Victoria Collins MP: written questions
786 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Polio: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the regional disparities of access to (a) therapy and (b) rehabilitation services for people living with (i) the long-te
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 recordPolio: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) polio survivors with post-polio syndrome and (b) other polio survivors have equitable access to specialist treatment centres providing (i) physioth
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 recordSchools: TravelDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the travel costs to families for their child to meet their (a) educational, (b) pastoral and (c) mental health needs where the local school is unable to meet those needs
Answer: The government’s ambition is that all children receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. Our home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport.A child is eligible for free home-...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity DevelopmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish the Community Cohesion Strategy; and what recent progress he has made in developing the Strategy.
Answer: The Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and addr...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80291More
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.
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 recordCoeliac DiseaseDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle regional inequalities in access to gluten free prescriptions for patients with coeliac disease.
Answer: Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). It is the responsibility of ICBs, working with clinicians, service users, and patient groups, to develop local services a...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCoeliac Disease: Hospitality IndustryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mandatory training requirements for food handlers in businesses serving the public on increasing awareness of (a) allergens, (b) gluten-fr
Answer: Under United Kingdom law, food business operators must ensure that staff training is appropriate to the type of food handled, including high-risk foods such as those containing allergens or gluten. While there is no standalone legal requirement for allerg...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSchool Meals: Gluten-free FoodsDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her department holds on the number of pupils in England requiring gluten free meal provision in schools.
Answer: The department does not hold data on requirements for gluten-free meal provision in schools. The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards. Headteachers, governors and their caterers are best placed to mak...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternet: Offences against ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80287More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom plans to (a) measure and (b) report on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 for tackling online child grooming.
Answer: Monitoring and evaluation are key to understanding how effective the online safety regime is. The Government and Ofcom are actively monitoring the regime’s impact through a programme of evaluation work.This work will track the effect of the online safety ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: CopyrightDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80286More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has had recent discussions with representatives of the creative industries on a potential copyright and AI framework.
Answer: The Government will continue to engage extensively with stakeholders on copyright and AI. This includes establishing a stakeholder working group to inform the development of copyright and AI policy.This work commenced over the Summer, where three initial ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80285More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to (a) amend planning policy and (b) issue guidance on (i) the sequential test and (ii) flood-risk management in the context of recent (A) appeal and
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers: Private PropertyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80284More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to (a) amend planning policy and (b) issue guidance on how local planning authorities should frame enforceable planning conditions where delivery of
Answer: My Department’s Planning Practice Guidance already provides guidance on the use of negatively-worded planning conditions (often termed Grampian conditions) to deal with the delivery of infrastructure required for a development (such as drainage) which is ...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLand Use: Planning PermissionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is taking steps to help tackle the practice of subdividing agricultural land into multiple small plots for onward sale without an accompanying (a) planning and (b) cha
Answer: It is for individual local planning authorities to take enforcement action where development, including change of use of land, is undertaken without planning permission.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Students: GazaHome OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Palestinian students from Gaza who have been accepted onto UK university courses with (a) access to secure (i) English language testing (ii) visa process
Answer: The Government has outlined plans to support the departure from Gaza of a group of Chevening Scholars so they can take up university places in the UK in the Autumn for the 2025/26 academic year. We are extending this support to students in Gaza with full ...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: InsuranceTreasuryTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77830More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has issued guidance on the rights of consumers to access property-specific risk data held by (a) insurers and (b) third-party providers that are used in insurance premium calculations.
Answer: The Treasury has not issued guidance on the rights of consumers to access property-specific risk data held by insurers or third-party providers. Consumers have rights to access their personal data under the UK's data protection legislation (the UK General...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support entry-level employment opportunities for young people in the hospitality sector.
Answer: I recognise that the hospitality sector offers significant entry-level opportunities for young people. My department is working closely with UKHospitality, the trade body for the sector, to deliver Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to 26 areas ...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: EmploymentTreasuryTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76732More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent tax changes on employment levels in the hospitality sector.
Answer: The Government recognises that the nature and rate of taxes on business is important to the hospitality sector, and the success and competitiveness of the UK. Given the difficult fiscal conditions we inherited, the Government asked all businesses to help ...
Answered 18 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCoronavirus: VaccinationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to ensure that people no longer eligible for covid-19 vaccines under the the Flu and Covid-19 Seasonal Vaccination Programme are able to receive them if they wish;
Answer: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the department on the approach to vaccination and immunisation pr...
Answered 29 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability: Cost of LivingDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support disabled households with the cost of living in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: Extra costs disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are individual benefits paid to all qualifying members of a household. They provide a contribution towards the extra costs that may arise from a long-term disability or health...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Flood ControlMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve coordination between Local Planning Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities on ensuring (a) adequate resources and (b) clear m
Answer: Planning practice guidance sets out that when considering proposals for major development the local planning authority will need to consult the lead local flood authority on surface water drainage. The guidance is clear that local planning authorities may...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHedgehogs: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support hedgehog conservation initiatives in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: 48 responsible authorities were appointed by Defra to prepare Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for their area. Under Hertfordshire County Council’s draft LNRS, the hedgehog is designated as a ‘Flagship Species’ which is set to benefit from identified...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBuildings: VATTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73138More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT on (a) repair and (b) retrofit works to older buildings; and whether she plans to review that taxation.
Answer: To stimulate the construction of new homes, the Government currently maintains a zero rate of VAT on new-build residential buildings. The Government also recognises the importance of reusing existing buildings and encourages this through the VAT system. R...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordProtestHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73137More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Crime and Policing Bill on the right to peaceful protest; and what steps she is taking to ensure that lawful demonstration
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that protest legislation is both effective and proportionate. The Government keeps all public order legislation under constant review.While the right to protest remains a cornerstone of our democracy, the legal fram...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNurses: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73136More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to increase funding for newly qualified nurse positions in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and wil...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordIndividual Savings Accounts: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73135More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to regionalise the property cap on Lifetime ISAs.
Answer: Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased, it is still below the Lifetime ISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affecte...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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