Victoria Collins MP: written questions
379 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Housing: HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17390More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will take steps to ensure that communities receive required infrastructure upgrades before new houses are occupied in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.Local development plans sh...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGreen Belt: HertfordshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect the green belt in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency, (b) Tring and (c) Dacorum, in the context of the consultation entitle
Answer: The government is committed to preserving Green Belts which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns merging into one an...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNon-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: SafetyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17388More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce measures to improve patient safety in non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Answer: The Government is committed to taking action to address concerns about the safety of the non-surgical cosmetics sector, and will set out the details of its approach at the earliest opportunity.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordRailways: WiFiDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the proportion of train journeys that had Wi-Fi available on board in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 to date.
Answer: The department does not hold this data as it is currently a matter for individual train operators. Under Great British Railways, a wider programme to deliver improved passenger Wi-Fi connectivity will be considered.
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProject GigabitDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made on Project Gigabit since April 2024.
Answer: Since April 2024, three new Project Gigabit contracts covering Lincolnshire and East Riding, Cheshire, and North Yorkshire have been signed.A cross regional framework agreement with Openreach, has also been signed. The first two call-off contracts under t...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPaternity PayDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many people claimed statutory paternity pay in each of the last five years.
Answer: Information provided by employers to HMRC show the number of individuals in receipt of Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). This data provides a broad indication of Paternity Leave take-up but does not include those that take unpaid paternity leave. The Parenta...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16011More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Universal Credit rules for young people living in supported housing on their ability to find work.
Answer: People on a low income living in supported housing, can claim Universal Credit for help with their daily living costs and Housing Benefit for help with their housing costs. Customers living in supported housing are also able to access more housing support...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAudiobooks: VATTreasuryTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16010More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to remove VAT on audiobooks.
Answer: There are no current plans to remove VAT on audiobooks. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax break...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: DogsHome OfficeTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to end the breeding of beagles used for laboratory experiments.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science.The Labour Manifesto for government includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towa...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVorasidenibDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to carry out Vorasidenib trials on patients that have undergone (a) radiotherapy and (b) chemotherapy.
Answer: Research is crucial in tackling brain cancer, which is why the Department spends £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer as one of the largest areas of i...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHunting: National ParksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 5849 on Hunting: National Parks, what was the outcome of the initial discussions held with officials from other Departments on tra
Answer: This is a devolved matter with regard to Scotland and Northern Ireland; hunting with dogs is a reserved matter with respect to Wales and therefore, the information provided relates to England and Wales only. These discussions brought together officials wi...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDogs: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for banning the import of dogs with cropped ears.
Answer: The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Danny Chambers MP. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to ...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBrain: TumoursDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to include brain tumours in personalised mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies research.
Answer: Between 2018 and 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has directly invested £11.3 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours. This has enabled 227 brain cancer research studies to take place. Brain can...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWritten question 900971TreasuryTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 900971More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on reforms to business rates.
Answer: The government will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high-street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. Autumn Budget 2024 announced the first steps including an intention to introduce permanently lower multipliers f...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions her Department has had with stakeholders on the future of the two child limit.
Answer: Ministers meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss a broad range of topics relating to Universal Credit. Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to ...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTrappingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for banning the use of snare traps.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snar...
Answered 28 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat PumpsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of listing air-to-air heat pumps as a cost-effective way to improve a property’s energy performance certificate rating.
Answer: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a critical tool in informing consumers about the running costs of their homes, helping them reduce both energy bills and carbon emissions. The EPC model already recognises the performance of air-to-air heat pumps...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSupermarkets: Supply ChainsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a Grocery Supply Code of Practice for all (a) upstream and (b) mid-supply chain businesses.
Answer: The Groceries Supply Code of Practice covers direct suppliers to large retailers in the UK and was introduced after a competition investigation into the grocery retail sector. Power imbalances between trading businesses can make smaller parties susceptibl...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHorizon IT System: CompensationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to speed up compensation payments for sub-postmasters impacted by the Horizon IT System.
Answer: Government is committed to providing redress to individuals affected by the Horizon scandal as quickly as possible. Real progress is being made; as of 30 September 2024, approximately £363 million has been paid to over 2,900 claimants across the available...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHeat Pumps: Energy Performance CertificatesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recognising air-to-air heat pumps in energy performance certificates.
Answer: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a critical tool in informing consumers about the running costs of their homes, helping them reduce both energy bills and carbon emissions. The EPC model already recognises the performance of air-to-air heat pumps...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCarer's AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of paying carers at national living wage rates.
Answer: Many people will care for friends or family members at some point in their life, and it is right that we recognise the vitally important role of unpaid carers. That is why we are expecting to spend around £4.2 billion this year to support them through Car...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRespite CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce a statutory guarantee of regular respite breaks for unpaid carers.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. We want to ensure that people who care for family and friends are better able to look after their own health and wellbeing.Local authorities have duties to support peop...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCarer's AllowanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) increasing the carer's allowance and (b) introducing a taper to ensure unpaid carers are not subject to any removal of benefits.
Answer: The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the value of Carer’s Allowance is protected by up-rating it each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). This Government will keep eligibility criteria and...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) integration and (b) coordination of end of life care services.
Answer: The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a b...
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPalliative Care: East of EnglandDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Universal Care Plan for London to the East of England.
Answer: The Department is not planning to make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Universal Care Plan, as this would be a decision for local determination by commissioners and their providers.As we work towards a single patient record, we will...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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