogue traders, including both civil and criminal justice remedies. Citizens Advice provide help and information on consumer rights in England and Wales (and eq...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies House: IdentificationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to accelerate the implementation of mandatory identity verification for (a) company directors and (b) beneficial owners at Companies House.
Answer: Companies House plan to implement identity verification requirements under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 for all directors and people with significant control (PSCs) from Autumn 2025. Existing directors and PSCs will have a 12-mon...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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