Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Animal Experiments: DogsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to allocate additional funding through UK Research and Innovation for the validation of non-animal new approach methodologies to help replace the use of dog
Answer: The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year.UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that suppo...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLegal Aid Scheme: Harpenden and BerkhamstedMinistry of JusticeTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55938More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help increase levels of access to legal aid for people in rural areas in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: It is vital that those who need legal aid, some of the most vulnerable people in our society, can access it wherever they live. We are funding provisions such as Advicenow, which is an online provision.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) monitors the numbers of pr...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to prohibit the routine culling of male chicks.
Answer: The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals at the time of killing, including male chicks from the egg production sector. Permitted killing methods for chicks, such as gas stunning and maceration, are based on scientific...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: HertfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle environmental harm in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) advises and regulates businesses across the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors; they are the environmental regulator for water companies; they prosecute and take action against those who pollute the environment and blight o...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Ban Hatch and Dispatch campaign.
Answer: The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals at the time of killing, including male chicks from the egg production sector. Permitted killing methods for chicks, such as gas stunning and maceration, are based on scientific...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing in-ovo sexing technologies within UK hatcheries.
Answer: We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. In its 2024 ‘Opinion on alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industries’, the An...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHouseboats: DatabasesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55879More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of potential benefits of including landlords of residential boats in the proposed Private Rented Sector database.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22356 on 17 January 2025.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHouseboatsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55878More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what comparative assessment she has made of the (a) rights and (b) protections available to (i) residential boaters that rent moorings in marinas and (ii) land-based tenants.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22356 on 17 January 2025.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: Repairs and MaintenanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to consult on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 to 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.
Answer: Draft regulations to commence sections 61 – 64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 are currently subject to a technical consultation. The consultation, which launched on 7 May and is open until 23.59 on 2 July 2025, can ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Chronic IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that people claiming Personal Independence Payments with chronic health conditions are not subject to reviews unless there is evidence of significant change in their c
Answer: Reviews are an important feature of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ensuring the support continues to meet the individual’s needs, as circumstances can change over time, and to make sure the correct level of support is being provided. People who rece...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGluten-free Foods: PrescriptionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address regional disparities in the prescribing of gluten-free foods for people with coeliac disease.
Answer: Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs need to consider the needs of all their population when making decisions on how best to use their budget. NHS Englan...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHate CrimeHome OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54480More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to make LGBTQ+ hate crimes aggravated offences; and if she will implement a national Hate Crime Strategy and Action Plan to improve (a) reporting and (b) support for victi
Answer: All hate crimes are unacceptable, and we back the police in taking the strongest action against the perpetrators of these appalling offences.We are currently considering the best way to implement commitments in this space.The Government funds an online ha...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMusic: StreamingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) small and (b) independent artists in securing adequate levels of payments from music streaming services.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital importance of ensuring that all music creators, including independent artists, are appropriately compensated for their work. Many have raised legitimate concerns about remuneration from streaming platforms and we take t...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordKidney Diseases: Health Services and ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) increase research into kidney disease and (b) raise public awareness of (i) early detection and (ii) prevention strategies to reduce the risk of progressi
Answer: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and social care, including kidney disease. Thes...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament record5G: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 19 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38243 on 5G: Infrastructure, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of commencing Sections 61 to 64 of the Product Sec
Answer: Following the 2017 reforms, government representatives engaged regularly with stakeholders about their impact. The changes made by the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 were consulted on and received Parliamentary scrutiny du...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: Overseas StudentsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of planned changes to international student recruitment on the financial sustainability of universities.
Answer: This government’s position on international students has been clear. We are committed to a United Kingdom that is outward looking and welcomes international students who make a positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and soci...
Answered 30 May 2025
Original Parliament recordVisas: Skilled WorkersHome OfficeTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) expand and (b) simplify the Global Talent visa route.
Answer: As set out in the Immigration White Paper, we will continue to work closely with our endorsing bodies on policy proposals to make it simpler and easier for top scientific and design talent to use the Global Talent Visa route, and ensure the UK can bring i...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications: InfrastructureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of telecoms site rental valuations following the 2017 Electronic Communications Code reforms on rural connec
Answer: The aim of the 2017 reforms was to encourage investment in digital networks and improve coverage and connectivity across the UK. Based on Ofcom reporting, 4G rural geographic coverage from at least one operator has increased from 88% in May 2018 to a repo...
Answered 28 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the Environment Agency on Markyate Sewage Works of 28 March 2025.
Answer: A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared by the Environment Agency and will be issued as soon as possible.
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTennis: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamst...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTennis: FinanceDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding will go to (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities.
Answer: The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamst...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTennis: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department has provided for tennis facilities Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency in each of the past three years; and whether she plans to provide further funding.
Answer: The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamst...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the affordability of rail fares in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways (GBR) passengers will be able to receive a more consistent...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to help support SMEs in adopting digital technology in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Hertfordshire Growth Hub provides SMEs in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with support and advice with adopting digital technology. The Government is working closely with the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce. The Taskforce brings industry stakeholders together to...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRailways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52768More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase access to rail links in rural communities in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The Government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline fo...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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