Victoria Collins MP: written questions 2025
508 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Railways: HertfordshireDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52767More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Performance in the area has been challenging in recent months, affected by a range of issues including points failures, train faults and external trespass and fatality incidents affecting Thameslink services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. However, ...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordResearch: Higher EducationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking with universities to develop research and development policies in the (a) East and (b) rest of England.
Answer: The Government is clear that universities are a key partner in research and development, which is fundamental to kickstarting economic growth and delivering the Government’s missions. DSIT values the views of universities and engages closely with them thr...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCentral Africa: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support humanitarian programmes in central Africa.
Answer: The UK supports a range of humanitarian activities across central Africa, including emergency food assistance, treatment for malnourished children and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. We are concerned by the escalation of humanitarian ...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Health Services: Medical EquipmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with providers of community equipment services on service delivery in the context of integrated care in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.
Answer: On 30 January 2025, NHS England published guidance on Standardising community health services, specifically codifying core services, which can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/standardising-community-health-services/Comm...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSecurity Action for EuropeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the EU on access to the Security Action for Europe fund.
Answer: This is a critical moment for the security of Europe. We welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative and proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. This must be a whole-of-Europe effort, in alignment with...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: ReformDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to hold discussions with suppliers of medical equipment to community care services on social care reform.
Answer: On 30 January 2025, NHS England published guidance on Standardising community health services, specifically codifying core services, which can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/standardising-community-health-services/Comm...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate Change: Economic SituationTreasuryTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52761More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate her Department has made of the potential economic impact of (a) extreme weather events, (b) food inflation, (c) flood recovery and (d) other climate-related impacts on (i) public services and (ii) hous
Answer: The Government recognises that preparing for the future means adapting to the effects of climate change. Without action, flooding, coastal erosion and other climate hazards will pose greater risks to lives, livelihoods and people’s wellbeingThe Office for...
Answered 23 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written QuestionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 46378 on Nigeria: Religious Freedom, tabled by the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted on 17 April 2025.
Answer: I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's question. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 8 May.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNutritionDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51051More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory nutritional targets for large supermarket retailers.
Answer: The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and tackling the three biggest killers, which will require effort from across society, not just for obesity but also for alcohol and smoking.We have made a start with the To...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate and Nature BillDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Climate and Nature Bill.
Answer: This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises and has agreed steps to take forward the spirit and substance of the Climate and Nature Bill with the Bill’s Sponsors. There is already a well-developed legislative framewor...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support vulnerable people into work in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Get Britain Working White Paper set out the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation to support our ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. The Department for Work and Pensions will shift from being a department for employment suppor...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWinter Fuel Payment: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment on living standards for pensioners in Harpenden and Berkhamsted.
Answer: The Government is, protecting pensioners on the lowest incomes. Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or other qualifying means-tested benefits or tax credits. They will continue to be ...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the level of uptake of Pension Credit in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.
Answer: The Government wants all pensioners to get the support to which they are rightly entitled. That is why we ran the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign across the whole of Great Britian. This included adverts on television; radio; social media; on ...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: AdvertisingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing regulations on the advertising of products high in fat, sugar or salt (a) in outdoor spaces and (b) on audio-only media on public
Answer: The Government is taking bold action to tackle the childhood obesity crisis, and will create the healthiest generation of children ever. We are progressing with the implementation of the advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink products on ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLife ExpectancyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce differences in healthy life expectancy between regions in England.
Answer: Tackling health inequalities is central to our Health Mission, which is why the Government has committed to halving the healthy life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest regions, by addressing the social determinants of health. Work is currently...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCarers: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve support for family carers in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support they need. Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires them to provide a wide range of sustainable, high-quality car...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that deafblind people can access appropriate social care in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.
Answer: Under the Care Act 2014 and Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014, local authorities are responsible for ensuring people with complex disabilities, including deafblind people, access the right care and support. Under the Equality Act (2010), loca...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce barriers to social care for (a) deafblind people and (b) other disabled people with complex needs in (i) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency an
Answer: Under the Care Act 2014 and Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014, local authorities are responsible for ensuring people with complex disabilities, including deafblind people, access the right care and support. Under the Equality Act (2010), loca...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to adapt farming subsidy schemes to incentivise the (a) housing of all farmed animals in woodland and (b) planting of woodland in permanent pasture; a
Answer: Businesses must notify the competent authorities in advance of a consignment arriving in GB when it contains High risk or Medium A risk plants and plant products as they are subject to phytosanitary controls. Upon completion of the notification an initial...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ForestryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will extend agroforestry funding to (a) include multiple species and (b) increase tree planting density to help provide an appropriate habitat for (i) pigs and (ii) c
Answer: Our in-field agroforestry offers under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes allow flexibility for land managers to decide on tree species and densities that suit their objectives, to realise the multiple benefits that trees provide in the farmi...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing additional funding for social rent homes in the forthcoming spending review.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest increase in social ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTechnology: TaxationTreasuryTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49611More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to increase taxes on global tech companies.
Answer: The UK remains committed to reaching a global solution on the taxation of the digital economy through Pillar 1 of the G20-OECD Inclusive Framework project. The UK has fully implemented Pillar 2 of the project which ensures all multinationals are subject t...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: Social ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to improve training for disabled children’s social care professionals in local authorities.
Answer: Every day, children’s social care professionals provide a vital service to children in need of support, including disabled children. Whilst it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that their social care workforces are well-equipped for the roles the...
Answered 30 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: Social ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce regional differences in social care provision for disabled children.
Answer: On Thursday 20 March I announced the launch of the national Families First Partnership programme, backed by over £500 million in grant funding to support rollout. This includes the publication of the Families First Programme guide, which can be found here...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Rented Housing: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide funding for social rent homes in the Spending Review.
Answer: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest increase in social ...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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