Victoria Collins MP: written questions
407 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Infant Mortality: Bereavement CounsellingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to specialist psychological support for parents following pregnancy or baby loss in each region; and what steps his Department is taking to ens
Answer: The Government is determined to ensure all women and babies receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location or ethnicity. That is why the Secretary of State has set up a rapid, national, independent Investigation into ...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInfant Mortality: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support families who have experienced baby loss in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust all provide seven-day maternity bereavement care, meaning women and families can access support from a maternity professi...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGluten-free Foods: PrescriptionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80318More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to update information on the commissioning framework within the NHS England guidance entitled Prescribing Gluten Free Foods in Primary Care: Guidance for CCGs, publishe
Answer: No recent assessment has been made by the Department. However, a review was undertaken in 2019, which confirmed that the position in England remains that gluten free (GF) bread and mixes can be provided to all eligible coeliac patients on a National Healt...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Insurance Contributions: ExemptionsTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80317More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered extending National Insurance Contribution exemptions; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on levels of recruitment in the hospitality sector.
Answer: Businesses can claim a number of employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices. This means employers will pay no employer NICs for apprentices under 25 or employees under 21 on earnings up to £50,270. There are a wide range ...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80316More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing business rates for hospitality venues on high street regeneration in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospital...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses at risk of closure in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role of hospitality businesses in our communities and economy, including those in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and that’s why we’re taking targeted action to support them with the pressures they face. In April, we launche...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPolioDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of recent (a) disability benefit and (b) social care policy changes on (i) polio survivors and (ii) people with post-polio syndrome.
Answer: Any changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility will come after the Timms Review, an ambitious and inclusive review that aims to ensure we have a system that supports disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater i...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBrain Cancer: Clinical TrialsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the level of funding for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector for clinical trials to (a) optimise existing treatments and (b)
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invests approximately £200 million into cancer research annually via UK Research and Innovation. In parallel, the Department of Health and Social Care funds cancer research via the National Institute f...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and End of Life Care’s report entitled Inquiry into the fina
Answer: The Department supports people nearing the end of life through the Special Rules for End of Life. These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment o...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help improve the financial security of people with a terminal diagnosis.
Answer: This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). Th...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government intends to review the effectiveness of the special rules for end of life.
Answer: The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: Terminal IllnessesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will ask the Pensions Commission to consider the potential merits of allowing people of working age living with a terminal illness to claim state pension.
Answer: The government recognises the importance of ensuring that individuals who are terminally ill are treated with compassion and dignity. The Terms of Reference for the Pensions Commission, which set out the scope for the Commission, were published on the 21s...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordProbateMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of delays in the probate system; and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times for bereaved families to obtain probate in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constitu
Answer: HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff, alongside system and process improvements to reduce and maintain lower processing times during the last year.The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness in our regular ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool MealsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that SEND reforms under development (a) take account of the needs of children with (i) coeliac disease and (ii) other medical conditions and (b) ensure that pupils
Answer: The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards. Headteachers, governors, and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies that take into account local circumstances and ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the processing times for disability benefit (a) applications, (b) reviews and (c) mandatory reconsideration requests.
Answer: Managing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the department and we are working constantly to improve our service.Our aim is to make an award decision, including on an award review decision, as quickly as possible, taking into accoun...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will consider making amendments to section 81 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to enable local authorities to levy fines on utility companies that fail to maintain street apparatus or to rectif
Answer: Utility companies already have a duty to maintain their apparatus in the street to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority. Where an authority becomes aware of defective apparatus they should notify the owner of the apparatus requiring the ut...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: EnforcementDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving greater enforcement powers to local authorities in relation to the regulation of roadworks conducted by utility companies.
Answer: The Department for Transport recognises the importance of ensuring that street works are carried out safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to road users and local communities.Highway authorities already have access to a comprehensive set of pow...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections to ensure that (a) the performance-based sample inspection regime does not allow utility companies to offset local failure rates against national ave
Answer: The Department for Transport keeps all statutory guidance under regular review, including the 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections. The performance-based sample inspection regime introduced in April 2023 is designed to ensure that undertakers are inspect...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review the April 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections in relation to the capping of inspection charges for defective reinstatements at two cycles.
Answer: In April 2023, the Department for Transport introduced a performance-based inspections regime to improve the quality of reinstatements following street works. Under this system, utility companies with higher defect or failure rates are subject to increase...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80301More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to implement the planned doubling of fines available to local councils for utility companies that breach permit conditions or carry out unauthorised roadworks.
Answer: Following a public consultation in 2024, the Government confirmed its intention to double the level of fixed penalty notices for certain street works offences including breaching permit conditions.The necessary secondary legislation to enact these changes...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Works: UtilitiesDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80300More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to review the level of fines that local authorities can levy on utility companies for (a) breaches of permit conditions and (b) defective roadworks.
Answer: Following a public consultation in 2024, the Government confirmed its intention to double the level of fixed penalty notices for certain street works offences including breaching permit conditions.The necessary secondary legislation to enact these changes...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Vehicles: Medical EquipmentDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80299More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department (a) has considered and (b) plans to consider expanding requirements for lifesaving equipment in vehicles used for public or quasi-public purposes.
Answer: The Department is not considering mandating public vehicles to carry defibrillators. In England outside London, commercial bus operators provide the majority of bus services and have responsibility for managing their fleets. Any decision on whether to fit...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers: Private PropertyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80298More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Section 106 obligations on developer funding for the (a) long-term maintenance or (b) adoption of sustainable drainage infr
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that developments of all sizes should use sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts. This is supported by National Planning Guidance which sets out that local autho...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Developmental Language DisorderDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80297More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure children with Developmental Language Disorder receive appropriate support within the education system.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring that every child has the best start in life. This includes all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including speech, language and communications needs such as Developmen...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordPost-polio Syndrome: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that post-polio syndrome is (a) recognised, (b) diagnosed, and (c) treated though (i) access to specialist neuromuscular clinics, (ii) appropriate care
Answer: Although there is currently no cure for post-polio syndrome, a range of treatments and support is available to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but care may involve pain-...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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